Marine forecast
S of Cape Lookout NC to Surf City
- current wind
- 4 kt S
- Gusts
- 6 kt
- Seas
- 2.0 ft
- Period
- 7 sec
- Air
- 77°F
Observed Tue 2:48 PM | AMZ158
- Gusts now
- 6 kt
- Seas now
- 2.0 ft · 7 sec
- Air
- 77°F
- Water
- 76°F
- 72-hr peak
- 13 kt
In brief
At 2:48 pm EDT on Oct 13, 2026, NDBC station BFTN7 (Beaufort, NC, 24 miles away) measured wind from the S at 4 kt, gusting to 6 kt; buoy 41159 measured seas of 2.0 ft. The NWS forecast for S of Cape Lookout NC to Surf City issued at 2:07 pm EDT on Oct 13, 2026 reads, for tonight: “SW winds 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 2 ft.”
Source: National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC forecast; NDBC observations
Wind forecast · ktPeak 13 kt
Seas forecast · ftPeak 1 ft
NWS marine forecast
| Period | Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tonight | SW winds 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 2 ft. Wave Detail: S 2 ft at 6 seconds and NE 1 ft at 8 seconds. Adjacent sounds and rivers light chop. |
| Wed | SW winds around 10 kt. Seas around 2 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at 3 seconds and SE 2 ft at 7 seconds. Adjacent sounds and rivers light chop. |
| Wed Night | SW winds 10 to 15 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at 4 seconds and SE 2 ft at 7 seconds. Adjacent sounds and rivers a moderate chop. |
| Thu | SW winds 5 to 10 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at 4 seconds and E 2 ft at 7 seconds. Adjacent sounds and rivers light chop. |
| Thu Night | SW winds 5 to 10 kt, increasing to 10 to 15 kt after midnight. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at 4 seconds and SE 2 ft at 9 seconds. Adjacent sounds and rivers light chop, increasing to a moderate chop after midnight. |
| Fri | SW winds 10 to 15 kt, increasing to 15 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: SW 4 ft at 5 seconds and E 2 ft at 9 seconds. Adjacent sounds and rivers a moderate chop, increasing to choppy in the afternoon. |
| Fri Night | SW winds 20 to 25 kt, becoming NW 25 to 30 kt after midnight. Gusts up to 35 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft, except 3 to 4 ft near shore. Adjacent sounds and rivers rough, increasing to very rough after midnight. A chance of showers. |
| Sat | N winds 20 to 25 kt, diminishing to 15 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Adjacent sounds and rivers rough, diminishing to choppy in the afternoon. |
| Sat Night | NE winds 15 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Adjacent sounds and rivers choppy. |
| Sun | NE winds 15 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Adjacent sounds and rivers choppy. |
| Sun Night | NE winds 15 to 20 kt, diminishing to 10 to 15 kt after midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Adjacent sounds and rivers choppy, diminishing to a moderate chop after midnight. |
Issued Tue 2:07 PM by Newport/Morehead City NC (product CWFMHX).
Recent buoy conditions
| Time | Wind | Gust | Seas | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 2:48 PM | 4 kt S | 6 kt | — | 76°F |
| Tue 1:54 PM | 3 kt SSW | 7 kt | — | 76°F |
| Tue 12:54 PM | 3 kt S | 6 kt | — | 75°F |
| Tue 11:54 AM | 1 kt S | 4 kt | — | 75°F |
| Tue 10:54 AM | 0 kt | 0 kt | — | 75°F |
| Tue 9:54 AM | 0 kt | 0 kt | — | 75°F |
| Tue 8:54 AM | 0 kt | 0 kt | — | 74°F |
| Tue 7:54 AM | 0 kt | 1 kt | — | 74°F |
| Tue 6:54 AM | 2 kt N | 2 kt | — | 74°F |
| Tue 5:54 AM | 1 kt N | 2 kt | — | 74°F |
| Tue 4:54 AM | 0 kt | 1 kt | — | 74°F |
| Tue 3:54 AM | 1 kt NE | 2 kt | — | 74°F |
Observed Tue 2:48 PM at NDBC buoy BFTN7 (Beaufort, NC), 23.9 miles away. Seas from buoy 41159 (Onslow Bay Outer, NC (217)), 31.5 miles away, at Tue 2:56 PM.
Frequently asked questions
What is the marine forecast for S of Cape Lookout NC to Surf City today?
Tonight: SW winds 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 2 ft. Wave Detail: S 2 ft at 6 seconds and NE 1 ft at 8 seconds. Adjacent sounds and rivers light chop.
Is there a small craft advisory for S of Cape Lookout NC to Surf City?
No advisories, warnings or watches are in effect for NWS zone AMZ158 as of the last update on this page. Advisories can be issued at any time; check the current bulletin before leaving the dock.
How high are the waves at S of Cape Lookout NC to Surf City right now?
Seas are running 2.0 ft at a 7-second period, measured at NDBC buoy BFTN7 Tue 2:48 PM, 23.9 miles from this zone. The forecast peaks at 1.0 ft Fri 2 PM.
What is the water temperature at S of Cape Lookout NC to Surf City?
The nearest buoy read 76°F (24°C) at Tue 2:48 PM. Sea surface temperature at a single buoy can differ by several degrees from the water at a beach or in a shallow bay nearby.
What do the wind speeds in knots mean?
One knot is 1.15 mph. The National Weather Service issues a small craft advisory for sustained winds of roughly 22–33 knots or hazardous seas, a gale warning at 34–47 knots, and a storm warning at 48 knots and above. Exact advisory thresholds vary by forecast office and by water body — a bay reaches dangerous chop at a lower wind speed than open ocean.
Where does this forecast come from?
The forecast text is the National Weather Service's own marine bulletin for zone AMZ158, issued by Newport/Morehead City NC, reproduced in full. The wind and seas charts are drawn from the NWS gridded forecast for a point inside the zone. Observations come from the nearest reporting NDBC buoy. We are not affiliated with NOAA or the National Weather Service.
Forecast: NOAA/NWS product CWFMHX, issued Tue 2:07 PM. Observations: NOAA National Data Buoy Center station BFTN7, read Tue 2:48 PM. Retrieved Oct 13, 3:42 PM. Conditions offshore change faster than any page can be rebuilt, so check the current NWS bulletin and your own instruments before going out.