Focus North Carolina » Seasonality

You know what steep barrel sections mean when they hit the inside: launch-ramp mania ... Lucas Rodgers.© 2009 - Kenny Onufrock/Transworldsurf

The obvious time to visit the Outer Banks is hurricane season, spanning June 1 to November 30. Within that window, your best bet for solid swell is Fall. North swells, south swells, and east swells are common this time of year, and the hordes of tourists die down after Labor Day. Light westerly winds are also common and if there’s swell to match, gaping, sand-spitting barrels roll for miles along barren sandbars.

But, ask the locals and they’ll tell you spring has its fair share of shacks as well. “May is by far one of my favorite months on the Banks,” says Jeff Myers. “The weather and water temps are warming, plus the sandbars seem to stay good all month long.” Local hero Noah Snyder agrees: “During the spring low pressure systems meander off the coast,” Snyder says. “Plenty of east swells come in with a touch of north-east, as well as some south and south-east swells.”

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