Surf Forecasts:
Apache Pier surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 5s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period, SSW swell with 42 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 5s period with S 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 Saturday (Aug 22) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 9s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Apache Pier in the next 16 days are 0.9m 5s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Apache Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, I’m looking at the whole 16-day window for Apache Pier, and I gotta be straight with you—it’s a tough stretch. The swell is tiny, mostly under 3 feet, and the wind is often cross or onshore, messing up what little wave energy there is. There’s no standout day where everything clicks, so you’re really scraping for a session.
The water temperature at Apache Pier is sitting at 85°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year—nothing crazy, but you’ll notice it’s a bit bath-like.
Let’s start from the beginning. Wednesday the 19th through Friday the 21st: nothing doing. The swell is 1-1 feet from the SE, energy is weak (between 11 and 33), and the wind is cross-on or onshore. It’s basically flat or tiny and messy.
Saturday the 22nd morning has a risk of thunderstorms, but the wind goes glassy—that’s rare and worth a mention. The swell is still tiny at 1 feet from the SSE, period a short 5 seconds, with energy at 24. It’s poor surf conditions but glassy, so if you’re desperate for a splash, you might find a ripple. Saturday afternoon gets a little better: swell bumps to 2 feet from the S, still short period, energy up to 40, and glassy again. The comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions”—that’s as good as it gets this week. But honestly, it’s not a session to write home about.
Sunday the 23rd morning is glassy but only 2 feet, and the afternoon turns cross-on and choppy. Monday the 24th through Tuesday the 27th is more of the same—tiny swell, cross or onshore wind, and poor conditions. The swell energy stays low, between 24 and 50.
Wednesday the 26th and into Thursday the 27th: the wind picks up hard, with Wednesday afternoon seeing 35 km/h from the SSW, cross-on, and lumpy. That’s not surfable for paddle—more of a kiteboarding kind of setup if you’re into that.
Friday the 28th morning and afternoon finally show a little promise: offshore wind from the NNW and NW, light breeze, clean conditions. The swell is still only 1 feet from the SE, period 9 seconds, but energy climbs to 56-59. The comment calls it “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” For a small-wave board or a longboard, you might get a few fun ones if the wind holds.
Saturday the 29th through Monday the 31st: the swell stays tiny, mostly 1-2 feet, and the wind turns cross or onshore again. Not great.
Then we jump into September. Tuesday the 1st sees a longer period swell creep in—13 seconds from the SE, but height is only 1-1 feet. Energy is 49-86, still weak. The wind is cross or cross-on, so not clean. Wednesday the 2nd afternoon has a bit more energy at 119 (moderate), with 2 feet from the SE at 11 seconds, but it’s cross-on and choppy. Thursday the 3rd is similar, with cross winds and tiny swell.
The best I can honestly pick out of this whole run is Friday the 28th, with offshore winds from the NNW-NW, clean conditions, and a little SE swell at 1 feet, 9 seconds. It’s not big, it’s not powerful, but it’s the only window where the wind lines up. For a longboard or a foamie, you might catch a few waist-high waves. Crowds are possible—Apache Pier can get busy, especially on a Friday with decent conditions.
Other than that, it’s a long wait for anything worthwhile. The first week is basically a write-off, with a gap of no real surf from the 19th through the 27th, and only a fleeting chance on the 22nd afternoon if you’re desperate. The second week stays small and messy, with no true standout.
So that’s the score. Keep your expectations low, and if you’re itching for a paddle, Friday the 28th morning is your best bet.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Thu night. Warm (max 31°C on Wed afternoon, min 23°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 30°C on Mon afternoon, min 25°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 4 | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | S 5 | SE 11 | S 5 | SSW 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
31 | 21 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 12 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 28 | 15 | 23 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 40 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross | cross-off | on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 7:43AM0.81m | 8:21PM1.01m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 2:29PM0.17m | 3:12AM0.20m | |||||||
6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | |
— | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:50 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | — | — | 7 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 2 | — | 3 | 1 | — | 5 | 5 | 1 | 7 |
Temp °C | 30 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 28 |
Feels °C | 33 | 33 | 34 | 34 | 33 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 4 | S 5 | ESE 9 | S 5 | S 5 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SSE 5 | SE 12 | SE 9 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 |
31 | 21 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 20 | 21 | 3 | 7 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 18 | 4 | 17 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | S 4 | — | — | — | S 15 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 13 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 9 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 8 | SE 11 |
2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 4 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 18 | 3 | 5 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 15 | E 6 | S 14 | SE 14 | E 7 | SE 13 | SE 13 | — | — | SSE 12 | SE 9 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 6 | — | — | 14 | 3 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSE 2 | SSE 2 | — | SSE 2 | S 3 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 5 | S 5 | W 4 | — | S 5 | S 5 | — | SSE 5 | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | SSW 5 |
— | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 12 | 16 | 12 | 6 | — | 20 | 28 | — | 23 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 40 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 209 | 823 | 839 | 881 | 1219 | 589 | 589 | 1630 | 209 | 0 | 130 | 377 | 377 | 130 | 356 | 227 | 988 | 356 | 66 | 377 | 464 |
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.











