
Surf Forecasts:
Apache Pier surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 17 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 15 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period, E swell with 100 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 17 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s period with E 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 Thursday (Sep 17) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s 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 1.1m 6s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 2s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 17) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Tue 15th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Apache Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it. This is Rusty.
First up, we’ve got Apache Pier. Look, I’ll level with you – for this entire 16-day stretch, there’s no real stand-out surf to get excited about. We’re looking at a long run of small, weak energy waves and poor conditions. The combined swell energy barely gets into double digits for most of it, often sitting weak (44) or lower. The water temp is sitting at a warm 83°, which is about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.
The first sniff of anything rideable doesn’t show up until the morning of Tuesday the 22nd. That’s a solid week with almost no surf worth paddling for. On that Tuesday morning, we get a tiny 3ft swell from the ESE, with a short period of 6 seconds. The wind is light and cross-offshore, so it’ll be clean, but the energy is still low (80). The wave comment calls it “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions” – and that’s about right. It’s a small, weak wave for beginners only.
After that, things stay small and mostly messy. The afternoon of Thursday the 24th shows a 2ft ESE swell with a bit more energy (94) and light cross-offshore wind, so again, clean but tiny. Then on Friday the 25th morning, we get a glassy 3ft ESE swell with a short period (6 seconds) and energy of 54. It’s clean but weak. The pattern keeps repeating: small, short-period swells, often with cross or onshore wind, and the wave quality stays poor or ordinary.
Honestly, for the whole outlook, the best you’re looking at is those small, clean windows on the 22nd and 24th-25th. Even then, the swell is under 3ft and the period is short – it’s not going to have any push. This is strictly a longboard or foiling situation, and even then, it’s slim pickings. For a beginner, the size is fine, but there’s just no power. Don’t expect any proper waves. The gap at the start is about 9 days of nothing worthwhile.
Signing off, Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 34°C on Mon afternoon, min 21°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Mon morning, fresh winds from the ENE by Mon night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Wed afternoon, min 21°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | ||||||||||||||
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 9 | E 5 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | E 7 | ESE 5 | ESE 4 | E 5 | E 6 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
23 | 20 | 27 | 19 | 79 | 78 | 49 | 49 | 29 | 37 | 37 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 56 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 11 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | on | cross | cross | on | cross | cross | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross |
High Tide | 11:39PM0.99m | 12:12PM1.06m | 00:18AM0.93m | 12:54PM1.02m | 00:57AM0.88m | 1:38PM0.98m | 1:39AM0.83m | 2:25PM0.94m | 2:26AM0.79m | 3:18PM0.91m | 3:20AM0.77m | 4:15PM0.91m | 4:20AM0.77m | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:10PM0.09m | 6:22AM0.07m | 6:53PM0.17m | 7:01AM0.14m | 7:37PM0.26m | 7:41AM0.21m | 8:23PM0.34m | 8:25AM0.28m | 9:14PM0.41m | 9:14AM0.33m | 10:10PM0.45m | 10:11AM0.37m | 11:09PM0.46m | |||||||
— | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | |
7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:19 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 30 | 28 | 30 | 34 | 30 | 23 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 |
Feels °C | 31 | 29 | 31 | 34 | 30 | 20 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 29 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | S 4 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | — | — | — | ESE 8 | S 14 | S 14 | ESE 6 | SE 13 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | SE 12 | ESE 4 | E 5 | E 6 | SE 8 |
21 | 10 | 27 | 19 | 4 | — | — | — | 7 | 4 | 4 | 26 | 6 | 23 | 18 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 11 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 9 | SSW 4 | SW 4 | — | — | — | — | S 14 | SE 14 | — | SE 13 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 11 |
— | 20 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 7 | — | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 13 | SE 12 | — | SE 12 | SE 4 | SE 12 | SE 11 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 6 | — | 5 | 1 | 5 | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | — | — | — | E 5 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | — | ESE 6 | — | E 7 | ESE 5 | — | — | SSE 5 | — |
23 | — | — | — | 79 | 78 | 49 | 49 | 29 | 37 | 37 | — | 25 | — | 56 | 14 | — | — | 3 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 377 | 130 | 130 | 956 | 674 | 63 | 63 | 40 | 40 | 1306 | 61 | 61 | 942 | 40 | 9 | 942 | 1653 | 572 | 1313 | 498 |
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.










