North Carolina
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.
Sun, May 10: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 2-3ft waves and poor - fair conditions with 10mph SE winds.
Mon, May 11: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with 11mph from the NW. Expect the wind to bump up to around 18mph by PM.
Tue, May 12: 4–5ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 4-5ft and poor - fair with 11mph from the NNE.
Wed, May 13: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on E swell at 8s and light winds out of the SSW. Onshore flow builds through the day to 15mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Thu, May 14: 2–3ft, 12s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on E swell at 7s with moderate WSW wind around 8mph. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
8s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
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 2-3ft with a 6.55s swell period. Wind is SSE at 9mph and conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Black Pelican is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.2ft E primary swell at 8s, a 0.4ft E secondary swell at 13s, a 1.8ft ESE wind swell 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 Black Pelican is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 6.8s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
