North Carolina
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Duck, 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. Pretty quiet out there — 2-3ft and mostly poor - fair with 13mph from the ESE.
Mon, May 11: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 2-3ft waves and poor conditions with 17mph NNW winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 21mph.
Tue, May 12: 4–5ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on E swell at 11s with 14mph NNE winds. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on E swell at 8s with light winds out of the SSW. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 24mph from the SSE and dropping conditions to poor.
Thu, May 14: 2–3ft, 12s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on E swell at 7s with 11mph WSW winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
12s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Duck is a mellow beach break on the northern Outer Banks that picks up E and NE Atlantic swells along its east-facing shoreline. The sandy bottom creates forgiving, rolling peaks ideal for learning and progression. This quieter stretch of the OBX sees fewer crowds than the Kill Devil Hills to Nags Head corridor, making it a good option for surfers seeking space.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Duck is 2-3ft with a 6.55s swell period. Wind is ESE at 10mph 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 Duck 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 Duck is Wednesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 7.55s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
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 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.
Duck is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Duck is a mellow beach break on the northern Outer Banks that picks up E and NE Atlantic swells along its east-facing shoreline. The sandy bottom creates forgiving, rolling peaks ideal for learning and progression. This quieter stretch of the OBX sees fewer crowds than the Kill Devil Hills to Nags Head corridor, making it a good option for surfers seeking space.
The prime season at 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 Duck include strong currents during storms, offshore wind variability, crowded during summer months. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our 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.
