Outer Banks North Carolina · Wednesday, Sep 23

Rodanthe

NWS MHX · NCZ205; official reef-face range: 10–13 ft

Updated Tue, Sep 22, 8:20 PM EDT

When to go

12:00 PM–2:00 PM

Strong wind — difficult conditions · Low confidence

5.6–5.6 ft · Offshore waves · not face height

Strong wind: 26.5 kt · cross-shore

Cautions

Strong wind or gusts up to 29.7 kt can make the session difficult; being first in the list does not make conditions good.
Strong wind or gusts up to 31.3 kt can make the session difficult; being first in the list does not make conditions good.
Strong wind or gusts up to 32.1 kt can make the session difficult; being first in the list does not make conditions good.

Forecast details

This is the best time in the forecast, though wind may make it choppy.

Other wind windows

Plan around the wind

The best available upcoming daylight wind sample to compare with the wave evidence. This compares wind only; wave size, tide suitability, and hazards can change your choice.

10:00 AM–12:00 PM · America/New_York
Strong wind · up to 25.9 kt · reported gusts up to 30.3 kt
Caution: This is the best available wind comparison, not a favorable-wind label. Strong wind remains in the selected evidence.
Offshore waves: 5.6–5.6 ft across the period. Surf height unavailable. Tide data available; check the local tide response.
Wind source time: Sep 22, 7:45 PM EDT. This is not the model run issue time.

How these periods are chosen

The planner prefers three consecutive hourly samples covering two daylight hours, but retains shorter one- or two-sample evidence when that is all the forecast provides. Light wind means at most 6 kt. Moderate offshore means at most 12 kt from land toward the sea when shore orientation is verified. Strong wind or known gusts of 20 kt or more remain visible as cautions instead of making the entire comparison disappear. These are comparison labels, not locally tested surf-quality or safety ratings. Missing gusts remain unknown. Terrain shelter, currents, closures, and your ability are not assessed.

Forecast confidence

Returned marine grid point is 4.3 km from the mapped spot. Provider grid resolution is not established for this response.
Reference model hour: 11 hours from now; historical residuals do not measure forecast lead-time error.
No accepted local model for these inputs: missing history, unsupported direction/period/height, or failed historical validation.
A mapped coordinate does not establish nearshore grid resolution or terrain/shelter accuracy.

Wind N 26.8 kt

Tide 1 ft falling

Wave, wind and tide details

Offshore model swellE 0.5 ft @ 12sValid 2026-09-23 08:00 · America/New_YorkMarine grid 35.5417, -75.4583 · offshore model, not a local measurement

Offshore model sea5.6 ft @ 6.7sSignificant wave height including wind waves and swell; not breaking surfValid 2026-09-23 08:00 · America/New_York

Model windN 26.8 ktcross-shoreValid 2026-09-23 08:00 · America/New_York2.8 kt onshore component

Tide1 ftfallingNOAA Oregon Inlet Marina 8652587 · 25.3 km from Rodanthe · predicted height relative to MLLWRetrieved Sep 22, 8:28 PM EDT · provider issue time unavailable72% of adjacent local low–high range · descriptive, not a safety rating

NWS MHX · NCZ205

Rip Current Risk*... North of Cape Hatteras...High. South of Cape Hatteras...High. Surf Height... North of Cape Hatteras...10 to 13 feet. South of Cape Hatteras...2 to 4 feet building to 5 to 8 feet. Thunderstorm Potential**....Moderate. UV Index**..................Low. Water Temperature...........In the upper 70s. Weather.....................Mostly cloudy. Rain likely and a chance of thunderstorms. High Temperature............In the upper 70s. Winds.......................Windy. Northeast winds 25 to 30 mph. Tides... Cape Hatteras............Low 0.6 feet (MLLW) 11:34 AM EDT. High 3.5 feet (MLLW) 05:59 PM EDT.

WEDNESDAYOfficial breaking-surf height for Hatteras Island; forecast-zone range, not a calibrated break transformationIssued Sep 22, 8:09 PM EDT

Surf height unavailable. Coastal and offshore waves are not breaking-wave heights.

Surf and wind

Recommended window: No recommended window

Breaking surf is not reliably resolved. Hourly offshore swell and wind inputs are listed below.

