North Carolina
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Ocracoke, 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. Rideable all day with 2-3ft waves on SE swell at 6s and 8mph S winds.
Mon, May 11: 1–2ft, 12s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with moderate WSW wind around 9mph. Expect the wind to bump up to around 25mph by PM.
Tue, May 12: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 2-3ft waves and poor - fair conditions with strong NE wind at 25mph.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on E swell at 7s with gentle SE breeze. Onshore flow builds through the day to 14mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Thu, May 14: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Midday is the call — 2-3ft waves with 16mph NW winds and fair conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down. Afternoon wind picks back up so try to get wet before 2pm.
7s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Ocracoke is the wild card of North Carolina surfing — a remote barrier island accessible only by ferry with miles of empty beach breaks. The waves here are notoriously fast and racy, catching many surfers off guard. What works in Corolla won't work here and vice versa. Rare summer south swells can produce legendary sessions with no one around. The charming village and total lack of development make the ferry trip worthwhile.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Ocracoke is 2-3ft with a 6.1s swell period. Wind is SSE 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 Ocracoke is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.8ft SE primary swell at 6s, a 0.7ft ESE secondary swell at 13s, a 0.5ft SE tertiary swell at 11s. 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 Ocracoke 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.
Ocracoke works best with a SE swell and NW 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 Ocracoke. 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.
Ocracoke is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Ocracoke is the wild card of North Carolina surfing — a remote barrier island accessible only by ferry with miles of empty beach breaks. The waves here are notoriously fast and racy, catching many surfers off guard. What works in Corolla won't work here and vice versa. Rare summer south swells can produce legendary sessions with no one around. The charming village and total lack of development make the ferry trip worthwhile.
The prime season at Ocracoke 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 Ocracoke include strong currents, limited services, ferry-dependent access. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Ocracoke 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.
