Hatteras Light House Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the Hatteras Light House stretch. I gotta be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch of forecast. We’re looking at a real flat spell to kick things off, and unfortunately, the whole 16-day window is a struggle.

Right now, there’s barely a ripple. The first surfable day isn’t until Monday the 20th, and even then, it’s small. We’ve got a solid 3-day gap of nothing worth paddling for up to that point.

The water temp is sitting at a warm 82°, which is about 0.9° warmer than usual for this time of year – feels like a bathtub, but that’s where the good news ends.

For the first real chance, Monday the 20th afternoon at Hatteras Light House, we’re looking at a tiny 3 ft swell from the S, with a short 7-second period. The combined energy is weak at 72, and it’s just not doing much. The wind is a light cross-off, so it’s clean, but the call is for "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions." It’s a beginner spot, and while it’s very consistent, there’s just no power.

The rest of the month is a grind. The swell tries to push a little on Tuesday the 21st afternoon, hitting 6 ft from the S. But the period is still a short 7 seconds, and the wind is howling at 28 mph from the SSW. That’s a strong breeze creating messy, blown-out conditions. The energy is moderate (265), but it’s not surfable. By Wednesday the 22nd morning, it’s 6 ft and 390 energy, but with a near gale (31 mph) onshore, it’s a washing machine. Honestly, that setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

There’s a flicker of hope on Thursday the 30th morning – a 3 ft swell from the SSE, with a fresh offshore wind from the W. The period is short (7 seconds), but the wind is clean. The energy is moderate (106), but the forecast still calls it poor surf conditions. It’s just not enough.

The absolute best of a bad lot, and I mean *the* standout, is Friday the 31st morning. A light breeze from the SW, cross-off, clean conditions. Swell is 3 ft from the SSE. It’s the only other time the model says "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions." It’s tiny, but it’s the cleanest window we get. For a beginner spot that’s very consistent, this is your chance. Crowds are sometimes a thing here, but on a day like this, it’ll be quiet.

Honestly, for the rest of the first week of August, it’s more of the same – small, weak, and windy. Nothing to get excited about. It’s a flat run, but for this area, that’s not unusual. Forecasts can change, so keep an eye on it, but right now, don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

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