Folly Beach Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let's get into it.

Straight up, the next couple of weeks are looking pretty flat and crummy. We've got a solid stretch of nothing going on, with tiny, weak swell and onshore winds messing up what little there is. It’s a classic dead spell, and you’re gonna have to wait it out.

The first faint sign of life comes on Sunday, the 23rd. The swell might bump up to a whole 3ft, and the morning looks glassy with light southerly winds. That's your best bet for a clean paddle, but even then, the period is short and the energy is weak. It's knee-high, clean, but not really worth the effort. Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th are back to tiny leftovers, so don’t get too excited.

The only real window, if you can call it that, is around the 27th and 28th. There’s a bit more energy in the water, finally getting into the triple digits (123 on Thursday afternoon and 105 on Friday afternoon). The swell height stays small, around 1ft to 3ft, but there’s a slightly longer period to it. For Folly Beach Pier, we’re looking at a SE swell, which is okay, though not perfect for the spot. But the wind is still a problem – mostly cross and cross-on, keeping things choppy.

Honestly, for the first week, there’s nothing that’s going to get your heart racing. The water is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, running about 3°F above average, so it will feel nice out there, but that’s about the only highlight.

If you’re desperate, Sunday morning the 23rd is your best bet for a clean, glassy paddle, but don’t expect much push.

The bigger issue is the constant onshore winds. With the tiny swell and all that chop, the setup at Folly Beach Pier, being a beach/pier break, is looking a whole lot more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. You might want to dig out the kite gear because the surfboards are gonna be gathering dust.

There is a bit of hope towards the end of the second week. The period on the 26th jumps to 18 seconds, but the swell is tiny. Long-period groundswell like that is better at a point or reef break, but at a beach break, it tends to close out. And with the wind still being cross-shore, it's not shaping up to be anything special.

So, bottom line: we’ve got a long, dry spell ahead. The forecast is pretty locked in for the near term, and it’s poor. The long-range stuff for the end of August is promising a slight increase in energy, but it’s still small and wind affected. I wouldn’t be cancelling any plans for this one. Keep the board in the car, but maybe keep the kite gear closer.

Stay patient. It tends not to stay this poor for long.

Rusty.

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