North Carolina
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Carolina Beach, North Carolina. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sat, May 16: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with glassy conditions. Afternoon breeze fills in to 12mph.
Sun, May 17: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with light SSW winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 13mph.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with light winds out of the SSW. Expect the wind to bump up to around 11mph by PM.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on SE swell at 9s and barely a breath of wind. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with gentle SSW breeze. Afternoon breeze fills in to 13mph.
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Carolina Beach punches above its weight — the waves here are generally hollower and more powerful than those at Wrightsville Beach to the north on the same swell. The pier break is the focal point, with a grittier, more local vibe and a boardwalk/amusement park atmosphere. S, SE, and E swells all work well on this east-southeast facing beach.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Carolina Beach is 1-2ft with a 7.45s swell period. Wind is SSW at 5mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Carolina Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.7ft ESE primary swell at 7s, a 0.5ft S wind swell swell at 2s. 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 Carolina Beach is Tuesday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 2ft waves, a 8.75s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Carolina Beach works best with a SE swell and NW 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 Carolina Beach. 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.
Carolina Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Carolina Beach punches above its weight — the waves here are generally hollower and more powerful than those at Wrightsville Beach to the north on the same swell. The pier break is the focal point, with a grittier, more local vibe and a boardwalk/amusement park atmosphere. S, SE, and E swells all work well on this east-southeast facing beach.
The prime season at Carolina Beach 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 Carolina Beach include submerged pilings from old structures, localism, rocks at high tide, pier pilings, strong currents on south swells. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Carolina Beach 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
