Overview

Ocracoke Inlet is located at the southern tip of Ocracoke Island, the inlet separating Ocracoke from Portsmouth Island (uninhabited). This historic inlet is the oldest on the North Carolina coast and played a major role in the region's maritime history (pirate Blackbeard was killed here in 1718). The spot is advanced due to very powerful tidal currents. Shifting sandbars create an ever-changing landscape. Reserved for very experienced riders with knowledge of local currents.

Suggest an edit

Spot forecast for Ocracoke Inlet / Ocracoke Island

Sunrise 07:14 · Sunset 18:23

Open-Meteo

Premium weather models. Get the professional models (ECMWF, GFS, ICON, MeteoSwiss…) and a 16-day forecast. Without a subscription: Open-Meteo over 5 days.

Go Premium

< 7 kn7–12 kn13–20 kn21–30 kn31–40 kn41+ kn Gusts Your minimum: 7 kn

Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo

Swell and waves

Swell and tides over 8 days. Premium members see the swell and tides over 8 days. Without a subscription: 5 days.

Go Premium

Wave height: < 0.5 m 0.5–1 m 1–2 m 2–3 m ≥ 3 m

Swell data by Open-Meteo Marine

Tides

Heights above lowest astronomical tide, in the spot's local time. Computed 1.1 km from the spot.

Tuesday 20 October High tide 02:21 · 0.9 m Low tide 08:56 · 0.5 m High tide 14:51 · 1.1 m Low tide 22:15 · 0.4 m
Wednesday 21 October High tide 03:26 · 1 m Low tide 10:00 · 0.4 m High tide 15:47 · 1.1 m Low tide 22:45 · 0.4 m
Thursday 22 October High tide 04:20 · 1.1 m Low tide 10:57 · 0.4 m High tide 16:39 · 1.1 m Low tide 23:13 · 0.3 m
Friday 23 October High tide 05:09 · 1.2 m Low tide 11:46 · 0.3 m High tide 17:28 · 1.1 m Low tide 23:46 · 0.3 m
Saturday 24 October High tide 05:56 · 1.3 m Low tide 12:31 · 0.2 m High tide 18:16 · 1.1 m

Ocracoke Inlet / Ocracoke Island: when to go?

Rideable days and hours computed for a minimum wind of 7 knots · log in to set your own (foil, twin-tip…)

Season · peak

398h

in March · 31 rideable days

The spot works year-round: 30 rideable days a month on average, at 21 °C. It peaks in March, with 398 hours of usable wind.

Rideable days per month

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 53%13-20 knots · 42%21-30 knots · 5%31+ knots · under 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 53% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at 11 °C. The wettest month is August, with 247 mm.

Monthly averages: Ocracoke Inlet / Ocracoke Island

Monthly averages — Ocracoke Inlet / Ocracoke Island — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month	Rideable days	Usable wind	Temperature	Rain
January	28.5	316 h	11 °C	43 mm
February	27.5	305 h	14 °C	38 mm
March	31.0	398 h	18 °C	189 mm
April	30.0	405 h	22 °C	44 mm
May	30.0	384 h	25 °C	138 mm
June	29.5	384 h	29 °C	47 mm
July	30.0	394 h	30 °C	211 mm
August	30.5	373 h	28 °C	247 mm
September	28.5	337 h	26 °C	85 mm
October	30.5	355 h	22 °C	83 mm
November	29.0	302 h	18 °C	68 mm
December	30.5	305 h	13 °C	64 mm

Photo gallery of Ocracoke Inlet / Ocracoke Island

This spot is waiting for its first images

Ridden here? One photo or video, and the spot comes alive for everyone discovering it.

Technical details of Ocracoke Inlet / Ocracoke Island spot

The spot works with winds from N, NNE, NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S, SSW, SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW, NNW.

Rideable Not rideable

Spot opening date · Required level

Spot opening date: Open all year round
Required level: Advanced

On the water

Complex waters influenced by tidal currents through the inlet. Shifting sandbars with shallow areas and deep channels. Conditions change dramatically with tides. Waves and currents can be very strong at the inlet mouth. At low tide, vast sandbars emerge offering a unique but dangerous playground.

Hazards

Extremely powerful tidal currents — NEVER ride in the main inlet channel. Risk of being pulled out to open sea. Shifting sandbars — topography changes constantly. Sharks frequent in the area. Stingrays. Maritime traffic (ferries, fishing boats). Most isolated island in the OBX — very limited medical rescue. Spot for experts only. Always ride with an experienced buddy.

Something out of date? Suggest an edit

Live

Currently, there is no weather station at this spot. If you want to change this, help us fund one: Weather Station Project

All the details of your session on windtracker.app

Webcams near Ocracoke Inlet / Ocracoke Island

Webcams provided by Windy.com

Nearby spots

All spots: Caroline du Nord

Comments 0

No comments yet.

Log in to comment

Ocracoke Inlet / Ocracoke Island kitesurf and wingfoil spot