Hourly forecast

Hourly surf forecast for Rodanthe
Time	Wind	Tide	Offshore swell
12 AM	NNE 24.7 ktcross-shore	0.5 ftnear low	NE 1.4 ft @ 8s
1 AM	NNE 24.8 ktcross-shore	0.5 ftrising	NE 1.4 ft @ 8s
2 AM	NNE 25.4 ktcross-shore	0.5 ftrising	NE 1.4 ft @ 8s
3 AM	NNE 26.8 ktcross-shore	1 ftrising	ENE 1.1 ft @ 9s
4 AM	NNE 26.8 ktcross-shore	1 ftrising	ENE 0.9 ft @ 10s
5 AM	NNE 28.4 ktcross-shore	1 ftrising	E 0.5 ft @ 11s
6 AM	NNE 28.4 ktcross-shore	1 ftnear high	E 0.5 ft @ 11s
7 AM	NNE 29.2 ktcross-shore	1 ftfalling	E 0.5 ft @ 12s
8 AM	N 26.8 ktcross-shore	1 ftfalling	E 0.5 ft @ 12s
9 AM	N 27.6 ktcross-shore	1 ftfalling	E 0.5 ft @ 12s
10 AM	N 25.9 ktcross-shore	0.5 ftfalling	E 0.5 ft @ 12s
11 AM	NNE 24.9 ktcross-shore	0.5 ftfalling	E 0.5 ft @ 12s
Noon	NNE 24.2 ktcross-shore	0.5 ftnear low	E 0.6 ft @ 11s
1 PM	NE 26 ktcross-shore	0.5 ftrising	E 0.7 ft @ 9s
2 PM	NNE 26.5 ktcross-shore	0.5 ftrising	E 0.9 ft @ 8s
3 PM	NE 27.2 ktcross-shore	0.5 ftrising	E 1.1 ft @ 9s
4 PM	NNE 27.6 ktcross-shore	1 ftrising	ENE 1.2 ft @ 10s
5 PM	NNE 28.2 ktcross-shore	1 ftrising	ENE 1.4 ft @ 10s
6 PM	NNE 27.2 ktcross-shore	1 ftrising	ENE 1.5 ft @ 10s
7 PM	NNE 26.9 ktcross-shore	1 ftfalling	ENE 1.7 ft @ 11s
8 PM	NNE 25.9 ktcross-shore	1 ftfalling	ENE 1.8 ft @ 10s
9 PM	NNE 30.4 ktcross-shore	1 ftfalling	ENE 1.8 ft @ 10s
10 PM	NNE 31.8 ktcross-shore	1 ftfalling	E 1.6 ft @ 8s
11 PM	NNE 32.4 ktcross-shore	0.5 ftfalling	E 1.6 ft @ 8s

