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Carolina Beach surf report and forecast

North Carolina, United States · updated 02 Nov 2026, 07:49 EST · NOAA GFS-Wave cycle 20261102_06z
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1.7rating now (B 2 · A 1)
1.3 m (4.4 ft)wave height now
5.9 speriod
Eswell from
18 kt NEwind cross-onshore
20 °C (68 °F)water · 3/2 mm fullsuit
06:32 / 17:17sunrise / sunset

Wind waves: 1.3 m 6 s ENE

Best window this week: Friday 07:00 EST — 9.0 1.2 m (4.0 ft) at 12 s, offshore wind. Ratings: 0–10 for an intermediate surfer; B = beginner, A = advanced. Offshore/onshore is judged against the coast's orientation (111° faces the sea).

7-day surf forecast

DayRatingWave heightPeriodSwell fromWindSun
Mon 02 Nov1.9 B 2 · A 11.1–1.4 m (3.6–4.7 ft)6 sE16 kt cross-onshore06:32–17:17
Tue 03 Nov2.5 B 3 · A 11.0–1.1 m (3.3–3.7 ft)7 sESE13 kt cross-onshore06:33–17:16
Wed 04 Nov3.6 B 4 · A 21.0–1.1 m (3.3–3.8 ft)8 sESE9 kt cross-onshore06:34–17:15
Thu 05 Nov6.0 B 7 · A 41.0–1.1 m (3.1–3.7 ft)9 sESE6 kt glassy06:35–17:14
Fri 06 Nov9.0 B 7 · A 61.0–1.2 m (3.4–4.0 ft)11 sESE7 kt offshore06:35–17:13
Sat 07 Nov6.9 B 8 · A 40.8–1.1 m (2.8–3.6 ft)10 sESE10 kt cross-offshore06:36–17:13
Sun 08 Nov5.7 B 8 · A 30.8–1.1 m (2.7–3.5 ft)11 sESE9 kt cross-onshore06:37–17:12

Today and tomorrow, every 3 hours

TimeRatingWavePeriod · fromWind
Mon 07:001.7 B 2 · A 11.3 m (4.4 ft)6 s E18 kt NE cross-onshore
Mon 10:001.8 B 2 · A 11.3 m (4.2 ft)6 s E16 kt NE cross-shore
Mon 13:001.9 B 2 · A 11.2 m (4.0 ft)6 s E16 kt NE cross-onshore
Mon 16:001.2 B 2 · A 11.3 m (4.2 ft)5 s E18 kt NE cross-onshore
Mon 19:001.8 B 2 · A 11.2 m (3.9 ft)6 s E14 kt ENE cross-onshore
Mon 22:002.3 B 3 · A 11.1 m (3.6 ft)6 s ESE12 kt NE cross-onshore
Tue 01:002.3 B 3 · A 11.1 m (3.4 ft)6 s ESE12 kt NE cross-shore
Tue 04:002.2 B 3 · A 11.0 m (3.3 ft)6 s ESE13 kt NNE cross-shore
Tue 07:002.1 B 3 · A 11.0 m (3.4 ft)6 s ESE12 kt NE cross-onshore
Tue 10:002.2 B 3 · A 11.1 m (3.6 ft)7 s ESE14 kt NE cross-onshore
Tue 13:002.5 B 3 · A 11.1 m (3.7 ft)7 s ESE14 kt NE cross-onshore
Tue 16:002.5 B 3 · A 11.1 m (3.7 ft)7 s ESE13 kt ENE cross-onshore
Tue 19:002.5 B 3 · A 11.1 m (3.6 ft)7 s ESE12 kt ENE cross-onshore
Tue 22:002.6 B 3 · A 11.1 m (3.5 ft)7 s ESE12 kt ENE cross-onshore

Model vs reality: nearest buoy

Buoy Masonboro Inlet, ILM2, NC (150) (41110), 20 km from Carolina Beach, reported 1 h before this update. model on target (within 0.2 m).

BuoyModel
Wave height1.4 m (4.6 ft)1.2 m (4.0 ft)
Peak period6 s6 s
Swell fromESEE

water 16.6 °C at the buoy

Buoy = measured at sea by NOAA NDBC. Model = GFS-Wave interpolated to the buoy's position and time. A persistent gap means the model is running high or low for this swell; adjust the forecast accordingly.

Carolina Beach tide chart

+0.8 m-0.7 mMon 02Tue 03Wed 04Thu 05Fri 06Sat 07Sun 08Mon 09
DayHigh and low tide (EST, height vs. mean sea level)
Mon 02 NovLow 06:50 (-0.5 m / -1.7 ft) · High 13:20 (+0.6 m / +2.0 ft) · Low 19:50 (-0.6 m / -1.8 ft)
Tue 03 NovHigh 02:00 (+0.5 m / +1.5 ft) · Low 08:10 (-0.5 m / -1.6 ft) · High 14:20 (+0.6 m / +1.9 ft) · Low 20:50 (-0.6 m / -1.9 ft)
Wed 04 NovHigh 03:10 (+0.5 m / +1.7 ft) · Low 09:20 (-0.5 m / -1.6 ft) · High 15:20 (+0.5 m / +1.8 ft) · Low 21:40 (-0.6 m / -2.0 ft)
Thu 05 NovHigh 04:00 (+0.6 m / +2.0 ft) · Low 10:20 (-0.5 m / -1.7 ft) · High 16:20 (+0.5 m / +1.7 ft) · Low 22:30 (-0.7 m / -2.1 ft)
Fri 06 NovHigh 04:50 (+0.7 m / +2.2 ft) · Low 11:10 (-0.6 m / -1.8 ft) · High 17:00 (+0.5 m / +1.6 ft) · Low 23:10 (-0.7 m / -2.2 ft)
Sat 07 NovHigh 05:40 (+0.8 m / +2.5 ft) · Low 12:00 (-0.6 m / -1.9 ft) · High 17:50 (+0.5 m / +1.6 ft) · Low 23:50 (-0.7 m / -2.2 ft)
Sun 08 NovHigh 06:20 (+0.8 m / +2.6 ft) · Low 12:40 (-0.6 m / -2.0 ft) · High 18:30 (+0.5 m / +1.5 ft)

Nearby spots

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Waves: NOAA GFS-Wave global 0.25deg, cycle 20261102 06z (NOMADS). Tides: GOT4.10c (NASA GSFC) via pyTMD. Water: sea surface temperature: Open-Meteo Marine API (ECMWF / Météo-France), CC BY 4.0. Times in local time (America/New_York). Forecast for the nearest open-water model point (34.00, -77.75); local bathymetry, tide and wind change conditions at the beach.