North Carolina
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Southern Duck, 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, 9s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with barely a breath of wind. Expect the wind to bump up to around 14mph by PM.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on E swell at 8s and moderate SW wind around 11mph. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SE swell at 7s and 10mph SW winds. The SSE wind kicks in by afternoon — 19mph and poor by then.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with moderate SW wind around 10mph. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 19mph.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with moderate SW wind around 10mph. Expect the wind to bump up to around 18mph by PM.
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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.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Southern Duck is 1-2ft with a 8.9s swell period. Wind is SW at 8mph 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 Southern Duck is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.8ft ENE primary swell at 10s, a 1.2ft SE secondary swell at 8s, a 0.5ft 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 Southern Duck is Sunday from 2 PM to 5 PM with 3ft waves, a 8.5s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Southern Duck 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 Southern Duck. 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.
Southern Duck is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. 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.
The prime season at Southern Duck 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 Southern Duck include strong currents, occasional shallow sandbars. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
