North Carolina
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Billy Mitchell Airport, North Carolina. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sun, May 10: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Fair. Consistent 2-3ft surf through the day on SE swell at 6s with gentle S breeze.
Mon, May 11: 1–2ft, 12s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with 7mph WSW winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 19mph.
Tue, May 12: 0–1ft, 8s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with 19mph out of the NNE.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with gentle SSE breeze. Afternoon breeze fills in to 15mph.
Thu, May 14: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on S swell at 5s with 12mph WNW winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
7s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Billy Mitchell Airport sits on the south-facing side of Hatteras Island near the Cape Hatteras region. This stretch catches S and SE swells particularly well — including hurricane swell that lights up the south-facing beaches when the rest of the OBX gets wind-blown. The uncrowded beach breaks offer mellow, forgiving waves for learning.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Billy Mitchell Airport is 2-3ft with a 6.1s swell period. Wind is S at 6mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Billy Mitchell Airport is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.5ft SE primary swell at 6s, a 0.6ft SE secondary swell at 11s, a 0.5ft SE tertiary swell at 13s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Billy Mitchell Airport is Sunday from 4 PM to 7 PM with 2ft waves, a 6.1s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Billy Mitchell Airport works best with a S swell and N winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Billy Mitchell Airport. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Billy Mitchell Airport is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Billy Mitchell Airport sits on the south-facing side of Hatteras Island near the Cape Hatteras region. This stretch catches S and SE swells particularly well — including hurricane swell that lights up the south-facing beaches when the rest of the OBX gets wind-blown. The uncrowded beach breaks offer mellow, forgiving waves for learning.
The prime season at Billy Mitchell Airport is fall, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Billy Mitchell Airport include shifting sandbars, occasional strong currents, shallow areas at low tide. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Billy Mitchell Airport forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable. Extended forecasts show general trends. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
