North Carolina
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Onslow Beach, 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: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with 11mph SSE winds.
Mon, May 11: 0–1ft, 12s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with light WSW winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 11mph by PM.
Tue, May 12: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on ESE swell at 10s with 11mph NNE winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with light winds out of the SE. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 13mph.
Thu, May 14: 0–1ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with moderate NW wind around 8mph. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 12mph.
7s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Onslow Beach is a mellow sand-bottom beach break located along North Carolina's Crystal Coast, offering forgiving waves ideal for learning and progression. The break faces east, picking up swell from Atlantic storms and tropical systems that deliver the most consistent conditions during fall and early winter months. With its wide sandy beach and gentle rolling peaks, this spot provides a welcoming environment for beginners while offering occasional longer rides when swell direction aligns.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Onslow Beach is 1-2ft with a 5.95s swell period. Wind is SSE 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 Onslow Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 0.5ft SE primary swell at 13s, a 2ft SSE wind swell swell at 6s. 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 Onslow Beach is Tuesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 5.45s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Onslow Beach works best with a S swell and N 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 Onslow Beach. 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.
Onslow Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Onslow Beach is a mellow sand-bottom beach break located along North Carolina's Crystal Coast, offering forgiving waves ideal for learning and progression. The break faces east, picking up swell from Atlantic storms and tropical systems that deliver the most consistent conditions during fall and early winter months. With its wide sandy beach and gentle rolling peaks, this spot provides a welcoming environment for beginners while offering occasional longer rides when swell direction aligns.
The prime season at Onslow Beach 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 Onslow Beach include occasional strong currents, shallow sandbars. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Onslow Beach 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.
