
Surf Forecasts:
Hatteras Light House surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 20 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 7s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 22 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 8s period, S swell with 451 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 7s 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 2PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Hatteras Light House in the next 16 days are 2.0m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.1m 8s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 2PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Hatteras Light House over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
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.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 88mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 29°C on Fri afternoon, min 22°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the S on Fri afternoon, strong winds from the SW by Sat night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 37mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 29°C on Wed afternoon, min 24°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Mon afternoon, near gales from the SSW by Wed afternoon). | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 13 | SE 13 | S 8 | S 7 | S 7 | NE 5 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 8 | SE 9 | S 8 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 191 | 87 | 68 | 6 | 113 | 262 | 439 | 362 | 26 | 235 | 66 | 31 | 43 | |
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 | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:47PM1.13m | 11:19AM0.98m | 11:35PM1.03m | 12:14PM0.97m | 00:24AM0.92m | 1:09PM0.96m | 1:15AM0.82m | 2:06PM0.95m | 2:09AM0.73m | 3:03PM0.95m | 3:06AM0.68m | 3:59PM0.96m | 4:05AM0.65m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:26PM-0.09m | 5:10AM-0.09m | 5:22PM-0.00m | 5:56AM-0.05m | 6:21PM0.08m | 6:41AM-0.00m | 7:22PM0.16m | 7:28AM0.05m | 8:27PM0.21m | 8:16AM0.09m | 9:33PM0.24m | 9:06AM0.12m | 10:36PM0.24m | |||||||
— | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | |
8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:12 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 2 | 4 | 3 | 76 | 3 | 3 | 7 | — | — | 1 | 6 | 2 | 15 | 3 | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 25 | 23 | 24 |
Feels °C | 32 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 23 | 31 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 19 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 13 | SE 13 | WNW 3 | S 7 | S 7 | NE 5 | NE 5 | NE 4 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 8 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 |
11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 87 | 68 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 25 | 28 | 26 | 235 | 66 | 31 | 43 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 14 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | E 8 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 12 | NE 4 | — | NNE 5 | E 10 | — | — | — | — | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 17 | 28 | 32 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 14 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | — | SE 12 | E 12 | SE 12 | E 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 6 |
4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 6 | 3 | 6 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 3 | SSW 4 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | S 8 | — | SSW 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 8 | NE 5 | NE 4 | NE 4 |
3 | 2 | 4 | 21 | 184 | 186 | 238 | 191 | — | 197 | 92 | 113 | 262 | 439 | 362 | 504 | 356 | 51 | 26 | 29 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1331 | 1338 | 1791 | 440 | 177 | 100 | 335 | 122 | 100 | 0 | 176 | 784 | 807 | 608 | 597 | 176 | 100 | 125 | 115 | 448 |
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.










