Hatteras Light House Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, crew, Rusty here with the lowdown. We’re looking at a long stretch of flat or poor conditions at Hatteras Light House, so you’re gonna need some patience. The water is a touch warmer than usual right now, sitting at 83°, which is nice for a dip but won’t help the waves.

The first real hope doesn’t show up until Saturday, September 19th. Before that, we’ve got a solid week of tiny, weak swell with hardly any energy (combined energy readings mostly between 20 and 65). The winds are all over the place, but the waves are just too small to do a thing with. Sunday the 13th morning offers a moment of “surfable but ordinary” with a 2-foot SSE swell and a moderate offshore wind, but it’s not worth rushing out for.

Then, on Saturday the 19th, things finally wake up. The morning brings a 5-foot ENE swell with a short period of 7 seconds, and a moderate offshore wind from the WSW. The combined energy jumps to 263 (moderate). That afternoon it gets even better: the wind goes glassy, calm, and the swell bumps up to 6 feet from the ENE with the same short period, energy hitting 341. This is a standout for the whole forecast – clean, glassy conditions on a building swell, but that short 7-second period means it’ll be a bit lumpy and not the best shape. It’s still the best on offer for the whole 16 days.

Sunday the 20th sees the swell hold at 7-7 feet from the E, but the wind swings NE and cranks up to 15-18 mph, making it cross-onshore and choppy. That’s a write-off. Monday the 21st is even worse with strong onshore winds, and the waves are messy.

Tuesday the 22nd is a bit of a wildcard. The swell is 6-7 feet from the ESE/E, but the period is still short (8 seconds). The winds are light and clean, but the energy is moderate (397-496). The data calls it “marginal,” so don’t expect perfection.

Now, the real kicker comes on Wednesday the 23rd. The morning shows a 10-foot ENE swell with a 9-second period, and a clean cross-offshore wind. The combined energy is a massive 1155 (very strong). That is a big, powerful swell, but it’s over 8 feet, so it’s expert-only territory. The afternoon is cleaner, with a 8-foot E swell, energy at 816, and a NNW breeze. The data says “expect very good surf conditions.” This is a true standout for the whole forecast, but it’s a week and a half away – so keep an eye on it, but don’t book the trip yet. Thursday the 24th drops off quickly.

So, the bottom line: the first week is a write-off. The best chance for a clean, fun wave is the afternoon of Saturday the 19th, with the glassy, building swell. For the big-wave crew, Wednesday the 23rd looks like a monster, but the wind might be tricky. Stay tuned.

Rusty.

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