North Carolina
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Black Pelican for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Black Pelican, North Carolina. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Wed, Jun 24: 2–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on SE swell at 7s with glassy conditions. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Thu, Jun 25: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with light SE winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 11mph.
Fri, Jun 26: 1–1ft, 7s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1ft waves and poor conditions with light SW winds.
Sat, Jun 27: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with 12mph SW winds.
Sun, Jun 28: 1–2ft, 10s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with 8mph from the NW.
Black Pelican is a sandy beach break located along North Carolina's Outer Banks, offering mellow, forgiving waves ideal for learning and progression. The spot faces southwest and picks up consistent Atlantic swell, particularly during autumn when storms generate quality waist-to-shoulder-high peaks. With its sandy bottom and sheltered positioning, this laid-back break provides a perfect escape from crowded beach breaks with plenty of room to spread out.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Black Pelican is 1-2ft with a 4.6s swell period. Wind is E at 6mph 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 Black Pelican is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.6ft NNE primary swell at 5s, a 0.9ft SE secondary swell at 7s, a 0.3ft E tertiary swell at 11s. 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 Black Pelican is Monday from 3 PM to 6 PM with 2ft waves, a 5.05s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Black Pelican 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 Black Pelican. 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.
Black Pelican is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Black Pelican is a sandy beach break located along North Carolina's Outer Banks, offering mellow, forgiving waves ideal for learning and progression. The spot faces southwest and picks up consistent Atlantic swell, particularly during autumn when storms generate quality waist-to-shoulder-high peaks. With its sandy bottom and sheltered positioning, this laid-back break provides a perfect escape from crowded beach breaks with plenty of room to spread out.
The prime season at Black Pelican 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 Black Pelican include shorebreak, sandbars shift seasonally. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Black Pelican 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.
