Official tide, weather, and water data

Before any trip to the beach, start with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA Tides and Currents publishes official tide predictions for the OBX gauges at Duck, Oregon Inlet Marina, USCG Hatteras, and Beaufort. The same predictions feed our live OBX tide charts page.

For marine weather, the National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City office issues forecasts and small-craft advisories for the entire OBX coastline. For real-time wave height and period from offshore buoys, the National Data Buoy Center has Diamond Shoals (41025) and the Cape Hatteras buoy (41001) available. Surfers and anglers should also check Surf-Forecast for swell direction and wind summaries.

Beach access, permits, and ramp status

The National Park Service ORV permit page for Cape Hatteras National Seashore is required reading if you plan to drive on the beach. Permits, ramp closures, and resource closures are all listed there. For the Currituck 4×4 area north of Corolla, see Visit Currituck. We keep a more detailed, regularly updated walkthrough of every major OBX beach driving zone — including current ramp status, recovery gear lists, and tire-pressure standards — at our sister site OuterBanksBeachDriving.com.

Surf fishing resources

North Carolina requires a Coastal Recreational Fishing License for saltwater fishing — pick one up before you cast a line. Regulations, size and creel limits are published by the NC Division of Marine Fisheries. For day-to-day OBX surf fishing intel — what’s biting, where, with what bait, on which tide — we maintain OuterBanksSurfFishing.com, where we publish bait reports, species guides, rig diagrams, and seasonal calendars year-round. Pair the bite report there with the tide windows on this site and you’ll be planning trips like a local.

Storms, hurricanes, and emergency info

OBX weather can shift quickly. During hurricane season the National Hurricane Center is the single source of truth for tropical systems. Dare County Emergency Management and Hyde County (Ocracoke) publish evacuation orders, ferry status, and re-entry passes when storms threaten. For day-of-driving conditions, DriveNC.gov reports on NC-12 closures from overwash and sand on the highway.

Ferries and bridges

The NCDOT Ferry Division runs the Hatteras-Ocracoke (free) and Ocracoke-Swan Quarter / Ocracoke-Cedar Island ferries. Schedules shift seasonally and during storm cycles, so check before you drive.

Where to learn more on this site

• Live OBX Tide Charts — interactive predictions for the six main OBX gauges.
• What Affects OBX Tides — the moon, the wind, the Gulf Stream, and more.
• Tide Glossary — every tide term you’ll encounter.
• How to Read a Tide Table — turn the numbers into a plan.
• Best Tides for Surf Fishing the OBX
• Beach Driving and Tides