North Carolina
Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with 12mph SW winds.
Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with 12mph SW winds.
Best window·Saturday 8AM–11AM·2-3ft·Fair
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 0–1ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with 12mph SW winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 18mph by PM.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 4s period, rated Very Poor. Expect 0-1ft waves early on SW swell at 4s.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on SSW swell at 5s and 20mph WSW winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly very poor with moderate NE wind around 13mph.
Mon, Sep 7: 0–1ft, 8s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with 20mph 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 S Turns turns Good.
Check S Turns from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 0-1ft with a 8.6s swell period. Wind is SW at 12mph. 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 S Turns is 0-1ft, produced by a 2.1ft ESE primary swell at 9s, a 1.1ft SW wind swell swell at 2s, a 1ft NE wind swell swell at 6s. 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 Saturday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 2ft waves, a 5.3s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. 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. 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).
