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Duck · Dare County · North Carolina

Duck Research Pier Surf Report & Forecast, North Carolina

Duck Research Pier, North Carolina: 3–4 ft, waist to chest high, at 3 pm EST on Monday, Nov 9, rated Fair. The main swell is 2.5 ft at 11 seconds from the east, with a 14 mph offshore wind from the west-northwest, gusting 20 mph. Water is about 63°F, so a 3/2 full wetsuit is the suggestion; the next high tide is 3.6 ft at 7:16 pm.

Fair

3–4 ft

waist to chest high

Swell from the east; wind from the west-northwest at 14 mph, offshore; the beach faces west-southwest.NSWE
first light 6:07 amrating through the daylast light 5:26 pm
Swell
2.5 ft · 11 s · Eplus 0.1 ft · 4 s · N
Wind
14 mph (WNW), gusts 20offshore
Tide
1.2 ft risinghigh 3.6 ft at 7:16 pm
Water
63°F3/2
Air
64°Ffeels like 56°F
Sun
rise 6:34 amset 5 pm

Duck Research Pier surf today and tomorrow

Best-rated hour today at Duck Research Pier: 7 am, Good, on a falling high tide.

Today Mon, Nov 9
Surf height at Duck Research Pier today, Mon, Nov 9, in feet from first light to last light, with the tide, the hourly rating and the wind.2460353–4 ftnow6 am: Good7 am: Good8 am: Good9 am: Good10 am: Fair11 am: Fair12 pm: Fair1 pm: Fair2 pm: Poor to Fair3 pm: Poor to Fair4 pm: Poor to Fair5 pm: Fair6a9a12p3p☀ 6:34 am5 pm ☾ratingwind
Tomorrow Tue, Nov 10
Surf height at Duck Research Pier tomorrow, Tue, Nov 10, in feet from first light to last light, with the tide, the hourly rating and the wind.2460352–3 ft6 am: Poor to Fair7 am: Poor to Fair8 am: Fair9 am: Fair10 am: Poor to Fair11 am: Poor12 pm: Poor1 pm: Poor2 pm: Poor3 pm: Poor to Fair4 pm: Poor to Fair5 pm: Poor6a9a12p3pratingwind

Blue band: surf face height from the low end to set waves; dotted: occasional larger sets. Grey line: tide, in feet on the right scale. Colour strip: the hourly rating. Arrows: wind direction and strength, teal when offshore, orange when onshore.

Best-rated hour tomorrow at Duck Research Pier: 9 am, Fair, on a falling high tide.

Hour by hour as a table, today and tomorrow
Today, Mon, Nov 9, first light to last light
TimeSurfRatingWindTide
6 am3–4 ftGood16 mph offshore (W), gusts 234.1 ft
7 am3–4 ftGood15 mph offshore (W), gusts 204.3 ft
8 am3–4 ftGood15 mph offshore (W), gusts 204.2 ft
9 am3–4 ftGood14 mph offshore (W), gusts 193.6 ft
10 am3–4 ftFair14 mph offshore (W), gusts 202.8 ft
11 am3–4 ftFair15 mph offshore (WNW), gusts 201.9 ft
12 pm3–4 ftFair15 mph offshore (WNW), gusts 201.2 ft
1 pm3–4 ftFair14 mph offshore (WNW), gusts 200.8 ft
2 pm3–4 ftPoor to Fair15 mph cross-shore (WNW), gusts 210.9 ft
3 pmnow3–4 ftPoor to Fair15 mph cross-shore (WNW), gusts 221.2 ft
4 pm3 ftPoor to Fair15 mph cross-shore (NW), gusts 211.9 ft
5 pm3 ftFair13 mph cross-shore (NW), gusts 192.7 ft
Tomorrow, Tue, Nov 10
TimeSurfRatingWindTide
6 am2–3 ftPoor to Faircalm4.0 ft
7 am2–3 ftPoor to Faircalm4.4 ft
8 am2–3 ftFaircalm4.5 ft
9 am2–3 ftFair5 mph cross-shore (SSW), gusts 104.2 ft
10 am2–3 ftPoor to Fair8 mph cross-shore (SSW), gusts 143.5 ft
11 am2 ftPoor11 mph cross-shore (SSW), gusts 172.7 ft
12 pm2 ftPoor12 mph offshore (SSW), gusts 191.8 ft
1 pm2–3 ftPoor13 mph offshore (SW), gusts 191.2 ft
2 pm2–3 ftPoor13 mph offshore (SW), gusts 191.0 ft
3 pm2–3 ftPoor to Fair13 mph offshore (SW), gusts 191.1 ft
4 pm2–3 ftPoor to Fair12 mph offshore (SW), gusts 181.5 ft
5 pm2–3 ftPoor12 mph offshore (WSW), gusts 172.2 ft

Duck Research Pier waves today: sets, lulls and how they break

At 3 pm, sets at Duck Research Pier arrive about every minute with about 4 waves each, and the waves are mostly spilling and crumbly.

