North Carolina
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.
Sun, May 10: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Fair. Consistent 2-3ft surf through the day on E swell at 9s with gentle ESE breeze.
Mon, May 11: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 2-3ft and poor conditions with moderate WSW wind around 8mph. Expect the wind to bump up to around 17mph by PM.
Tue, May 12: 4–5ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 4-5ft waves on E swell at 11s and 10mph from the NE. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 15mph from the NE and dropping conditions to poor.
Wed, May 13: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on E swell at 8s with gentle SSW breeze. 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 - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on E swell at 7s with 11mph WSW winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
8s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
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 2-3ft with a 6.55s swell period. Wind is ESE 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 Southern Duck is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.1ft E primary swell at 9s, a 0.4ft E secondary swell at 13s, a 2ft 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 Southern 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.
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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
