Best Carolina surf window today: tide and conditions
Carolina's best surf window today is 11:30 PM-12:30 AM, with falling tide, 5 mph wind, and 1.2 ft swell; tide in range, offshore winds, good swell angle. Pine Grove is the top pick at 1.2 ft.
Live surf planning
Plan around the live conditions
Best time to surf Carolina this week
November rates 76/100 for Carolina. 1 of 1 local beaches are in peak season; January is the historical peak if this week's surf report looks marginal.
Match the surf report
Now: rising tide, 7 mph wind, and 3.3 ft swell. Confirm them in the live surf report first.
Seasonal pattern in November
November
1 of 1 beaches are in peak season right now. Expect 4-10 ft waves and 80°F water. Peak month: January.
Surf Score by Month
Score reflects overall surf quality each month — combining peak season activity, water temperature, and crowd levels.
Monthly Breakdown
January
PeakPeak north swells, Rincon world-class
February
PeakConsistent NW swells, warm water
March
Transitional swells, warm water
April
Spring transition, smaller waves
May
Small south swell beginnings
June
South swells firing, La Parguera
July
Peak south shore, warm water
August
South swells, hottest water
September
Transition month, some south swell
October
North swell season teasing
November
PeakNorth shore wakes up, less crowded than Dec-Jan
December
PeakPeak north swells, Rincon contest season
Dawn Patrol vs Afternoon Sessions
Dawn Patrol
- Typically glassier conditions before onshore winds build
- Smaller crowds, especially on weekdays
- Water temps at their coolest — plan your wetsuit for the low end (78°F in winter)
- Best for beach breaks and exposed reef setups in Carolina
Afternoon Sessions
- Onshore winds can create chop, but swell is often more consistent
- Higher crowds on popular beaches, especially weekends
- Water warms through the day — upper end (84°F in summer)
- Sunset sessions can be magic when winds die down
