Surf Forecasts:
Hatteras Light House surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s period, SE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 13s period, SSE swell with 192 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s period with SE 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 10s period. 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 0.8m 13s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Hatteras Light House over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s on the table for the Hatteras area over the next couple of weeks. Straight up, this is a tough stretch. We’ve got a long gap of almost nothing worth paddling out for, so don’t be in a rush.
The first real chance of a wave comes on Sunday, August 23rd, but it’s not great. We’re looking at a disorganised, short-period swell from the south at 3 ft to 3 ft, with a period of only 6 seconds. That’s pure windswell, lacking any punch. The wind is cross-offshore from the SW, which is clean, but the wave energy is weak (75-86). The water temp is a touch warmer than normal at 84°F, but that’s small comfort when the surf is this marginal. This is really only for the keenest on a longboard.
After a few more days of small, weak, and choppy conditions, things finally start to grumble to life around Thursday, August 27th. The afternoon brings a jump in size with a south swell hitting 6 ft, but the period is still short at 7 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (441), but with winds from the SSW at 12 mph, it stays clean. The wave is still a bit of a mess, but it’s the best we’ve seen. That size is getting into the zone where beginners might find it too much, though.
The standout window, and I mean the only real highlight, is Friday, August 28th, in the morning. The swell drops back to a more manageable 5 ft from the south, still with a 7-second period, but the combined energy is solid (348). The wind is cross-offshore from the SSW at 16 mph, keeping the surface clean. For a beach break setup, this is about as good as it gets in this run. It’s still not a classic, but it’s the pick of the litter. Don’t expect perfection, but you’ll get a few decent ones.
After that, it fades quickly back into small, weak drivel for the rest of the forecast. Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th offer tiny, clean waves on the morning glass-offs, but the energy is gone (below 100). The long-range stuff around September 2nd shows a slight uptick in energy to 130 (moderate), but the swell is still small and short-period. It’s a waiting game.
So, your best bet is the morning of Friday, August 28th. Set your alarm, because that’s the only time the numbers add up to something worth the drive.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Tue night. Warm (max 31°C on Tue afternoon, min 25°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, fresh winds from the N by Thu night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 41mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 29°C on Sat night, min 25°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Sat night, strong winds from the SSW by Sun afternoon). | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 5 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 73 | 48 | 29 | 28 | 25 | 24 | 18 | 11 | 18 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 24 | 42 | 65 | 81 | 39 | 31 | 41 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 00:34AM0.79m | 1:20PM0.98m | 1:26AM0.72m | 2:18PM0.96m | 2:25AM0.68m | 3:19PM0.96m | 3:28AM0.67m | 4:18PM0.97m | 4:28AM0.69m | 5:11PM1.00m | 5:21AM0.72m | 5:57PM1.04m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:48PM0.21m | 6:38AM0.14m | 7:49PM0.27m | 7:27AM0.19m | 8:55PM0.31m | 8:22AM0.22m | 10:00PM0.32m | 9:22AM0.22m | 10:57PM0.30m | 10:20AM0.20m | 11:45PM0.27m | 11:13AM0.17m | 00:27AM0.22m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | | |  |  | |  | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — |
 | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — |
mm | 2 | 5 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 5 | — | — | 9 | 4 | — | 5 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 5 | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 31 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 |
Feels °C | 35 | 33 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 28 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 4 | S 4 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 5 | SE 8 | S 6 | ESE 12 | SE 12 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 |
| kJ | 73 | 48 | 29 | 28 | 25 | 24 | 18 | 8 | 3 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 11 | 17 | 42 | 14 | 22 | 39 | 28 | 17 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | — | S 4 | S 4 | ENE 4 | NE 4 | NE 4 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 4 | NE 6 | NE 5 | SE 9 | ESE 13 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | NE 5 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 |
| kJ | 8 | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 19 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 34 | 31 | 41 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | E 6 | SSW 5 | SE 4 | — | SE 16 | SE 15 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 13 | NE 5 | NE 5 | SE 12 | NE 5 | NE 5 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | SSW 4 | NNE 3 | NE 3 | SSE 4 | S 2 | S 3 | E 6 | — | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | S 5 | — | S 5 | WSW 3 | S 6 | S 6 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 4 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | 6 | 6 | 11 | — | 24 | 7 | 65 | 81 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 725 | 0 | 12 | 938 | 571 | 614 | 890 | 178 | 989 | 2626 | 205 | 95 | 84 | 0 | 610 | 100 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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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