North Carolina
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Southern Duck for the cleanest windows.
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 2–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. 2ft waves to start the day on E swell at 8s. The NE wind builds to around 8mph by afternoon.
Wed, Jul 1: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on E swell at 7s with light SE winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 11mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Thu, Jul 2: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with light SW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 15mph.
Fri, Jul 3: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with moderate WSW wind around 11mph.
Sat, Jul 4: 1–1ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1ft and mostly poor with 13mph out of the WSW.
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 6.65s swell period. Wind is NNE at 10mph 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 3.4ft ENE primary swell at 7s. 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 Tuesday from 3 PM to 6 PM with 2ft waves, a 6.65s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
