Surf spot

Hatteras Light House

Forecast conditions and map view for Hatteras Light House in USA, South East, North Carolina. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: USA, South East, North Carolina
Coordinates: 35.2284, -75.5275

Metric
Metric	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00
Wave height (m)	0.6	0.7	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.4	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.4	0.3	0.7	0.7	0.3	0.2	0.4	0.7	0.9	0.8	0.9	0.9	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.5
Wave direction	SSE	S	S	SSE	SSE	SSE	S	S	S	SSW	SSW	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	ESE	ESE	SE	SE	SE	S	S	S	S	SE	SSW	ESE	ESE	ESE	SE	SE	SE	SE	E	E	E	ESE	ESE	E	ENE	E	E	ENE	E	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE
Wave period (s)	4.3	4.7	4.8	5.1	4.5	4.8	3.5	3.3	4.5	3.1	3	7.2	7.3	7.3	7.5	7.6	7.8	8	7.9	7.5	7.3	7.5	5	4.3	3.8	3.6	5.3	4.7	7.3	7.2	7.3	6.5	6.3	6.7	6.7	6.5	5.9	5.9	7.4	6.8	7.2	6.5	5.8	5.8	5.7	5.3	5.4	5.3	5.5	5.6	5.7	5.5	5.2	5.4	5.5	5.5
Wave energy (kJ)	12	19	32	27	18	8	5	5	9	4	4	24	25	29	30	31	33	29	31	35	36	35	17	12	9	9	15	11	25	24	23	19	18	14	11	10	34	30	11	4	17	47	49	47	49	46	39	33	26	23	20	19	18	16	14	13
Wind speed (km/h)	29.5	24.9	17.7	15.3	13.8	21.4	23.2	14.6	11.9	5	3.9	11.2	13.7	17.7	22.8	25.8	23.6	12.6	20.7	24.4	21.7	23.4	19.9	16.7	7.4	9.9	10.6	18.1	16.6	18.5	21.3	20.8	25.8	25.3	28.7	26.7	25.5	22.9	20.7	22.9	23	19.1	20.1	18.8	17.6	16.9	19.6	18.7	16.6	7.6	7.4	14	10.7	11.2	13.9	12.5
Wind direction	SWOffshore	WSWOffshore	WCross-off	WCross-off	SWOffshore	SSWOffshore	SWOffshore	SWOffshore	WSWOffshore	WCross-off	SEGlassy	SCross-off	SSWCross-off	SSWOffshore	SSWOffshore	SSWOffshore	SWOffshore	WSWOffshore	SWOffshore	WSWOffshore	WSWOffshore	SWOffshore	SWOffshore	WSWOffshore	NWCross	NNEOnshore	NNEOnshore	NNEOnshore	NEOnshore	ENEOnshore	ENEOnshore	ENEOnshore	NEOnshore	NEOnshore	NEOnshore	ENEOnshore	NEOnshore	NEOnshore	NEOnshore	ENEOnshore	ENECross-on	ENEOnshore	ENEOnshore	ENEOnshore	NEOnshore	ENEOnshore	ECross-on	ENEOnshore	ECross-on	ECross-on	SECross	ESECross-on	ESECross-on	ESECross-on	ESECross-on	ESECross

Hatteras Lighthouse (Cape Hatteras), North Carolina, USA

Hatteras Lighthouse is a well-known surf spot on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, on the Atlantic-facing side near Buxton. It’s exposed to open-ocean swell, which means it can pick up consistent waves when conditions line up, especially during hurricane season and fall-spring swell periods.

What it’s like

Beach break: Mostly sandbar-driven, so the shape can change often.
Powerful surf: Can get hollow and punchy when the sandbars are right.
Shifty peaks: Waves often break in multiple spots rather than a single consistent line.
Wind-sensitive: Offshore winds can clean it up nicely; onshore winds can make it messy quickly.

Best conditions

Swell: East to southeast swell works well, though north and northeast swells can also produce surf depending on storm tracks.
Wind: Light west or northwest winds are usually best.
Tide: Often works best around mid tide, but this depends heavily on sandbar setup.

Skill level

Intermediate to advanced when it’s big or hollow.
Smaller days can be more manageable for beginners, but the spot is still best known for stronger, more serious surf.

Hazards

Strong currents and rip channels
Changing sandbars
Larger shorebreak on bigger swells
Marine life and occasional debris, especially after storms

Overall vibe

Hatteras Lighthouse is a classic East Coast surf destination with a raw, powerful feel. When the swell is pumping and the wind is favorable, it can deliver some of the best waves on the Outer Banks.