Surf Forecasts:
Hatteras Light House surf forecast from 27 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 5s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 11s period, SE swell with 116 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 5s 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 Saturday (Aug 29) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 5s. 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 0.7m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) 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 1.3m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 03) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Hatteras Light House over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s break it down for Hatteras Light House. It’s a slow stretch for the next 16 days, no doubt. Water temp is around 83°, a little warmer than average for late summer, so you’ll be in trunks.
Starting Thursday, August 27th, we’ve got nothing happening. Tiny 2ft swell from the southeast, period around 9 seconds, weak energy (62). Cross-off wind and poor conditions. Thursday and Friday are both a bust.
Saturday the 29th gives us a tiny glimmer of hope. Early morning with a light offshore wind, still only 1ft from the southeast, period 8 seconds. Energy is low (41). It’s surfable but very average. The afternoon turns glassy for a bit, but again, no real swell.
Sunday the 30th through Tuesday, September 1st, is all the same story—tiny, poor surf, with the wind changing directions. Not worth paddling out.
Now, here’s the pick. On Wednesday, September 2nd, the morning looks best. Swell bumps to 2ft from the southeast, but the period stretches to 11 seconds—that’s a longer period groundswell, so it’ll have more shape. Energy jumps to moderate (112), and we have a gentle offshore wind from the west. Clean faces. This is the standout for the first week. Small enough for beginners but decent quality.
Thursday the 3rd goes flat and windy. Friday the 4th brings another small pulse: 2ft from the east-northeast, period 8 seconds, with a moderate offshore breeze. Energy is moderate (128). It’s okay, but the wind is strong at 12 mph offshore.
The second week turns ugly. Saturday the 5th the wind goes cross-onshore, bumpy and choppy. Sunday the 6th has the biggest swell of the outlook at 4ft from the south, but the period is a short 5 seconds—pure windswell, no power. Onshore wind and lumpy. Energy is moderate (152), but quality is poor. This looks more like a kite surfing day than paddle surfing.
Monday and Tuesday the 7th and 8th stay small and messy. Tuesday afternoon on the 8th we get a brief glassy window with 2ft from the east, period 9 seconds, but it’s just surfable.
From Wednesday the 9th through Friday the 11th, it’s back to tiny, poor conditions. Consistent but flat.
So the best wave of the two weeks is that Wednesday morning, September 2nd. It’s not epic, but it’s the cleanest and most worth your time. The rest is mostly a miss, but forecasts can shift.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 37mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 28°C on Thu night, min 26°C on Thu afternoon). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Thu afternoon, calm by Sat afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 30°C on Tue afternoon, min 26°C on Sun morning). Winds increasing (calm on Sun afternoon, fresh winds from the WSW by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
39 | 41 | 38 | 35 | 35 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 24 | 29 | 34 | 25 | 17 | 11 | 17 | 50 | 112 | 96 | 53 | |
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 | off | glassy | glassy | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:51PM1.11m | 8:06AM0.96m | 8:26PM1.11m | 8:44AM1.01m | 9:02PM1.09m | 9:23AM1.06m | 9:39PM1.05m | 10:05AM1.11m | 10:19PM0.99m | 10:50AM1.13m | 11:02PM0.93m | 11:40AM1.14m | 11:52PM0.87m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:27PM0.06m | 2:09AM0.09m | 2:07PM0.04m | 2:41AM0.05m | 2:49PM0.04m | 3:14AM0.03m | 3:32PM0.05m | 3:48AM0.02m | 4:18PM0.07m | 4:25AM0.02m | 5:09PM0.11m | 5:07AM0.04m | 6:05PM0.16m | ||||||||
6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | |
— | 7:36 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:28 | — | |
mm | 1 | 5 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 2 | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 |
Feels °C | 27 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 31 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 5 | SE 8 | S 5 | SSE 5 | S 5 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 9 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 |
39 | 41 | 38 | 21 | 35 | 23 | 15 | 12 | 26 | 27 | 24 | 29 | 34 | 25 | 17 | 11 | 17 | 28 | 112 | 96 | 53 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | SE 8 | E 11 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 5 | SSW 5 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | SE 8 | SE 13 | SE 12 | — | — | — |
3 | 3 | 11 | 35 | 2 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 50 | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 13 | NE 8 | — | E 11 | E 8 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 5 | E 9 | E 9 | — | — | — | — | SE 14 | E 8 | E 8 | — | — | — |
13 | 3 | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 4 | S 4 | S 5 | SSW 5 | S 5 | SSW 5 | — | — | — | — | SW 4 | SSW 2 | SSW 3 | SSW 2 | SW 3 | WSW 4 | SSW 4 | SW 5 | SW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 |
7 | 40 | 35 | 31 | 23 | 32 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 19 | 49 | 17 | 20 | 80 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 73 | 962 | 131 | 61 | 335 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 571 | 125 | 2717 | 43 | 43 | 1043 | 356 | 335 | 2035 | 43 | 0 | 512 | 100 |
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.











