Marine forecast
Cape Lookout to Surf City NC (20-60 nm)
- current wind
- 2 kt NW
- Gusts
- 4 kt
- Seas
- 2.0 ft
- Period
- 7 sec
- Air
- 79°F
Observed Tue 2:08 PM | AMZ188
- Gusts now
- 4 kt
- Seas now
- 2.0 ft · 7 sec
- Air
- 79°F
- Water
- 80°F
- 72-hr peak
- 18 kt
In brief
At 2:08 pm EDT on Oct 13, 2026, NDBC station 41064 (Onslow Bay Outer, NC (LEJ3), 12 miles away) measured wind from the NW at 2 kt, gusting to 4 kt; buoy 41159 measured seas of 2.0 ft. The NWS forecast for Cape Lookout to Surf City NC (20-60 nm) issued at 2:07 pm EDT on Oct 13, 2026 reads, for tonight: “S winds around 5 kt, becoming W late. Seas 2 to 3 ft.”
Source: National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC forecast; NDBC observations
Wind forecast · ktPeak 18 kt
Seas forecast · ftPeak 4 ft
NWS marine forecast
| Period | Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tonight | S winds around 5 kt, becoming W late. Seas 2 to 3 ft. |
| Wed | W winds 5 to 10 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. |
| Wed Night | SW winds 10 to 15 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. |
| Thu | W winds 10 to 15 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. |
| Thu Night | SW winds 5 to 10 kt, increasing to 10 to 15 kt after midnight. Seas 2 to 3 ft. |
| Fri | SW winds 15 to 20 kt. 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. A chance of showers. |
| Sat | N winds 25 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft. |
| Sat Night | NE winds 25 to 30 kt, diminishing to 20 to 25 kt after midnight. Seas 6 to 9 ft. |
| Sun | NE winds 20 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft. |
| Sun Night | E winds 15 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft. |
Issued Tue 2:07 PM by Newport/Morehead City NC (product CWFMHX).
Recent buoy conditions
| Time | Wind | Gust | Seas | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 2:08 PM | 2 kt NW | 4 kt | — | 80°F |
| Tue 1:08 PM | 2 kt S | 4 kt | — | 80°F |
| Tue 12:08 PM | 2 kt ESE | 6 kt | — | 80°F |
| Tue 11:08 AM | 2 kt E | 6 kt | — | 79°F |
| Tue 10:08 AM | 4 kt E | 6 kt | — | 79°F |
| Tue 9:08 AM | 4 kt ESE | 8 kt | — | 79°F |
| Tue 8:08 AM | 4 kt E | 8 kt | — | 79°F |
| Tue 7:08 AM | 4 kt ESE | 6 kt | — | 79°F |
| Tue 6:08 AM | 4 kt E | 8 kt | — | 79°F |
| Tue 5:08 AM | 4 kt ESE | 8 kt | — | 79°F |
| Tue 4:08 AM | 4 kt E | 8 kt | — | 79°F |
| Tue 3:08 AM | 6 kt ESE | 8 kt | — | 79°F |
Observed Tue 2:08 PM at NDBC buoy 41064 (Onslow Bay Outer, NC (LEJ3)), 11.7 miles away. Seas from buoy 41159 (Onslow Bay Outer, NC (217)), 11.4 miles away, at Tue 2:56 PM.
Frequently asked questions
What is the marine forecast for Cape Lookout to Surf City NC (20-60 nm) today?
Tonight: S winds around 5 kt, becoming W late. Seas 2 to 3 ft.
Is there a small craft advisory for Cape Lookout to Surf City NC (20-60 nm)?
No advisories, warnings or watches are in effect for NWS zone AMZ188 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 Cape Lookout to Surf City NC (20-60 nm) right now?
Seas are running 2.0 ft at a 7-second period, measured at NDBC buoy 41064 Tue 2:08 PM, 11.7 miles from this zone. The forecast peaks at 4.0 ft Fri 2 PM.
What is the water temperature at Cape Lookout to Surf City NC (20-60 nm)?
The nearest buoy read 80°F (26°C) at Tue 2:08 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 AMZ188, 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 41064, read Tue 2:08 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.