Nags Head surf report, live beach cam & water temperature
Updated 4 Nov, 12:00 UTC
Live cam by Sunnyside Up Weather via YouTube
Current conditions
Right now at Nags Head: 9 kts E, gusts 9, 0.9 m waves, water 17 °C — good surfing waves.
7-day forecast
| Tue 3 | Wed 4 | Thu 5 | Fri 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | 00 | 03 | 06 | 09 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 00 | 03 | 06 | 09 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 00 | 03 | 06 | 09 | 12 | 15 | 18 | |
| Wind | 5 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 11 |
| Gusts | 6 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 14 | 10 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 13 | 11 | 15 |
| Direction | ↑ | ↑ | ↑ | ↑ | ↑ | ↑ | ↑ | ↑ | ↑ | ↑ | ↑ | ↑ | ↑ | ↑ | ↑ | ↑ | ↑ | ↑ | ↑ | ↑ | ↑ | ↑ | ↑ | ↑ |
| Waves | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| Temperature | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| Rain (mm) | 0.1 | 0.3 | 2.2 | 6.3 | 5.3 | 1.3 | ||||||||||||||||||
Times shown in local time · Wind, waves and water temperature: ECMWF open data (CC BY 4.0) · Tides: EOT20, DGFI-TUM (CC BY 4.0)
🔒 Days 4–7 are Pro — The free plan shows the first 3 forecast days. Go Pro to see the whole week.
Surf forecast
| Wed 4 | Thu 5 | Fri 6 | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 01 | 04 | 07 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 01 | 04 | 07 | 10 | 13 | 16 | |
| Surf (est.) | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| Primary swell | 0.87s↑ | 0.87s↑ | 0.97s↑ | 1.07s↑ | 1.07s↑ | 1.08s↑ | 1.08s↑ | 1.08s↑ | 1.08s↑ | 1.18s↑ | 1.18s↑ | 1.18s↑ | 1.19s↑ | 1.29s↑ | 1.29s↑ | 1.19s↑ | 1.19s↑ | 1.19s↑ | 1.09s↑ | 1.09s↑ |
| Secondary swell | 0.112s↑ | 0.112s↑ | 0.111s↑ | 0.112s↑ | 0.112s↑ | 0.112s↑ | 0.112s↑ | 0.112s↑ | 0.113s↑ | 0.113s↑ | 0.113s↑ | 0.113s↑ | 0.113s↑ | 0.114s↑ | 0.114s↑ | 0.114s↑ | 0.114s↑ | 0.114s↑ | 0.114s↑ | 0.115s↑ |
| Wind waves | 0.22s↑ | 0.22s↑ | 0.32s↑ | 0.33s↑ | 0.33s↑ | 0.43s↑ | 0.43s↑ | 0.43s↑ | 0.43s↑ | 0.53s↑ | 0.53s↑ | 0.64s↑ | ||||||||
| Waves | 0.9 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| Period | 8s | 8s | 8s | 8s | 8s | 8s | 9s | 9s | 9s | 9s | 9s | 9s | 9s | 9s | 9s | 9s | 9s | 9s | 9s | 9s |
| Power | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Groundswell | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
Surf height is estimated from the primary swell for a beach facing it; reefs, sandbanks and the tide change it. Power in kW per metre of coast. Groundswell: waves of 12 s and longer. Swell: NOAA WAVEWATCH III · ECMWF
Tides (next 48 h)
Spot info
- Town: Nags Head, Dare County (Outer Banks)
- Water: Sea
- Sports: Surf
- Best wind directions: WWSWWNWSW
Nags Head is one of the classic Outer Banks towns in Dare County, North Carolina, on the long barrier island between Kill Devil Hills and Oregon Inlet. Behind the beach rise the dunes of Jockey's Ridge State Park, the tallest living sand dune system on the Atlantic coast, where hang-gliding lessons have been given for decades, and the Wright Brothers National Memorial is only a few miles north. On the ocean side the landmark is Jennette's Pier, a concrete pier of about 1,000 feet run by the North Carolina Aquariums, with surfable sandbars on both sides. The Outer Banks stick far out into the Atlantic, so Nags Head receives swell from almost every direction, from autumn nor'easters to hurricanes passing offshore, and it is best with a westerly wind; summer often brings small, warm days ideal for learning. The same exposure makes rip currents a serious hazard, and the town's lifeguard stands are staffed in summer. The live cam on this page is the Sunnyside Up Weather stream from an oceanfront spot in Nags Head. Beach erosion and storm overwash are part of life here. The ocean is about 8 °C in February and 27 °C in August.
Nags Head FAQ
- Is there a beach cam at Nags Head?
- Yes. The live beach cam for Nags Head is at the top of this page, next to the wind and wave forecast.
- What wind direction works at Nags Head?
- It works best in W, WSW, WNW, SW winds.
