Beach
both
Level 5/10

S-Turns

Rodanthe, USA
🌀Strong rips🏝️Remote

S-Turns is named for the serpentine curves in Highway 12 near Rodanthe—and for the winding tubes that form along this stretch when hurricane swells unload on the Outer Banks. This is one of the most consistent sections of the OBX, positioned to catch swells from multiple directions and offering empty peaks spread across miles of beach. The remote location means fewer crowds than the northern beaches, but also means commitment to the drive. When conditions align, S-Turns delivers some of the best waves on the East Coast, with powerful barrels and workable walls that reward the dedicated.

3-Day Forecast
Wed
29
27
Poor
1.0m
@11s
10km/h
Today
30
22
Poor
0.8m
@11s
19km/h
Fri
1
13
Poor
0.8m
@9s
21km/h
+7
Unlock

Today's Conditions

Swell
1.0m
ENE(66°)
Score: 9/25
Period
11s
Medium period swell
Score: 11/25
Wind
10km/h
E(92°)
Score: 9/25
Weather
15°C
0.0mm63%
0
Forecast Confidence
100%
Sources: open-meteo-marine, open-meteo-weather
Best Session
morning
AM: 7 km/h ENE|PM: 12 km/h E
7 km/h vs 12 km/h afternoon

Location & Conditions

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0°45°90°135°180°225°270°315°NESW
Swell
Wind
View in OpenStreetMap
Showing forecast for today

Tide Times

4:22 am
Low tide - -0.05m
9:22 am
High tide - 0.04m
4:37 pm
Low tide - -0.07m
10:22 pm
High tide - 0.07m
Times shown in spot-local time.

Strike Score Breakdown

27
Poor
Components
Swell Direction9/25
Swell Size9/25
Swell Period11/25
Wind9/25
Raw Score38/100
Adjustments
🤢 Wind History-11
Adjusted Score27/100
Confidence
Multiplier×1.00
Final Score27
🤢 Morning Sickness

Spot Details

Swell Requirements

Optimal direction
E (100°)
Direction range
70° - 150°
Size range
0.8m - 3.5m
Ideal size
2.7m
Height multiplier
1.00×
Ideal period
14s+

Wind Requirements

Optimal direction
W (280°)
Offshore range
250° - 320°

Tide Requirements

Optimal tide
low
Optimal range
0.3m - 1m

Water temp

19°C

Wetsuit

3/2mm fullsuit

Difficulty

5/10

Crowd level

3/10

Access: Named for curves in Highway 12.

Best Season

Peak: Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar

Secondary: Aug

Hurricane swells can get epic here.

Getting There

Airport
ORF
Drive time
100 min
Data quality
verified

Strike Log

Community Discussion