Marine forecast
S of Ocracoke Inlet NC to Cape Lookout
- current wind
- 5 kt SW
- Gusts
- 8 kt
- Seas
- 2.0 ft
- Period
- 7 sec
- Air
- 77°F
Observed Tue 3:10 PM | AMZ156
- Gusts now
- 8 kt
- Seas now
- 2.0 ft · 7 sec
- Air
- 77°F
- 72-hr peak
- 17 kt
In brief
At 3:10 pm EDT on Oct 13, 2026, NDBC station CLKN7 (Cape Lookout, NC, 18 miles away) measured wind from the SW at 5 kt, gusting to 8 kt; buoy 41159 measured seas of 2.0 ft. The NWS forecast for S of Ocracoke Inlet NC to Cape Lookout issued at 2:07 pm EDT on Oct 13, 2026 reads, for tonight: “S winds 5 to 10 kt, becoming SW late. Seas around 2 ft.”
Source: National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC forecast; NDBC observations
Wind forecast · ktPeak 17 kt
NWS marine forecast
| Period | Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tonight | S winds 5 to 10 kt, becoming SW late. 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 10 to 15 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at 3 seconds and SE 2 ft at 7 seconds. Adjacent sounds and rivers a moderate 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 8 seconds. Adjacent sounds and rivers a moderate chop. |
| Thu | W winds 10 to 15 kt, diminishing to 5 to 10 kt in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at 4 seconds and SE 2 ft at 9 seconds. Adjacent sounds and rivers a moderate chop, diminishing to light chop in the afternoon. |
| Thu Night | SW winds around 5 kt, increasing to 10 to 15 kt after midnight. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at 4 seconds and NE 2 ft at 7 seconds. Adjacent sounds and rivers flat, increasing to a moderate chop after midnight. |
| Fri | SW winds 15 to 20 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: SW 4 ft at 5 seconds and NE 2 ft at 9 seconds. Adjacent sounds and rivers choppy. |
| Fri Night | SW winds 20 to 25 kt, becoming NW 25 to 30 kt after midnight. Gusts up to 35 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Adjacent sounds and rivers rough, increasing to very rough after midnight. A chance of showers. |
| Sat | N winds 20 to 25 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Adjacent sounds and rivers rough. |
| Sat Night | NE winds 20 to 25 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Adjacent sounds and rivers rough. |
| Sun | NE winds 15 to 20 kt. Seas 2 to 4 ft. Adjacent sounds and rivers choppy. |
| Sun Night | NE winds 10 to 15 kt. Seas 2 to 4 ft. Adjacent sounds and rivers a moderate chop. |
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), 18.4 miles away. Seas from buoy 41159 (Onslow Bay Outer, NC (217)), 54.5 miles away, at Tue 2:56 PM.
Frequently asked questions
What is the marine forecast for S of Ocracoke Inlet NC to Cape Lookout today?
Tonight: S winds 5 to 10 kt, becoming SW late. 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 Ocracoke Inlet NC to Cape Lookout?
No advisories, warnings or watches are in effect for NWS zone AMZ156 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 Ocracoke Inlet NC to Cape Lookout right now?
Seas are running 2.0 ft at a 7-second period, measured at NDBC buoy CLKN7 Tue 3:10 PM, 18.4 miles from this zone.
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 AMZ156, 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.