Hatteras Light House Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – the surf forecast for the next couple of weeks is a real tough one to write. There’s a whole lot of “poor surf conditions” staring back at us, so we’re going to have to grind through a long, quiet stretch before anything worth paddling out for shows up.

For the first week and a half, from Sunday the 9th all the way through to late on Monday the 18th, the outlook is grim. The waves are tiny, the energy is weak, and the conditions are just sad. You’ll be looking at tiny knee-high slop, mostly under 2ft, with short-period windswell that just doesn’t have any punch. The combined swell energy is barely a whisper, often sitting below 60 (weak energy). Winds are mostly offshore or cross-offshore, which is the only silver lining, but there’s simply no swell to work with. It’s a paddling workout, not a surf session.

The first real glimmer of hope arrives on Tuesday morning, August 19th. Hatteras Light House starts to see a pulse of groundswell pushing in from the southeast at 2-3ft with a period of 12 seconds. That’s a solid signal, and the combined energy jumps to 226 (moderate wave energy). The wind is a cross-offshore breeze, keeping things clean. This is the standout of the whole run. The water temp is sitting at a warm 82°, which is about normal for this time of year. The waves won’t be massive, but that longer period means the shape will be there, and the sets will be lined up. It’s not a huge day, but after a week of nothing, this is the one to get excited about. The afternoon gets a bit windier and bumpier, so aim for that morning session.

After that, the swell fades and the wind picks up again. We get a bump on Saturday, August 22nd with a morning pulse of 4ft from the south, but the period is a short 7 seconds, so it’ll be a bit crumbly and weak. The energy is 178 (moderate), but with a fresh breeze building by afternoon, it’ll get messy quickly. It’s another session for the early birds, but it’s not a patch on the 19th.

The final week, from the 23rd onward, is a complete write-off. Tiny ankle-high swell with no energy and strong winds. It’s back to the boardroom.

So, to sum it up: the wait is long, but the morning of Tuesday, August 19th is your best bet. Get on it, because the ocean isn’t offering much else.

Rusty.

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