THE OUTER CAPE / SURF CONDITIONS

Nauset Light Beach Eastham · Current conditions

Nauset Light Beach

Dramatic cliffs & historic beacon

fetched 1:47 PM ET

Conditions rated as Small. Forecast vibe: Small

Small surf with limited wave energy. A longboard may suit the conditions.

Small waves with limited energy.

Wave height

1.2 ft

Period

3.3 sec

Swell

0.5 ft

7.7s period

Wind

11 mph

↓ SSW · Cross · 64°F

Sea temp

59 °F

Cool water

Tide

L 4:28 PM

Low · 0.0 ft

Wind chop

1.1 ft

Model grid · not a buoy - trust your eyes & lifeguards

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Severe Weather Alert

Nauset Light Beach · focused point check

Minor

Small Craft Advisory

Small Craft Advisory issued October 7 at 11:20AM EDT until October 8 at 3:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA

Coastal waters from Provincetown MA to Chatham MA to Nantucket MA out 20 NM; Coastal Waters extending out to 25 NM South of Marthas Vineyard and Nantucket; Coastal Waters from Montauk NY to Marthas Vineyard extending out to 20 NM South of Block Island

Expires Oct 8, 12:30 AM EDT

NWS Statement ↗

7-Day Forecast

Daily peak waves · wind · tides

  • Wed

    Small

    Maximum wave height 1.5 ft

    5.5s · 11 mph

    SSW wind N swell

    H 10:00 AM L 4:15 AM

  • Thu

    Weak

    Maximum wave height 2.3 ft

    3.9s · 18 mph

    SW wind SE swell

    H 10:53 AM L 5:07 AM

  • Fri

    Small

    Maximum wave height 1.7 ft

    3.9s · 18 mph

    WNW wind NNW swell

    H 11:40 AM L 5:55 AM

  • Sat

    Okay

    Maximum wave height 2.3 ft

    5.1s · 12 mph

    NW wind N swell

    H 12:06 AM L 6:39 AM

  • Sun

    Small

    Maximum wave height 1.4 ft

    4.1s · 14 mph

    SSW wind E swell

    H 12:52 AM L 7:21 AM

  • Mon

    Weak

    Maximum wave height 3.0 ft

    5.7s · 15 mph

    N wind SE swell

    H 1:36 AM L 8:01 AM

    🌫️ Beach fog likely

  • Tue

    Blown

    Maximum wave height 4.3 ft

    6.5s · 20 mph

    ESE wind SE swell

    H 2:21 AM L 8:40 AM

Hourly Forecast

The next 24 hours · Eastern time

24-hour line graph for wave height Wave height in feet for each hour in the next 24 hours. 15.0ft 11.3ft 7.5ft 3.8ft 0.0ft L 4:28 PM H 10:22 PM L 5:07 AM H 10:53 AM Wednesday 5:00 PM: 1.4 ft Wed 5 PM Wednesday 6:00 PM: 1.4 ft Wednesday 7:00 PM: 1.4 ft Wednesday 8:00 PM: 1.5 ft Wednesday 9:00 PM: 1.5 ft Wed 9 PM Wednesday 10:00 PM: 1.5 ft Wednesday 11:00 PM: 1.5 ft Thursday 12:00 AM: 1.5 ft Thursday 1:00 AM: 1.6 ft Thu 1 AM Thursday 2:00 AM: 1.6 ft Thursday 3:00 AM: 1.6 ft Thursday 4:00 AM: 1.6 ft Thursday 5:00 AM: 1.7 ft Thu 5 AM Thursday 6:00 AM: 1.8 ft Thursday 7:00 AM: 1.9 ft Thursday 8:00 AM: 2.0 ft Thursday 9:00 AM: 2.1 ft Thu 9 AM Thursday 10:00 AM: 2.2 ft Thursday 11:00 AM: 2.3 ft Thursday 12:00 PM: 2.3 ft Thursday 1:00 PM: 2.2 ft Thu 1 PM Thursday 2:00 PM: 2.2 ft Thursday 3:00 PM: 2.0 ft Thursday 4:00 PM: 1.9 ft Thu 4 PM
  1. 1.4 ft
  2. 1.4 ft
  3. 1.4 ft
  4. 1.5 ft
  5. 1.5 ft
  6. 1.5 ft
  7. 1.5 ft
  8. 1.5 ft
  9. 1.6 ft
  10. 1.6 ft
  11. 1.6 ft
  12. 1.6 ft
  13. 1.7 ft
  14. 1.8 ft
  15. 1.9 ft
  16. 2.0 ft
  17. 2.1 ft
  18. 2.2 ft
  19. 2.3 ft
  20. 2.3 ft
  21. 2.2 ft
  22. 2.2 ft
  23. 2.0 ft
  24. 1.9 ft

Surf Cams

Check local cameras for wave shape and surface conditions.

