Southern Duck Surf Forecast, North Carolina
North Carolina
Current Conditions
PoorWave Height
1-2ft
ankle to knee high
Swell Period
5.25s
Wind
15mph
SSW / Gusts 25mph
Conditions
Poor
Active Swells
Primary
1.0ft @ 10sE
Wind Swell
3.3ft @ 5sSSE
Nearest Webcam
Daily Forecast
3 of 5 daysTue, Mar 311-2ft
PoorA slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with gentle SSW breeze.
6am9am12pm3pm
6s ESE|5mph SSW
Wed, Apr 11-2ft
PoorSlim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with 12mph from the SSW.
6am9am12pm3pm
6s SE|12-16mph SSW
Thu, Apr 21-2ft
PoorNot the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with 7mph SSW winds.
6am9am12pm3pm
8s ESE|6-8mph SSW
Forecast Charts
Southern Duck Surf Spot Guide
Break
Beach
Bottom
Sand
Level
Beginner
Crowd
Light
Best Swell
E
Best Wind
W
Season
Fall
Southern Duck is a mellow beach break on the Outer Banks that offers forgiving, rolling waves ideal for surfers working on their fundamentals. The sandy bottom provides a soft landing and consistent peaks across a wide beach, making it accessible during moderate swell conditions. This exposed southern-facing stretch picks up distant Atlantic swells beautifully and works best when autumn storms deliver clean, organized groundswell.
Strong currentsOccasional shallow sandbars
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
Southern Duck Surf Forecast FAQ
What is the current surf forecast for Southern Duck?
The current wave height at Southern Duck is 1-2ft with a 5.25s swell period. Wind is SSW at 15mph. Conditions are rated Poor.
How accurate is the Southern Duck surf forecast?
Our Southern Duck 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.
What is the breaking wave height at Southern Duck?
The current breaking wave height at Southern Duck is 1-2ft, produced by a 1ft E primary swell at 10s, a 3.3ft SSE wind swell swell at 5s. 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.
When is the best time to surf Southern Duck?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Southern Duck is Saturday from 2 PM to 5 PM with 2ft waves, a 8.35s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.