North Carolina
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Topsail Island, 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. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with 12mph SSE winds.
Mon, May 11: 1–2ft, 12s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with light winds out of the WSW. Expect the wind to bump up to around 12mph by PM.
Tue, May 12: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Poor - Fair. Aim for the middle of the day — 2-3ft on SE swell at 11s with moderate NE wind around 10mph. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
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 10mph.
Thu, May 14: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with light winds out of the NW.
7s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Topsail Island is a 26-mile barrier island with laid-back, uncrowded beach breaks that fire on SE swells. The long stretch of shifting sandbars means you can always find a peak breaking somewhere along the island. Intermediate to advanced when waves are up, though North Topsail Beach offers beginner-friendly conditions on smaller days. The island has a WWII missile testing history and a sea turtle hospital.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Topsail Island is 1-2ft with a 5.95s swell period. Wind is SSE at 11mph 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 Topsail Island is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.7ft SE primary swell at 6s, a 0.7ft SE secondary swell at 13s, a 1.7ft S wind swell swell at 3s. 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 Topsail Island is Tuesday from 5 PM to 8 PM with 3ft waves, a 5.4s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Topsail Island works best with a SE swell and NW 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 Topsail Island. 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.
Topsail Island is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Topsail Island is a 26-mile barrier island with laid-back, uncrowded beach breaks that fire on SE swells. The long stretch of shifting sandbars means you can always find a peak breaking somewhere along the island. Intermediate to advanced when waves are up, though North Topsail Beach offers beginner-friendly conditions on smaller days. The island has a WWII missile testing history and a sea turtle hospital.
The prime season at Topsail Island 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 Topsail Island include strong currents, occasional rip currents, tourist crowds in summer. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Topsail Island 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.
