Outer banks in may

really wana take a trip down trying to get an idea of probability of surf in late may

ehh its iffy man. You're gonna need a whole lotta luck on the swell for the window of your trip. Now if you went during late july mid august you have a real good chance of snagging some hurricane swell. where are you trying to go there specifically?

i was in OBX last memorial weekend/week
There was great surf everyday for the 6 days
In-fact, the waves improved everyday and the day we left the best sets were rolling in... I was almost too tired to paddle out but I did...then drove home
so, you can get lucky.

it's spring. you've got a better possibility of getting surf than, say, high summer, but there's also still the possibility that it'll be flat. i'd say you've got a better than 75% chance of finding something rideable there at that time of year.

YOu will probably score something to ride. Beware you need to bring all sorts of rubber that time of year. Water can go from 65 to 55 real quick that time of year. ONe day you can be in a spring suit, the next day in a 3/2 with booties , then boardshorts. Lots of Upwelling . If you see water is 65* in town the day before you leave and 72 down south, by the time you drive down it may be 55* in town the following day. Bring rubber so you can surf comofrotably while down.
In Town = Nags Head/Kitty hawk/Kill Devil Hills
South = Rodanthe thru Frisco

The past two May's have been pretty decent if I remember correctly. It seems like there are about two decent swells that have come through during the months and lingered for a pretty good amount of time. I'd say the earlier in the month the better.

Dude, waves in May are a definite possibility........May's not July. Man, I would tell you the magnet spots but then everybody would be all sore with me. But anyways, the outer banks are a spiritual place and the last bastion of the free spirit on the east coast. Soak up the experience and don't expect too much wave-wise. That way any good surf you may get will be gravy. I used to live there and the place is special. Watch out for cops, and don't drink and drive. They have a saying down there, "Come on vacation...leave on probation" But seriously the cops are over- zealous cowboys.......doesn't help that a great majority of the population is drunk/high. Aw man you haven't lived until you've watched The Price is Right at the bar at Mulligan's on a February morning. Give respect to the real locals - born and bred - but you'll only find a few of them. Everyone who lives there is from somewhere else.. PITTSBURGH !!! Lots of dudes there who haved lived there for three months and now are "JOE SURF" especially on the Northern Banks. Anyways just enjoy being down there......good food......cool hang outs and the most in-tune- with-nature coast on the east. Golly I miss that place. I should have never moved back to Jersey.

yea me and a few of my friends went down mid august last year and camped at the lighthouse fed campground it was a great time there were waves but nothing epic did meet alot of random cool people one who owned a bar and grill down there and had a epic skatebowl in his back yard though it was so sick hopeing irene didnt mess it up it was in waves which is where i would like to say.. trying to get a bigger group to go and rent a house for the last week of the offseason down there while im out of school but not on the work grind yet

I normally go down there for the first week in June and always have pretty consistent waves. Nothing like you get in late august to September but still loads of fun with some decent size. I was up more north, near Duck, and had the beach to myself every morning because its mostly families with kids so very few people were up that early and virtually no one will be in the water. I agree with bushwood, def bring at least a 3/2. Ive never been anywhere where the water temp has swung so heavily over the course of a few hours let alone what it can do over night.

I went to OBX a few years ago towards the end of may and caught it real good! 4 days of solid chest high surf...go for it!