Best Rodanthe surf window today: tide and conditions

Rodanthe's best surf window today is 2:30 PM-3:30 PM, with rising tide, 7 mph wind, and 0.6 ft swell; tide in range, good swell angle. S‑Turns is the top pick at 0.6 ft.

Live surf planning

Plan around the live conditions

Best time to surf Rodanthe this week

September rates 94/100 for Rodanthe. 1 of 1 local beaches are in peak season; September is the historical peak if this week's surf report looks marginal.

Match the surf report

Now: falling tide, 5 mph wind, and 0.7 ft swell. Confirm them in the live surf report first.

Check today's S‑Turns surf report
94
GOOD

Seasonal pattern in September

September

1 of 1 beaches are in peak season right now. Expect 3-8 ft waves and 78°F water.

Next steps

Turn Rodanthe's season guide into today's surf call

The calendar shows when this zone usually works. Start with the live report before you load boards.

Surf Score by Month

Score reflects overall surf quality each month — combining peak season activity, water temperature, and crowd levels.

Monthly Breakdown

January

35
Waves3-5 ft
Water temp50°F
Wetsuit4/3mm + boots
CrowdsLow
Beaches peaking0

Nor'easters, empty Outer Banks

February

41
Waves3-5 ft
Water temp48°F
Wetsuit4/3mm + boots
CrowdsLow
Beaches peaking0

Winter storms, sandbar formation

March

60
Waves2-4 ft
Water temp52°F
Wetsuit4/3mm
CrowdsLow
Beaches peaking1

Transition swells

April

57
Waves2-3 ft
Water temp58°F
Wetsuit3/2mm
CrowdsModerate
Beaches peaking1

Spring cleanup days

May

38
Waves1-3 ft
Water temp68°F
Wetsuitspring suit
CrowdsModerate
Beaches peaking0

Small but clean

June

33
Waves1-3 ft
Water temp75°F
Wetsuitboardshorts
CrowdsHigh
Beaches peaking0

Summer begins, tourist season

July

40
Waves1-3 ft
Water temp78°F
Wetsuitboardshorts
CrowdsHigh
Beaches peaking0

Warm water, occasional tropical swell

August

70
Waves2-4 ft
Water temp80°F
Wetsuitboardshorts
CrowdsHigh
Beaches peaking1

Hurricane swell season begins

September

Peak
94
Waves3-8 ft
Water temp78°F
Wetsuitboardshorts
CrowdsModerate
Beaches peaking1

Peak hurricane swells

October

Peak
92
Waves3-6 ft
Water temp72°F
Wetsuitspring suit
CrowdsModerate
Beaches peaking1

Fall swells, crowds thin out

November

Peak
76
Waves3-6 ft
Water temp62°F
Wetsuit3/2mm
CrowdsLow
Beaches peaking1

Nor'easters + hurricane tail-ends

December

44
Waves3-5 ft
Water temp55°F
Wetsuit4/3mm
CrowdsLow
Beaches peaking0

Winter storms setting in

Dawn Patrol vs Afternoon Sessions

Dawn Patrol

  • Typically glassier conditions before onshore winds build
  • Smaller crowds, especially on weekdays
  • Water temps at their coolest — plan your wetsuit for the low end (50°F in winter)
  • Best for beach breaks and exposed reef setups in Rodanthe

Afternoon Sessions

  • Onshore winds can create chop, but swell is often more consistent
  • Higher crowds on popular beaches, especially weekends
  • Water warms through the day — upper end (80°F in summer)
  • Sunset sessions can be magic when winds die down

Top Surf Spots in Rodanthe

S‑Turns
upper-intermediatemoderate

Peak: Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Mar, Apr

Surf Guides for Rodanthe, NC