Set rhythm: about 4 waves per set every minute, with about 47 seconds between breaking waves.0 min15 min
Set waves
about 3.6 ft faces
Waves per set
about 4
Sets
every minute or so, each lasting about 11 s
Lulls
about 47 s between breaking waves
How they break
Spillingwhich means soft, crumbling whitewater
Shape
Crumblywhich means whitewater rolls gently down the face
Breaking
17% of waves stand up and break where surfers sitThe rest roll through.
Along-shore current
strong, about 2.1 mphThis is not a rip current forecast. For rip current risk, see the National Weather Service.

What do these mean?

Duck Research Pier surf this weekend and the next 10 days

Next 10 days at Duck Research Pier: the biggest day is Monday, Nov 9 at 3–4 ft, and the best-rated day is Monday, Nov 9 (Good). This weekend: Saturday, Nov 14, 1–2 ft and Poor; Sunday, Nov 15, 1–2 ft and Poor.

Duck Research Pier surf height by day for the next 10 days, in feet, with each day's best rating and main swell direction. Days 11 to 16 are in the Current app.this weekend2463–4Mon, Nov 9: GoodMonNov 92–3Tue, Nov 10: FairTueNov 101–2Wed, Nov 11: PoorWedNov 111–1Thu, Nov 12: PoorThuNov 120–1Fri, Nov 13: PoorFriNov 131–2Sat, Nov 14: PoorSatNov 141–2Sun, Nov 15: PoorSunNov 151–2Mon, Nov 16: PoorMonNov 161–2Tue, Nov 17: PoorTueNov 171–2Wed, Nov 18: PoorWedNov 18ThuNov 19FriNov 20SatNov 21SunNov 22MonNov 23TueNov 24ratingswell

Thu, Nov 19 – Tue, Nov 24

Days 11–16 for Duck Research Pier are in the Current app with a Premium subscription.

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Bars: surf face height from the low end to set waves, by day. Colour strip: the day's best rating. Arrows: main swell direction. Shaded: this weekend.

The 10-day forecast as a table, with swell and wind
Duck Research Pier 10-day surf forecast, free. Daylight hours; the main swell is the largest at midday.
DaySurfRatingMain swellWind amWind pmBest time
Mon, Nov 93–4 ftGood2.6 ft · 11 s · E15 mph offshore (W), gusts 2015 mph cross-shore (WNW), gusts 217 am
Tue, Nov 102–3 ftFair1.8 ft · 6 s · NEcalm13 mph offshore (SW), gusts 199 am
Wed, Nov 111–2 ftPoor1.5 ft · 10 s · E8 mph cross-shore (N)8 mph onshore (NE)6 am
Thu, Nov 121 ftPoor1.0 ft · 9 s · E12 mph cross-shore (SSW), gusts 2014 mph offshore (WSW), gusts 237 am
Fri, Nov 130–1 ftPoor0.4 ft · 9 s · E21 mph offshore (W), gusts 2621 mph offshore (WNW), gusts 261 pm
Sat, Nov 141–2 ftPoor1.7 ft · 5 s · N26 mph cross-shore (NW), gusts 3223 mph cross-shore (NW), gusts 294 pm
Sun, Nov 151–2 ftPoor2.4 ft · 6 s · NNE21 mph cross-shore (NW), gusts 2917 mph cross-shore (NW), gusts 234 pm
Mon, Nov 161–2 ftPoor2.6 ft · 6 s · NNE17 mph cross-shore (NNW), gusts 2516 mph cross-shore (N), gusts 237 am
Tue, Nov 171–2 ftPoor—18 mph cross-shore (N)19 mph cross-shore (N)7 am
Wed, Nov 181–2 ftPoor—15 mph cross-shore (NNE)18 mph cross-shore (NNE)4 pm
Thu, Nov 19 – Tue, Nov 24Days 11–16 for Duck Research Pier are in the Current app with a Premium subscription. Get the app

Duck Research Pier tide chart and tide times

Tides at Duck Research Pier today, Monday, Nov 9: low 0.6 ft at 12:30 am, high 4.3 ft at 7:01 am, low 0.8 ft at 1:28 pm and high 3.6 ft at 7:16 pm. At 3 pm the tide is 1.2 ft and rising.