Cam hub Cape Cod Beach Cams Outer Cape directory Fast jump list for Nauset, Skaket, Cahoon Hollow, Marconi, and more. Watch cam ↗ Live check Nauset Beach Cam Orleans Official Orleans beach-cam landing page for the Atlantic-side Nauset view. Watch cam ↗ YouTube cam Cahoon Hollow Beach Cam Wellfleet YouTube cam check for Cahoon Hollow and the outer-beach sandbar mood. Watch cam ↗ Outer Cape Marconi Beach Cam Wellfleet Outer Cape ocean view for checking Wellfleet lines and beach texture. Watch cam ↗ Surf cam Nauset Surf Cam Surf-Forecast Surf-focused cam page paired with forecast context and nearby cam links. Watch cam ↗

Gear Check

7-day peak 4.3 ft / best Tue Blown / avg 40 stoke

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Weekly Summary

...the week ahead

Surf quality looks limited this week. Compare wave height, period, and wind for the best window.

  1. Best day Tuesday, Oct 13: Blown, 4.3 ft at 6.5s, 50 stoke.
  2. Biggest surf Tuesday, Oct 13: up to 4.3 ft, swell SE, wind ESE.
  3. Wind note No offshore setup in this week's forecast yet. Weekly average: 40 stoke.

Other Breaks

Every break page is tailored to that beach — not a copy-paste forecast. Jump to another spot below.

Marconi Beach Wellfleet · Outer Cape Nauset Beach Orleans · Atlantic Coast Guard Beach Eastham · National Seashore Ballston Beach Truro · Outer Cape Nauset Light Beach Eastham · Atlantic LeCount Hollow Beach / Maguire Landing Wellfleet · Outer Cape White Crest Beach Wellfleet · Outer Cape Cahoon Hollow Beach Wellfleet · Outer Cape Newcomb Hollow Beach Wellfleet · Outer Cape Head of the Meadow Beach Truro · Outer Cape

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Beach Photo

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Nauset Light Beach Surf Guide

Local swell, wind, and tide notes for Eastham

Nauset Light Beach in Eastham sits below dramatic cliffs and the historic Nauset Light. A Atlantic-facing beachbreak that shares Nauset's swell exposure with a more compact surf zone.

Best swell
East and southeast swells produce the best waves. The break responds similarly to nearby Nauset and Coast Guard when Atlantic energy is present.
Best wind
West offshore wind is best. Onshore easterlies and strong south wind degrade surface quality quickly.
Tide tip
Mid tide is usually safest for shape and access from the cliff-side parking area.
Skill level
Intermediate. Shorebreak and cliff access make it less forgiving than wide stretches of Nauset on big days.

Flat or blown out? Also check Coast Guard Beach , Nauset Beach , Marconi Beach .

Beach safety

Cape Cod National Seashore beaches carry Stop the Bleed trauma kits and emergency call boxes. Know where they are before you paddle out.

  • Call 911 for any emergency. Lifeguards are typically on duty mid-June through Labor Day only.
  • Purple shark flags mean elevated shark risk - follow NPS Shark Smart guidance and check the Sharktivity app.
  • Strong rips, shorebreak, and cold water are common. Surf within your limits and never alone in the off-season.

NPS Beach Safe Shark safety

Common questions

Can you surf at Nauset Light Beach?

Yes, when swell and wind align. It is a legitimate Eastham surf spot with a shorter ride zone than Nauset Beach to the south.

What is the difference between Nauset Beach and Nauset Light Beach?

Nauset Beach is the long Orleans Atlantic beach; Nauset Light Beach is in Eastham below the lighthouse cliffs. Both catch east swell but have different access and crowd patterns.

What wind is best for Nauset Light Beach?

West to WNW offshore wind from roughly 235–305 degrees produces the cleanest surf.

Beach Wire

Wind + Swell Vector