Good morning, this is your North Carolina surf zone forecast for Friday, April 24th through Saturday. Let's dive into what's happening at your favorite beaches.
Starting with the Northern Outer Banks including Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, and Nags Head, today is looking pretty sweet. We're expecting one to two foot waves with low rip current risk, so you can paddle out with confidence. It's going to be mostly sunny with just a slight chance of showers, and winds will be light out of the west at five to ten miles per hour. Water temps are hanging in the mid-fifties, so a wetsuit is still your friend. The UV index is very high, so don't forget that sunscreen. High temperature today will push into the upper seventies.
Moving down the coast to Hatteras Island, conditions are a bit more interesting. We've got a moderate rip current risk in effect south of Cape Hatteras through this evening, so swimmers and surfers need to be aware of that. North of the cape, rip current risk stays low. Surf will be around two feet north of Cape Hatteras and bumping up to two to three feet south of the cape. Southwest winds around ten to fifteen miles per hour will keep things moving. Water temps here are a bit cooler in the low sixties.
Ocracoke Island is under a moderate rip current risk today as well. You're looking at two to three foot waves with mostly sunny skies and southwest winds around fifteen miles per hour. Water temps in the mid-sixties, so again, bring that wetsuit.
East Carteret, which includes Cape Lookout National Seashore and Shackleford Banks, is also under a moderate rip current risk for both Core Banks and Shackleford Banks today. Two to three foot surf with sunny conditions and southwest winds around fifteen miles per hour. Water temps in the mid-sixties throughout the area.
Over at West Carteret with Fort Macon, Atlantic Beach, Pine Knoll Shores, Salter Path, and Emerald Isle, moderate rip current risk is in effect. Two to three foot waves, sunny skies, and southwest winds around fifteen miles per hour. Slightly warmer here with highs in the upper seventies and water temps in the mid-sixties.
Finally, Coastal Onslow including Hammocks Beach and North Topsail Beach, we've got moderate rip current risk today with two to three foot waves, sunny conditions, and southwest winds ten to fifteen miles per hour. This area is going to be the warmest of the day with highs around eighty degrees.
Now let's look ahead to Saturday. The Northern Outer Banks will see around two foot waves with low rip current risk continuing. It'll be mostly sunny with a slight chance of showers and south winds five to ten miles per hour. Slightly cooler than today with highs in the mid-seventies.
Hatteras Island stays much the same, with low rip current risk north of Cape Hatteras and moderate risk south of the cape. Surf bumps up slightly to two to three feet north of Cape Hatteras and around three feet south of the cape. Southwest winds around t
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.