North Carolina
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.
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 15mph.
Sun, May 17: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with gentle SSW breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 15mph.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with light SSW winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 11mph by PM.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 9mph.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with light winds out of the SSW. Afternoon breeze fills in to 13mph.
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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 7.5s 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 Masonboro Island is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.9ft SE primary swell at 8s, a 0.7ft SSW 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 Masonboro Island is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 8.8s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
