
Surf Forecasts:
Hatteras Light House surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 6s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 14 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 7s period, S swell with 143 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 6s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Hatteras Light House this week:
The surf forecast for Hatteras Light House over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Hatteras Light House in the next 16 days are 1.2m 7s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 14) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 7s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Fri 14th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Hatteras Light House over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, let’s be straight with you. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty ordinary around here. There’s no major swell on the cards, so we’re hunting for any little pulse that lines up with clean conditions. It’s going to be a waiting game.
First up, we’ve got Hatteras Light House (Hatteras-Light-House). Water temp is sitting at 83°F, which is about what you’d expect for this time of year, so the warm water is a nice touch. For the first few days, it’s all small, weak stuff. The combined energy is barely registering at 90 on Saturday morning, with a 3ft SSE swell at 8 seconds. It’s clean, sure, but it’s not doing anything for you. This pattern continues through Sunday, Monday, and into Tuesday. We see the wind swing offshore Tuesday morning with a clean 2ft wave, but again, it’s just not worth suiting up for. This run of poor conditions lasts for about four days.
We finally see a tiny glimmer on Thursday the 13th. There’s a 2ft S swell at 6 seconds and the energy picks up a touch, but it’s still weak and ordinary. The wind is light offshore, so it might be clean but it’s really just a knee-high dribble.
Friday the 14th sees the swell nudge up to 3ft from the S at 7 seconds. The combined energy finally gets to a moderate 105. The morning looks okay with a moderate offshore breeze, which will keep the surface clean. This is probably the most rideable it’s been, but it’s still marginal and the period is short. The wind turns cross-on in the afternoon, so don’t get too excited.
After that, things go a bit downhill again. The weekend sees onshore winds and the swell drops back. It’s not until the following Wednesday that we get another notable push. On the 19th, the swell is small, around 2ft to 2ft, but the period stretches out to 12 and 13 seconds. That’s some proper long-period energy in the water for the first time. The combined energy is moderate at 133 in the morning, building to 146 in the afternoon. The winds are light and cross-off, which means the surf should be glassy and clean. Conditions at this point will finally look like real surf, though it will be small.
After that, it fades again with onshore winds and some messy conditions, before another small pulse comes around on the 23rd. That’s almost two weeks out, so take it with a grain of salt, but there’s a 3ft ESE swell with moderate energy on the horizon for Sunday morning. It’s looking like a clean start to that day before the sea breeze kicks in.
So, honestly, there’s no true standout here. Friday the 14th and Wednesday the 19th are your best bets, but they’re not big days. The one on the 19th looks prettier due to the light winds and longer period swell. It won’t be big, but it might just be the most fun you’ll have in that time.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Mon night. Warm (max 29°C on Mon afternoon, min 26°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Sun morning, strong winds from the SW by Mon night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 30°C on Tue night, min 26°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (calm on Thu morning, strong winds from the SW by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | S 7 | SE 10 | S 5 | ESE 10 | S 5 | S 5 | E 12 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 6 | SE 8 | E 13 | S 7 | S 7 | E 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
84 | 37 | 27 | 28 | 44 | 4 | 20 | 9 | 24 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 10 | 25 | 10 | 7 | 99 | 79 | 3 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 4:13PM1.17m | 4:25AM0.77m | 5:16PM1.22m | 5:31AM0.82m | 6:16PM1.26m | 6:31AM0.89m | 7:10PM1.28m | 7:27AM0.96m | 8:00PM1.27m | 8:20AM1.02m | 8:48PM1.23m | 9:10AM1.06m | 9:33PM1.17m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:18AM-0.01m | 10:50PM0.13m | 10:25AM-0.05m | 11:52PM0.08m | 11:31AM-0.09m | 00:46AM0.02m | 12:32PM-0.13m | 1:36AM-0.03m | 1:29PM-0.14m | 2:23AM-0.06m | 2:23PM-0.13m | 3:07AM-0.08m | 3:16PM-0.09m | 3:50AM-0.07m | |||||||
6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | |
— | 7:59 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | — | 4 | 1 | 2 | 9 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | 19 |
Temp °C | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 26 |
Feels °C | 28 | 28 | 26 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 25 | 28 | 29 | 32 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | E 9 | E 9 | S 5 | SE 10 | S 5 | S 5 | SE 9 | SE 8 | S 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 6 | SE 8 | E 13 | S 7 | E 12 | E 12 |
84 | 37 | 27 | 28 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 4 | 24 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 11 | 10 | 25 | 10 | 3 | 99 | 3 | 3 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | SE 10 | SE 10 | E 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 8 | E 8 | SE 11 | SE 8 | E 14 | SE 13 | E 12 | — | — |
6 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 3 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SE 11 | SE 6 | E 9 | E 8 | ESE 10 | E 8 | E 8 | E 12 | E 8 | E 8 | — | — | E 14 | E 14 | SE 13 | S 13 | E 12 | E 12 |
— | — | — | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 4 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 3 | S 3 | SSW 4 | — | S 7 | SSW 4 | WSW 3 | S 5 | W 3 | — | S 5 | SSW 5 | W 3 | SSW 4 | SSW 6 | — | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | W 3 | S 7 | SSW 7 |
2 | 6 | 17 | — | 44 | 34 | 3 | 25 | 3 | — | 14 | 23 | 1 | 15 | 60 | — | 40 | 137 | 4 | 79 | 286 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 73 | 390 | 176 | 84 | 528 | 665 | 774 | 501 | 198 | 334 | 2299 | 198 | 198 | 205 | 12 | 0 | 2037 | 299 | 0 | 12 | 12 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Hatteras Light House Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Hatteras Light House provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Hatteras Light House can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Hatteras Light House surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Hatteras Light House) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Hatteras Light House may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Are you planning a vacation in North Carolina? If you are looking for accommodation near Hatteras Light House, camping, hotels and condos and appartments in North Carolina, consider staying in Cape Hatteras which is 14 km (9 miles) away.











