North Carolina
Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with moderate SSW wind around 10mph.
Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with moderate SSW wind around 10mph.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Onslow Beach for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Onslow 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: 0–1ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with moderate SSW wind around 10mph.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Very Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 0-1ft waves on SSE swell at 5s and 10mph from the WSW. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 18mph from the SSW and dropping conditions to very poor.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and very poor conditions with strong WSW wind at 15mph. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 23mph.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on S swell at 5s with 11mph from the NE. The ENE wind kicks in by afternoon — 19mph and very poor by then.
Mon, Sep 7: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with 18mph out of the NE.
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 Onslow Beach turns Good.
Check Onslow Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Onslow Beach is a mellow sand-bottom beach break located along North Carolina's Crystal Coast, offering forgiving waves ideal for learning and progression. The break faces east, picking up swell from Atlantic storms and tropical systems that deliver the most consistent conditions during fall and early winter months. With its wide sandy beach and gentle rolling peaks, this spot provides a welcoming environment for beginners while offering occasional longer rides when swell direction aligns.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Onslow Beach is 0-1ft with a 8.7s swell period. Wind is SSW at 9mph. 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 Onslow Beach is 0-1ft, produced by a 1.5ft SE primary swell at 9s, a 0.9ft 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 Onslow Beach is Tuesday from 11 AM to 2 PM with 1ft waves, a 6.3s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Onslow Beach works best with a S swell and N 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 Onslow 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.
Onslow Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Onslow Beach is a mellow sand-bottom beach break located along North Carolina's Crystal Coast, offering forgiving waves ideal for learning and progression. The break faces east, picking up swell from Atlantic storms and tropical systems that deliver the most consistent conditions during fall and early winter months. With its wide sandy beach and gentle rolling peaks, this spot provides a welcoming environment for beginners while offering occasional longer rides when swell direction aligns.
The prime season at Onslow 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 Onslow Beach include occasional strong currents, shallow sandbars. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Onslow 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).