Tide height at Duck Research Pier, in feet above MLLW, today and tomorrow, with high and low tide times.0123456Sun, Nov 8Mon, Nov 9Tue, Nov 10Wed, Nov 11Thu, Nov 12now 1.2 ft, risingLow 0.6 ft12:30 amHigh 4.3 ft7:01 amLow 0.8 ft1:28 pmHigh 3.6 ft7:16 pmLow 0.9 ft1:09 amHigh 4.5 ft7:39 amLow 1.0 ft2:12 pmHigh 3.5 ft7:56 pmLow 1.1 ft1:48 amHigh 4.5 ft8:18 amLow 1.3 ft2:46 pmHigh 3.7 ft8:33 pmLow 1.5 ft2:23 am
Tide height at Duck Research Pier, in feet, today and tomorrow. Shaded bands are night; the dashed line is now.

Duck Research Pier tide chart, November 2026

High and low tide times for the next 9 days.
DayTides
Mon, Nov 9Low 0.6 ft at 12:30 amHigh 4.3 ft at 7:01 amLow 0.8 ft at 1:28 pmHigh 3.6 ft at 7:16 pm
Tue, Nov 10Low 0.9 ft at 1:09 amHigh 4.5 ft at 7:39 amLow 1.0 ft at 2:12 pmHigh 3.5 ft at 7:56 pm
Wed, Nov 11Low 1.1 ft at 1:48 amHigh 4.5 ft at 8:18 amLow 1.3 ft at 2:46 pmHigh 3.7 ft at 8:33 pm
Thu, Nov 12Low 1.5 ft at 2:23 amHigh 4.8 ft at 8:56 amLow 1.7 ft at 3:29 pmHigh 3.9 ft at 9:15 pm
Fri, Nov 13Low 1.9 ft at 3:05 amHigh 4.9 ft at 9:32 amLow 1.8 ft at 4:19 pmHigh 3.6 ft at 9:52 pm
Sat, Nov 14Low 1.6 ft at 3:58 amHigh 4.1 ft at 10:16 amLow 1.3 ft at 5:07 pmHigh 3.0 ft at 10:45 pm
Sun, Nov 15Low 1.3 ft at 4:43 amHigh 3.7 ft at 11:08 amLow 1.2 ft at 5:48 pmHigh 3.0 ft at 11:38 pm
Mon, Nov 16Low 1.3 ft at 5:36 amHigh 3.6 ft at 11:55 amLow 1.1 ft at 6:36 pm
Tue, Nov 17High 3.0 ft at 12:35 amLow 1.4 ft at 6:32 amHigh 3.5 ft at 12:46 pm

Tide predictions, not observations. Heights in feet above MLLW.

Duck Research Pier water temperature

The water temperature at Duck Research Pier is about 63°F on Monday, Nov 9. With the air feeling like 56°F and a 14 mph wind, a 3/2 full wetsuit is the suggestion. Over the next week the water stays between 63 and 69°F.

Water temperature scale with wetsuit bands. Now 63 degrees, 3/2; 63 to 69 over the next 10 days.rashguardjacketspring3/24/3hooded 4/3hooded 5/46/5 hood63°F now

Water temperature is a forecast for the water at this spot, not a buoy reading. The wetsuit suggestion uses Billabong's wetsuit temperature scale, adjusted for air temperature and wind.

Surf spots near Duck Research Pier

Spots near Duck Research Pier with their rating right now, placed on a simple map.Duck Research PierSouthern DuckChicahaukKitty Hawk PierLaundromatsAvalon PierFirst Street

Rated right now. The Current app animates the surf itself on a live map of the whole coast. See the app →

All 26 Outer Banks & Crystal Coast spots →

About Duck Research Pier

Duck Research Pier is a pier in Duck, Dare County, North Carolina, facing east-northeast. Also called FRF, Field Research Facility and Army Corps Pier.

Follow Duck Research Pier in the Current app

The first 10 days are free, and Premium adds days 11–16.

Forecasts are estimates. Never rely on them for safety. For rip current risk and beach hazards, check the National Weather Service. Forecasts from Current's novel physics simulation. No AI. No black boxes. Ocean and weather data: NOAA (U.S. government data). NOAA does not endorse this site.