Surf Forecasts:
Apache Pier surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 10s period, SE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period, S swell with 92 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 10s period with SE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Apache Pier this week:
The surf forecast for Apache Pier over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 4s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 4s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Apache Pier in the next 16 days are 1.1m 6s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Apache Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Gather ‘round, folks. Rusty here. Gotta say, it’s been a tough stretch for surf on this side of the region. I’ve stared at the charts for Apache Pier, and honestly, for the next week and a half, it’s looking pretty grim. There’s a real dry spell coming up, about a solid week with hardly anything worth paddling out for. The water’s sitting right around 84°, which is about what you'd expect for this time of year, so no weird anomalies there, just flat and quiet.
For this Tuesday, August 18th, the morning gives us a tiny 1ft pulse from the southeast, but it’s only packing a weak 20 units of energy. It’s clean, with a light cross-offshore breeze, but that’s about the only compliment I can give it. The afternoon gets messier, wind swinging onshore. That same tiny 1ft swell is still there, but it’s choppy junk. Wednesday the 19th sees a bit of early glass with a westerly breeze going offshore, and the swell pushes up to a still-weak 1ft. The afternoon goes glassy again, but the wave energy is pathetic at 21 units. Thursday the 20th? Same story: 1ft with cross-onshore wind. It’s just not happening.
We finally see a tiny bump on the charts towards the end of next week. Friday the 28th of August, the morning shows a bit of promise, but it’s still small. There’s a 2ft pulse from the southeast that’s actually got a solid 11-second period, and it’s clean with a cross-off breeze out of the north-northeast. The energy is up to 80 units, which is at least something. But the waves will be weak and the sets far apart. The afternoon gets a little chunky with cross-shore wind, but still, it’s a surf you might get one or two rides on if you’re desperate.
The real kicker, if you’re an expert or just want to watch some waves break, is looking at the morning of Thursday, August 27th. I know it’s a week away, but the models are saying we might finally get a pulse. The swell jumps to 4ft out of the south-southwest, and the energy is actually moderate at 171 units. The wind is a cross-offshore breeze from the west, so it’s clean. It’s still not going to be a world-beater, but it’s the best we’ve got. The period is short, only 6 seconds, so it’s going to be a bit crumbly and soft at this sandbar setup. It’s finally “surfable” but still pretty ordinary. Don’t get your hopes up too high. The rest of that final week is a mess of onshore winds and tiny swell.
So, the only surf that even comes close to a recommendation is that Thursday the 27th morning. It’s the one bright spot in a long, flat forecast. For the rest of it, keep the board in the car and save your energy. This stretch is one to forget.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 33°C on Tue afternoon, min 25°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 41mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 31°C on Fri afternoon, min 22°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 4 | SE 8 | S 5 | SSW 5 | S 5 | S 5 | SSW 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 5 | S 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
9 | 19 | 25 | 23 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 15 | 10 | 15 | 38 | 22 | 33 | 81 | 34 | 47 | 62 | 31 | 29 | 39 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 2:21PM0.95m | 2:22AM0.82m | 3:11PM0.92m | 3:11AM0.78m | 4:04PM0.90m | 4:05AM0.75m | 5:00PM0.90m | 5:02AM0.74m | 5:56PM0.91m | 5:59AM0.75m | 6:49PM0.94m | 6:53AM0.78m | 7:37PM0.98m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:24AM0.12m | 9:01PM0.28m | 9:09AM0.19m | 9:54PM0.35m | 10:00AM0.24m | 10:52PM0.39m | 10:55AM0.27m | 11:51PM0.40m | 11:53AM0.28m | 00:48AM0.37m | 12:49PM0.25m | 1:41AM0.32m | 1:41PM0.21m | 2:29AM0.26m | |||||||
6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | |
— | 7:58 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | 2 | 24 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | — | 8 |
Temp °C | 32 | 33 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 25 | 28 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 |
Feels °C | 35 | 36 | 33 | 36 | 35 | 33 | 35 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 25 | 28 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | SE 8 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SSW 6 | S 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 6 | SE 12 | SE 9 |
3 | 10 | 25 | 23 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 21 | 8 | 8 | 50 | 34 | 3 | 2 | 31 | 5 | 3 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 11 | — | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | S 15 | ESE 9 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 9 | SE 11 |
9 | 19 | — | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 5 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 9 | E 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 15 | E 7 | S 14 | — | — | SE 13 | SE 13 | — | — | SE 7 | — | — |
8 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 1 | 4 | — | — | 7 | 6 | — | — | 2 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | — | SSE 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 3 | S 4 | S 4 | S 5 | SSW 5 | S 5 | S 5 | SSW 6 | — | S 6 | S 6 | — | S 5 | S 5 |
— | 6 | 6 | — | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 10 | 15 | 38 | 22 | 33 | 81 | — | 47 | 62 | — | 29 | 39 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 66 | 392 | 82 | 66 | 823 | 829 | 872 | 383 | 1185 | 1645 | 956 | 0 | 373 | 373 | 512 | 678 | 1169 | 392 | 82 | 622 | 360 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Apache Pier Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Apache Pier provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Apache Pier can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Apache Pier surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Apache Pier) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Apache Pier may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Apache Pier is 18 km (11 miles) from Myrtle Beach. If you plan a vacation in South Carolina, look for hotels and other accommodation in Myrtle Beach. Myrtle Beach has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











