Surf Forecasts:
Hatteras Light House surf forecast from 16 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 18 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 7s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 19 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 7s period, E swell with 240 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 18 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 7s period with E 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 Friday (Sep 18) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Hatteras Light House in the next 16 days are 1.6m 7s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 19) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Monday (Sep 21) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sat 19th Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Hatteras Light House over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey folks, Rusty here. Let's be straight up – Hatteras Light House is gunna be a tough watch for the next couple of weeks. I’ve combed through the charts, and there’s nothing worth paddling out for today, Wednesday the 16th, and for most of the period, really. The water is sitting around 81°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s about the only highlight.
First up, Wednesday the 16th through Sunday the 22nd is basically a write-off. We’ve got tiny, weak surf with poor conditions. The wind is mostly cross-onshore, and the combined energy of all swells is weak, often below 100. The biggest swell we see is just a miserable 3 ft out of the ENE on Wednesday afternoon with a short 7-second period, but it’s choppy and ugly. Honestly, it’s just a long stretch of flat, blown-out days.
Now, after that gap, things get a bit interesting, but it ain’t for the faint-hearted. From Tuesday the 29th, the ocean wakes up. Tuesday morning brings a solid 6 ft swell from the ESE (combined energy 285), but it’s onshore and the wind is howling, making it poor. Tuesday afternoon pumps up to 6 ft (energy 387), still onshore and messy.
Here’s the standout – Wednesday the 30th. On the morning, the swell jumps to a serious 10 ft from the SE with a 10-second period. The combined energy is a massive 1869, which is strong. The wind is a moderate 20 km/h from the East, straight onshore. Even so, the models hint at something surfable, but for experts only. By Wednesday afternoon it gets even bigger – 12 ft from the SSE, energy 2371, and the wind drops to a gentle 15 km/h onshore. This is big, raw, unruly power. The long period (10 seconds) means it’ll hold some shape, but at this size and with onshore wind, it’s pure challenge for the experienced crew. Beginners, stay well clear – this is heavy water.
Thursday the 1st of October drops back to 8 ft and 8 ft swells, but the wind cranks back up to 30-35 km/h from the NE, cross-onshore and lumpy. The energy is still high (1736-2268), but the wind kills the quality. That Wednesday afternoon window is the only real moment where the ocean has some heavy, raw potential, but don’t expect clean lines.
No other options on the table. It’s a long wait for a small, heavy window. Stay patient.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Fri night, min 23°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 29mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 27°C on Sun night, min 25°C on Sat morning). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | Tuesday 22 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 7 | ENE 7 | E 7 | E 7 | SE 6 | E 7 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | ENE 6 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | E 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 82 | 99 | 49 | 21 | 13 | 26 | 23 | 24 | 21 | 21 | 62 | 171 | 83 | 66 | 35 | 27 | 55 | 42 | 41 | 19 | 40 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:42AM1.07m | 11:55PM0.79m | 12:33PM1.02m | 00:46AM0.74m | 1:31PM0.98m | 1:46AM0.71m | 2:34PM0.97m | 2:52AM0.71m | 3:37PM0.97m | 3:54AM0.74m | 4:31PM1.00m | 4:48AM0.80m | 5:18PM1.03m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:12PM0.26m | 5:50AM0.23m | 7:09PM0.32m | 6:40AM0.27m | 8:12PM0.36m | 7:39AM0.30m | 9:17PM0.37m | 8:45AM0.30m | 10:15PM0.35m | 9:48AM0.27m | 11:02PM0.30m | 10:44AM0.23m | 11:42PM0.25m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | |  |  | |  |  | |  | | | |  |  | | |
 | 6:45 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — |
 | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:06 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:02 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:59 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 9 |
Temp °C | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 25 | 27 |
Feels °C | 22 | 22 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 26 | 26 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 14 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | SE 6 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 9 | ESE 11 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | E 7 |
| kJ | 7 | 65 | 49 | 21 | 8 | 26 | 17 | 24 | 15 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 83 | 66 | 35 | 23 | 55 | 42 | 41 | 18 | 40 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 6 | ENE 6 | SE 6 | SE 5 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 3 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 13 | 8 | 7 | 22 | 21 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 24 | 29 | 26 | 27 | 38 | 23 | 8 | 19 | 16 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 13 | — | SE 9 | ESE 13 | E 8 | ESE 13 | SE 12 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 12 | S 6 | S 5 | S 8 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 11 | NNE 6 | ESE 10 | S 3 | SE 8 | E 15 |
| kJ | 3 | — | 3 | 16 | 5 | 16 | 23 | 11 | 11 | 21 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 5 | 11 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 10 | 17 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | ENE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 6 | E 7 | — | — | SW 3 | WSW 3 | SW 2 | SSW 3 | — | S 3 | — |
| kJ | 82 | 99 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 62 | 171 | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1040 | 1040 | 115 | 84 | 890 | 54 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 125 | 1043 | 125 | 0 | 935 | 54 | 0 | 872 | 84 | 40 | 299 | 14 |
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.
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