Good morning, this is your National Weather Service surf zone forecast for the North Carolina Outer Banks, brought to you Saturday, April fourth at four oh eight AM.
We're starting the day with moderate rip current risks in effect through this evening across all forecast zones. That's something to keep an eye on if you're planning to get in the water today.
Looking at the Northern Outer Banks, including Duck, Kitty Hawk, and Nags Head, expect mostly sunny skies with surf heights running two to three feet. Water temperatures are chilly, sitting in the lower fifties, so you might want to consider a wetsuit. Winds will be light, coming from the south around ten miles per hour. High temperatures should reach the upper seventies, making for a nice day overall despite the cool water. High UV index, so sunscreen is definitely recommended.
Down in Hatteras Island, conditions are similar with sunny skies and three foot surf across both the northern and southern portions of Cape Hatteras. The water is a bit warmer here in the lower sixties. Southwest winds at ten to fifteen miles per hour will keep things pleasant. Moderate rip current risks continue in effect for both areas.
Ocracoke Island is looking sunny with three foot surf and moderate rip currents. Water temperature in the mid sixties with light to moderate southwest winds.
Over at East Carteret and Cape Lookout National Seashore, moderate rip current risks are in effect with three foot surf at Core Banks and around two feet at Shackleford Banks. Conditions are sunny and pleasant with light southwest winds.
West Carteret, including Fort Macon and Atlantic Beach, expect mostly sunny skies with two to three foot surf and moderate rip currents through the evening. High temperatures near the lower seventies.
And finally, Coastal Onslow, including North Topsail Beach, will see mostly sunny conditions with two to three foot surf and moderate rip current risks in effect.
Now looking ahead to Sunday, things get a bit more interesting. A system is moving in that will increase surf and rip current risks across the board.
The Northern Outer Banks will see mostly sunny skies until two PM, then clouds increase with showers likely. Surf stays two to three feet, but rip current risk drops to low. Winds increase from the south at fifteen to twenty miles per hour. High near the lower seventies.
Hatteras Island becomes the hotspot on Sunday. North of Cape Hatteras, moderate rip currents continue with two to four foot surf. But south of Cape Hatteras, rip current risk jumps to high with three to five foot surf expected. That's a significant change from today, so swimmers and surfers need to be extra cautious in that area.
Ocracoke Island upgrades to high rip current risk on Sunday with three to five foot surf and those stronger southwest winds around twenty miles per hour.
Similar story for East Carteret with high rip current risks developing across both Core Banks and Shackleford Banks. Three to five foot
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