87°
Sunny
5%
70
Carteret County, NC · Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Beach (NC)
125 W Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512
The easternmost town on Bogue Banks and the gateway to Fort Macon State Park, Atlantic Beach is the busiest Crystal Coast beach town, anchored by the Circle area with its boardwalk, paid parking, bathhouses, and one of the few NC beaches with seasonal lifeguards.
Today's Conditions
Great day for a beach walk.
NWS alert active · 85°F water · 87°F air
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Sunny, with a high near 87. Heat index values as high as 103. Southwest wind around 21 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 83. Heat index values as high as 100. Southwest wind 21 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph.
Weather
- 87°F air — ideal beach weather
- 21 mph wind — breezy — anchor everything
- Sunny skies — clear conditions
Water
- 85°F water — warm — full-day swim weather
Safety
- UV 10 (extreme) — spf 50+ mandatory, limit mid-day exposure
- NWS alert active — heat advisory issued july 18 at 1:34am edt until july 18 at 8:00pm edt by nws newport/morehead city nc
53 /100
ok
39 Swim
59 Sunbathe
77 Walk
44 Fish
73 Photo
Best for walking today
Water level 0.7 ft above predicted
Observed water level is running higher than the astronomical tide prediction. Expect a narrower beach, faster-rising water, and stronger near-shore currents than the tide chart suggests.
Weather alert in effect
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:34AM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
Atmosphere
Air Temp
87°F
Clear and Windy
Wind
21 mph
SW
Rain
5%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
10 Very High
High 11 AM–04 PM · burn in ~20m
Burn-free before 08 AM & after 06 PM
Tomorrow
86°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Water
Water Temp
85°F
Swimming weather
Wave Height
2.3 ft
SW swell
Barometer
29.97 inHg
1015 hPa
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
6:06 AM
Sunset
8:19 PM
Moon · 18%
Waxing Crescent
Neap tides — smaller range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:41 AM | Low | -0.1 ft |
| 11:52 AM | High | 3.4 ft |
| 5:54 PM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:09 AM | High | 3.5 ft |
| 6:30 AM | Low | 0.0 ft |
| 12:44 PM | High | 3.4 ft |
| 6:55 PM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:54 AM | High | 3.2 ft |
| 7:19 AM | Low | 0.1 ft |
| 1:33 PM | High | 3.4 ft |
| 7:55 PM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:39 AM | High | 3.0 ft |
| 8:06 AM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| 2:24 PM | High | 3.4 ft |
| 8:54 PM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:26 AM | High | 2.7 ft |
| 8:53 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 3:17 PM | High | 3.3 ft |
| 9:50 PM | Low | 0.8 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:19 AM | High | 2.6 ft |
| 9:40 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 4:15 PM | High | 3.3 ft |
| 10:42 PM | Low | 0.8 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:18 AM | High | 2.5 ft |
| 10:27 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 5:10 PM | High | 3.4 ft |
| 11:32 PM | Low | 0.8 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8656483, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
86°
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
39%
22
85°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
68%
17
86°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
52%
15
85°
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
59%
8
81°
Showers And Thunderstorms
84%
11
83°
Chance Rain Showers
54%
54
What to Bring Today
- critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 10 — very high
- recommended Beach shelter or anchored canopy 21 mph wind — umbrellas will flip
- optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 85°F
Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).
Best Fishing Times Today
Solunar theory: fish activity peaks at moon transits (major) and moonrise/moonset (minor). All times local.
Minor
10:20 PM - 11:20 PM
Major
3:40 AM - 5:40 AM
Minor
10:20 AM - 11:20 AM
Major
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Beach Info
Parking
Paid parking April 1 – September 30. The Circle Regional Beach Access has 300+ paid spaces. Season passes via ab-ncparking.com.
Dogs
Carteret County rule: dogs must be leashed (max 6 feet). Dogs not allowed in lifeguard-protected swim areas during beach season.
Entry Fee
Free beach access; paid parking April 1 – Sept 30
Address
125 W Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Atlantic Beach (NC) today?
Atlantic Beach (NC) shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. Seasonal lifeguards patrol the swim area in summer — follow their flags. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.
Is Atlantic Beach (NC) dog-friendly?
Carteret County rule: dogs must be leashed (max 6 feet). Dogs not allowed in lifeguard-protected swim areas during beach season.
Is there an entry fee at Atlantic Beach (NC)?
Entry to Atlantic Beach (NC) is free.
Are there lifeguards at Atlantic Beach (NC)?
Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Atlantic Beach (NC) during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.
What amenities are at Atlantic Beach (NC)?
Amenities at Atlantic Beach (NC) include lifeguards (seasonal), restrooms, showers, boardwalk, three bathhouses, playground, fishing.
When is the water warmest at Atlantic Beach (NC)?
Atlantic water temperatures peak in August. Northern beaches (ME, NH, MA) run cool — typically 60-68°F at the summer peak. Mid-Atlantic (NJ, DE, MD, VA) hits 74-76°F. The Carolinas and Florida Atlantic warm into the 80s and stay swimmable from May through October.
Where is Atlantic Beach (NC) located?
Atlantic Beach (NC) is in Carteret County, NC, at 125 W Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS