Marine forecast
Ocracoke Inlet–Cape Lookout (20-60 nm), NC
- current wind
- 5 kt SW
- Gusts
- 8 kt
- Seas
- 3.0 ft
- Period
- 7 sec
- Air
- 77°F
Observed Tue 3:10 PM | AMZ186
- Gusts now
- 8 kt
- Seas now
- 3.0 ft · 7 sec
- Air
- 77°F
- 72-hr peak
- 20 kt
- Peak seas
- 4 ft
In brief
At 3:10 pm EDT on Oct 13, 2026, NDBC station CLKN7 (Cape Lookout, NC, 32 miles away) measured wind from the SW at 5 kt, gusting to 8 kt; buoy 41120 measured seas of 3.0 ft. The NWS forecast for Ocracoke Inlet–Cape Lookout (20-60 nm), NC issued at 2:07 pm EDT on Oct 13, 2026 reads, for tonight: “E winds around 5 kt, becoming S late this evening and early morning, then becoming SW late. Seas 2 to 4 ft.”
Source: National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC forecast; NDBC observations
Wind forecast · ktPeak 20 kt
Seas forecast · ftPeak 4 ft
NWS marine forecast
| Period | Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tonight | E winds around 5 kt, becoming S late this evening and early morning, then becoming SW late. Seas 2 to 4 ft. |
| Wed | W winds 5 to 10 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. |
| Wed Night | SW winds 10 to 15 kt. Seas around 3 ft. |
| Thu | W winds 10 to 15 kt, diminishing to 5 to 10 kt in the afternoon. Seas around 3 ft. |
| Thu Night | SW winds 5 to 10 kt, increasing to 10 to 15 kt after midnight. Seas around 3 ft. |
| Fri | SW winds around 15 kt, increasing to around 20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt in the afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 ft. |
| Fri Night | SW winds 25 to 30 kt, becoming NW after midnight. Gusts up to 40 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft, building to 6 to 9 ft after midnight. Showers likely with a chance of tstms. |
| Sat | N winds 25 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft. |
| Sat Night | N winds 25 to 30 kt, becoming NE 20 to 25 kt after midnight. Seas 7 to 10 ft. |
| Sun | NE winds 20 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft. |
| Sun Night | E winds 15 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Winds and seas higher in and near tstms. |
Issued Tue 2:07 PM by Newport/Morehead City NC (product CWFMHX).
Recent buoy conditions
| Time | Wind | Gust | Seas | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 3:10 PM | 5 kt SW | 8 kt | — | — |
| Tue 2:50 PM | 5 kt SSW | 8 kt | — | — |
| Tue 1:50 PM | 4 kt SE | 5 kt | — | — |
| Tue 12:50 PM | 3 kt ESE | 4 kt | — | — |
| Tue 11:50 AM | 3 kt E | 4 kt | — | — |
| Tue 10:50 AM | 3 kt ENE | 4 kt | — | — |
| Tue 9:50 AM | 2 kt ENE | 4 kt | — | — |
| Tue 8:50 AM | 3 kt N | 5 kt | — | — |
| Tue 7:50 AM | 2 kt N | 4 kt | — | — |
| Tue 6:50 AM | 4 kt ENE | 5 kt | — | — |
| Tue 5:50 AM | 6 kt E | 7 kt | — | — |
| Tue 4:50 AM | 6 kt ENE | 7 kt | — | — |
Observed Tue 3:10 PM at NDBC buoy CLKN7 (Cape Lookout, NC), 31.5 miles away. Seas from buoy 41120 (Cape Hatteras East, NC (250)), 60.2 miles away, at Tue 2:56 PM.
Frequently asked questions
What is the marine forecast for Ocracoke Inlet–Cape Lookout (20-60 nm) today?
Tonight: E winds around 5 kt, becoming S late this evening and early morning, then becoming SW late. Seas 2 to 4 ft.
Is there a small craft advisory for Ocracoke Inlet–Cape Lookout (20-60 nm)?
No advisories, warnings or watches are in effect for NWS zone AMZ186 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 Ocracoke Inlet–Cape Lookout (20-60 nm) right now?
Seas are running 3.0 ft at a 7-second period, measured at NDBC buoy CLKN7 Tue 3:10 PM, 31.5 miles from this zone. The forecast peaks at 4.0 ft Fri 11 AM.
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 AMZ186, 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 CLKN7, read Tue 3:10 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.