12 AMUnavailable

WindNNE 24.7 ktcross-shoreTide0.5 ftnear lowOffshore swellNE 1.4 ft @ 8s

1 AMUnavailable

WindNNE 24.8 ktcross-shoreTide0.5 ftrisingOffshore swellNE 1.4 ft @ 8s

2 AMUnavailable

WindNNE 25.4 ktcross-shoreTide0.5 ftrisingOffshore swellNE 1.4 ft @ 8s

3 AMUnavailable

WindNNE 26.8 ktcross-shoreTide1 ftrisingOffshore swellENE 1.1 ft @ 9s

4 AMUnavailable

WindNNE 26.8 ktcross-shoreTide1 ftrisingOffshore swellENE 0.9 ft @ 10s

5 AMUnavailable

WindNNE 28.4 ktcross-shoreTide1 ftrisingOffshore swellE 0.5 ft @ 11s

6 AMUnavailable

WindNNE 28.4 ktcross-shoreTide1 ftnear highOffshore swellE 0.5 ft @ 11s

7 AMUnavailable

WindNNE 29.2 ktcross-shoreTide1 ftfallingOffshore swellE 0.5 ft @ 12s

8 AMUnavailable

WindN 26.8 ktcross-shoreTide1 ftfallingOffshore swellE 0.5 ft @ 12s

9 AMUnavailable

WindN 27.6 ktcross-shoreTide1 ftfallingOffshore swellE 0.5 ft @ 12s

10 AMUnavailable

WindN 25.9 ktcross-shoreTide0.5 ftfallingOffshore swellE 0.5 ft @ 12s

11 AMUnavailable

WindNNE 24.9 ktcross-shoreTide0.5 ftfallingOffshore swellE 0.5 ft @ 12s

NoonUnavailable

WindNNE 24.2 ktcross-shoreTide0.5 ftnear lowOffshore swellE 0.6 ft @ 11s

1 PMUnavailable

WindNE 26 ktcross-shoreTide0.5 ftrisingOffshore swellE 0.7 ft @ 9s

2 PMUnavailable

WindNNE 26.5 ktcross-shoreTide0.5 ftrisingOffshore swellE 0.9 ft @ 8s

3 PMUnavailable

WindNE 27.2 ktcross-shoreTide0.5 ftrisingOffshore swellE 1.1 ft @ 9s

4 PMUnavailable

WindNNE 27.6 ktcross-shoreTide1 ftrisingOffshore swellENE 1.2 ft @ 10s

5 PMUnavailable

WindNNE 28.2 ktcross-shoreTide1 ftrisingOffshore swellENE 1.4 ft @ 10s

6 PMUnavailable

WindNNE 27.2 ktcross-shoreTide1 ftrisingOffshore swellENE 1.5 ft @ 10s

7 PMUnavailable

WindNNE 26.9 ktcross-shoreTide1 ftfallingOffshore swellENE 1.7 ft @ 11s

8 PMUnavailable

WindNNE 25.9 ktcross-shoreTide1 ftfallingOffshore swellENE 1.8 ft @ 10s

9 PMUnavailable

WindNNE 30.4 ktcross-shoreTide1 ftfallingOffshore swellENE 1.8 ft @ 10s

10 PMUnavailable

WindNNE 31.8 ktcross-shoreTide1 ftfallingOffshore swellE 1.6 ft @ 8s

11 PMUnavailable

WindNNE 32.4 ktcross-shoreTide0.5 ftfallingOffshore swellE 1.6 ft @ 8s

Tide

NOAA Oregon Inlet Marina 8652587 · 25.3 km from Rodanthe · MLLW

Interpolated tide height Recommended window

About this spot

Model-grid forecast requested at the mapped coordinate; reef, headland, and nearshore transformations are unresolved. Beach/jetty break.

Mapped spot coordinate: 35.58, -75.46.

Mainland · Coast not verified · Ocean-facing bearing 90° · Location provenance

Model request point: Rodanthe (35.58, -75.46). Model output times describe valid conditions; the provider does not expose the model run issue time in this response.

Forecast sources

Data coverage 4/4 sources

Source availability is not forecast accuracy. Where an empirical model passes historical testing, its error and interval coverage are shown above. Source count cannot increase that confidence.

Coverage tier A · US_EAST · spot-level model point

NWS MHX · NCZ205; official reef-face range10–13 ftCurrent · Sep 22, 8:09 PM EDT

NWS MHX · NCZ205
NWS MHX · NCZ205; Official breaking-surf height for Hatteras Island; forecast-zone range, not a calibrated break transformationCurrentSep 22, 8:09 PM EDT
NOAA NDBC real-time station files
Current buoy observations are not forecasts for the selected future date.Not applicableNo source time
NOAA CO-OPS Tides and Currents API
NOAA Oregon Inlet Marina 8652587 · 25.3 km from Rodanthe; predicted high/low events above MLLW, converted to feet. Timestamp is retrieval time; provider issue time is not supplied.CurrentSep 22, 8:28 PM EDT
Open-Meteo Marine API
1 of 1 configured model points availableCurrentSep 22, 7:45 PM EDT
Open-Meteo Weather API
1 of 1 configured model points availableCurrentSep 22, 7:45 PM EDT
Surf-Forecast public pages
Spot discovery and break-specific HTML fallbackNot applicableNo source time
Surfline public spot pages
Break-specific comparison, cams, and metadataNot applicableNo source time

How best guesses are made

Best guesses combine usable wave and wind evidence, with qualitative confidence and specific limitations. A missing tide or local surf-height model does not prevent useful guidance. Tide levels use the named station datum; their effect at this break remains uncertain. Wind direction is relative to the mapped beach orientation, without calibrated terrain or shelter effects. The comparison is a heuristic, not a measured quality rating.