Located on the Outer Banks in North Carolina, Cape Hatteras is probably the most well-known break on this stretch of coast. It is a quality break that crashes over well-defined sandbars off of the ends of worn jetties. The waves here can be a bit tricky and break for up to 100 meters. On a good day, heaving barrels will be on tap, on not so good days the waves can be quite mushy. Watch out for submerged objects and debris brought in by storms.
What are the best surf conditions for Cape Hatteras?
Gets good from about waist high to double overhead. This break is suitable when smaller for longboards, but when bigger a shortboard or step up is the play. This break is best for intermediate and advanced surfers. The surf here is pretty consistent (7/10) and due to its well-known status usually crowded (6/10). The best winds come from the Northwest or West. Good swells come in from most directions: North, Northeast, East, Southeast, and South, although it is very sheltered from the ones with North in them. Works on all tides depending on the sandbars.
We recommend wearing boardshorts or a bikini in the summer when water temperatures rise to 28 degrees. In winter the water temperatures drop to 12 degrees, making a 5/4 required for any amount of time in the water. See the temperature chart below for more data on this.
