Apache Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a proper look at what’s on the cards for Apache Pier.

Right off the bat, I’ve gotta be straight with you – it’s a quiet start and a long, drawn-out run of pretty ordinary surf for the most part. There’s nothing big or dramatic coming, and the wind is going to be a real pain in the backside most days. The energy in the water is generally weak, often below 100, which tells you the ocean’s just not got much punch. The first real standout doesn’t appear for a while but when it does, it’s worth knowing about.

Apache Pier (Myrtle Beach)

The water temp is sitting at 85°, which is a touch warmer than normal for the time of year – nothing crazy, but you can feel it.

The story here starts with small, weak swell. Tuesday morning the 7th has a tiny 2ft S swell with a short period of 6 seconds, and combined energy is a measly 40. Light cross-off wind will keep it clean, but it’s barely surfable. That’s the pattern for days: small S/SSW swell, short period, and onshore winds in the afternoons ruining any chance of a decent session. Wednesday the 8th and Thursday the 9th follow the same script – clean mornings with tiny waves, then choppy junk by lunch. A bit more energy shows Thursday morning with a combined energy reading of 112, but the swell’s still only 3ft. It’s ordinary.

Friday the 10th morning is clean enough with 4ft SSW swell, but the afternoon turns ugly with a 30 km/h cross wind making the sea lumpy. Saturday and Sunday are more of the same – tiny with messy afternoons. Sunday morning the 12th actually has a bit of offshore wind from the WNW at just 5 km/h, but the swell drops to 2ft. Not much to work with.

The first real glimmer comes around Thursday the 16th, when we get a clean 3ft SSW swell early under a light offshore. Not a standout, just a small step up. Then Friday the 17th morning is clean with 3ft S swell and offshore wind – still small, but rideable.

But the one that catches my eye, the true standout, is Monday the 20th morning. That’s the one to circle on the calendar. We’ve got a 5ft SSW swell, and the combined energy hits 237 – that’s the strongest reading across the whole run. The wind is light WSW cross-off, which means clean conditions. This is the best on offer, no doubt. The swell direction is a solid match for optimum and the size is still fun for most. After that, the run fizzles out into nothing again. Tuesday the 21st morning is glassy but only 2ft, and from there it’s small, messy junk right through to the end of the outlook.

Overall, it’s a lean period. The consistent small swell and daily onshore chop mean you’ve really got to pick your windows. The only morning that looks properly good is Monday the 20th. Other mornings might be clean but the waves just aren’t there. The afternoon winds are consistently from the S and SW, so don’t bother planning for a sunset session unless you love choppy closeouts.

For the big picture: the waves are small and weak for almost the whole 16 days. The energy readings hang around double and triple digits, mostly less than 100, and only once climb above 200. That Monday the 20th morning is the best bet for a proper session. If you’re after a rinse-and-repeat paddle, the mornings from Wednesday the 9th to Friday the 11th offer clean but tiny waves, but if you want the best, hold out for Monday the 20th. After that, it’s a flat fade.

Stay patient, keep the fins sharp for that Monday, and don’t expect much else. This is the kind of stretch where you’ll be happy with a few clean little runners and no crowd. It ain't gonna be pumping, but you can still get wet.

Rusty.

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