The Wave
Swells from the NE produce the most organized lines, and the spot cleans up in west/offshore winds.
It often rides best on a low tide that is beginning to rise.
Surf GuideNorth Carolina
The Lighthouse
A shifting Outer Banks beach/jetty break in front of the Cape Hatteras lighthouse that rewards NE groundswells with long lefts and rights but can be punchy and unpredictable where sand has eroded near the lighthouse. Get the latest surfing conditions, forecast, and tide details for The Lighthouse in North Carolina.
Break TypeBeach Break
Skill LevelIntermediate
LocationNorth Carolina, US
Best conditions today
- Waves 1-2 ft
- Period 7 s
- Wind E 5 kt
Tide curve (forecast)
2.5 ftrising
- Low0.2 ft
- High4.7 ft
- Low0.1 ft
- High5.0 ft
Spot Guide
Lineup Insights
Lineup Guide
Frequent erosion and an active sandbar in front of the lighthouse produce fast, sometimes hollow peaks and local rips - watch for shifting takeoff zones and debris near eroding shorelines.
Deep Dive
Get the full picture in WaveWise.
Stop guessing and start surfing. WaveWise analyzes live data to find your best upcoming sessions so you spend less time planning and more time paddling out.
Hourly swells, wind & weather
Live tide windows & daylight
Session Finder ranking
Explore