North Carolina
The sweet spot is around midday — 1-2ft waves, 11mph SSE winds, very poor conditions.
The sweet spot is around midday — 1-2ft waves, 11mph SSE winds, very poor conditions.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Kure Beach for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Kure Beach, 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: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on SE swell at 9s and moderate SSE wind around 11mph. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on SSE swell at 6s and 9mph from the SW. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 15mph from the SSW and dropping conditions to poor.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on SSW swell at 5s with moderate W wind around 11mph. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on S swell at 5s with light winds out of the N. The ENE wind kicks in by afternoon — 15mph and very poor by then.
Mon, Sep 7: 3–4ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 3-4ft and very poor conditions with strong NE wind at 13mph. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 17mph.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Very Poor today — get one free email when Kure Beach turns Good.
Check Kure Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Kure Beach offers accessible, peeling beach breaks along North Carolina's Crystal Coast, with a westward-facing orientation that picks up southeast Atlantic swells effectively. The sandy bottom provides forgiving waves ideal for learning, with consistent summer-to-fall conditions producing mellow, rolling waves. This quieter spot away from major tourist hubs attracts a laid-back crowd and delivers reliable, uncrowded sessions perfect for building skills.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Kure Beach is 1-2ft with a 8.8s swell period. Wind is S at 10mph. Conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Kure Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.7ft SE primary swell at 9s. 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 Kure Beach is Tuesday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 3ft waves, a 6.5s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Kure Beach works best with a SE 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 Kure 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.
Kure Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Kure Beach offers accessible, peeling beach breaks along North Carolina's Crystal Coast, with a westward-facing orientation that picks up southeast Atlantic swells effectively. The sandy bottom provides forgiving waves ideal for learning, with consistent summer-to-fall conditions producing mellow, rolling waves. This quieter spot away from major tourist hubs attracts a laid-back crowd and delivers reliable, uncrowded sessions perfect for building skills.
The prime season at Kure 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 Kure Beach include occasional strong currents, shore break during large swells. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Kure 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. 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).
