North Carolina
The sweet spot is around midday — 1-2ft waves, moderate S wind around 11mph, very poor conditions.
The sweet spot is around midday — 1-2ft waves, moderate S wind around 11mph, very poor conditions.
Best window·Monday 6AM–9AM·3-4ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Masonboro Island, 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. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on SE swell at 9s with moderate SSE wind around 11mph. The S wind kicks in by afternoon — 15mph and very poor by then.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on SE swell at 8s and 8mph SW winds. The S wind kicks in by afternoon — 20mph and very poor by then.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with 12mph WSW winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 17mph.
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 8mph NNE winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 16mph from the ENE and dropping conditions to very poor.
Mon, Sep 7: 3–4ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on ENE swell at 5s with 15mph NE winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 20mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
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 Masonboro Island turns Good.
Check Masonboro Island from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Masonboro Island is an undeveloped barrier island accessible only by boat from Wrightsville Beach or Carolina Beach. The east-facing beach breaks pick up E and SE Atlantic swells well, with the remote island setting keeping crowds minimal. A good adventure option when Wrightsville and Carolina Beach are too crowded.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Masonboro Island is 1-2ft with a 8.8s swell period. Wind is SSE at 11mph. 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 Masonboro Island is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.8ft 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 Masonboro Island is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 5.2s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Masonboro Island 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 Masonboro Island. 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.
Masonboro Island is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Masonboro Island is an undeveloped barrier island accessible only by boat from Wrightsville Beach or Carolina Beach. The east-facing beach breaks pick up E and SE Atlantic swells well, with the remote island setting keeping crowds minimal. A good adventure option when Wrightsville and Carolina Beach are too crowded.
The prime season at Masonboro Island 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 Masonboro Island include isolation — boat access only, no services on island, shifting sandbars, changing conditions. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Masonboro Island 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).
