North Carolina
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at S Turns, 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: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on SE swell at 8s with glassy conditions. Onshore flow builds through the day to 11mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on SE swell at 8s with 11mph SW winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 16mph from the S and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on ESE swell at 8s and moderate WSW wind around 11mph. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with 9mph from the SW.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with 10mph SW winds.
5s period — unlock the full 16-day forecast to track it
Takes 10 seconds with Google or Apple.
S Turns is a mellow beach break located on North Carolina's Outer Banks, featuring rolling sand-bottom waves that peel smoothly across the shore. The spot's name comes from the natural sand formations and curved wave shape that develops during mid to large swells, creating fun, forgiving conditions ideal for learning and progression. This quiet, uncrowded stretch offers consistent autumn swells combined with offshore winds that help shape the waves into clean, organized peaks.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at S Turns is 2-3ft with a 8.5s swell period. Wind is W at 9mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at S Turns is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.4ft SE primary swell at 8s, a 2.1ft ENE secondary swell at 9s, a 0.7ft N tertiary swell at 4s, 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 S Turns is Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 8.8s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
S Turns 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 S Turns. 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.
S Turns is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. S Turns is a mellow beach break located on North Carolina's Outer Banks, featuring rolling sand-bottom waves that peel smoothly across the shore. The spot's name comes from the natural sand formations and curved wave shape that develops during mid to large swells, creating fun, forgiving conditions ideal for learning and progression. This quiet, uncrowded stretch offers consistent autumn swells combined with offshore winds that help shape the waves into clean, organized peaks.
The prime season at S Turns 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 S Turns include 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 S Turns 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.
