North Carolina
Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with gentle S breeze.
Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with gentle S breeze.
Best window·Tuesday 9AM–12PM·3-4ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Black Pelican, North Carolina. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on ESE swell at 9s with light S winds. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 4s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on WSW swell at 3s with 13mph WSW winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on W swell at 4s with 14mph out of the W. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 2-3ft and very poor with strong NNE wind at 15mph.
Mon, Sep 7: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 3-4ft and very poor with 16mph NE winds.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor today — get one free email when Black Pelican turns Good.
Check Black Pelican from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Black Pelican is a sandy beach break located along North Carolina's Outer Banks, offering mellow, forgiving waves ideal for learning and progression. The spot faces southwest and picks up consistent Atlantic swell, particularly during autumn when storms generate quality waist-to-shoulder-high peaks. With its sandy bottom and sheltered positioning, this laid-back break provides a perfect escape from crowded beach breaks with plenty of room to spread out.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Black Pelican is 1-2ft with a 8.5s swell period. Wind is S at 3mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Black Pelican is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.8ft ESE primary swell at 9s, a 1.2ft NE wind swell swell at 6s, a 0.6ft S wind swell swell at 3s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Black Pelican is Tuesday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 4ft waves, a 9.7s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Black Pelican works best with a E swell and W winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Black Pelican. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Black Pelican is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Black Pelican is a sandy beach break located along North Carolina's Outer Banks, offering mellow, forgiving waves ideal for learning and progression. The spot faces southwest and picks up consistent Atlantic swell, particularly during autumn when storms generate quality waist-to-shoulder-high peaks. With its sandy bottom and sheltered positioning, this laid-back break provides a perfect escape from crowded beach breaks with plenty of room to spread out.
The prime season at Black Pelican is fall, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Black Pelican include shorebreak, sandbars shift seasonally. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Black Pelican forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable; extended forecasts show general trends. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
