Surf Forecasts:
Folly Beach surf forecast from 8 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 8 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period, E swell with 149 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Folly Beach this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Folly Beach in the next 16 days are 1.3m 7s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 4s period and expected on Friday (Sep 11) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Tue 8th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Folly Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's get straight into it for Folly Beach. I've looked at the numbers, and I gotta be honest with ya – it's a real slow stretch ahead. We're looking at a long, flat spell that runs for nearly two weeks before things might try to wake up. The water is sitting at a warm 85°, feeling a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, which is nice for a paddle, but you'll need a board under your arm to enjoy it.
Right now and for the next several days, it's a write-off. From Tuesday the 8th through to nearly the end of the third week of September, there's essentially no wave action worth paddling for. The combined swell energy is weak, dropping into single and double digits (16 to 44), with mostly tiny, choppy waves and onshore winds messing things up. We get a few small windows of cleaner conditions on the 14th and 15th with light offshore winds, but the swell is barely a ripple at 1 ft to 1 ft. It's just not enough to surf. This is a stale, flat pattern, and the outlook is pretty grim.
After that long, flat run, we finally get a glimmer. The standout window for this entire 16-day outlook is the morning of Sunday the 22nd of September. The forecast shows a glassy calm, zero wind, with a 5 ft swell rolling in from the East with an 8-second period. The combined energy jumps to a solid moderate 249. That's the most interesting wave energy we see in the whole forecast. It's still a short-period swell, so it'll be a bit lumpy and won't have that long, clean wall you'd get from a groundswell, but it's the best on offer. As a beach break, it'll be fun, punchy, and the glassy conditions will make it look like a million bucks. It's a beginner-friendly size, so it's for everyone.
Before that, the morning of Saturday the 20th of September also shows some promise. It's glassy early with a 4 ft swell from the East, giving a combined energy of 201. It's a decent runner-up, but the swell is a touch smaller and the period is the same short 8 seconds.
So, to sum it up: a whole lot of nothing for nearly two weeks, then one clear standout on the morning of the 22nd. It ain't epic, but it's something to look forward to after the drought. Keep your eyes on the charts for that day – forecasts can change, but this one is our best shot.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Wed afternoon. Warm (max 28°C on Thu morning, min 26°C on Tue morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Tue afternoon, calm by Thu morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Fri night. Warm (max 31°C on Fri afternoon, min 24°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 7 | E 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 131 | 149 | 132 | 86 | 87 | 57 | 31 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 6:31PM1.94m | 6:58AM1.73m | 7:22PM1.96m | 7:50AM1.81m | 8:10PM1.94m | 8:39AM1.87m | 8:54PM1.90m | 9:26AM1.89m | 9:36PM1.82m | 10:11AM1.87m | 10:17PM1.73m | 10:55AM1.84m | 10:58PM1.64m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:57AM0.03m | 00:46AM0.12m | 12:55PM-0.01m | 1:36AM0.06m | 1:49PM-0.03m | 2:21AM0.03m | 2:40PM-0.01m | 3:04AM0.03m | 3:28PM0.04m | 3:44AM0.07m | 4:14PM0.12m | 4:23AM0.13m | 4:59PM0.22m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — |
 | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:34 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:27 | — |
mm | — | — | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 1 | — | 3 | 3 | — | 2 | 1 | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 28 |
Feels °C | 25 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 33 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 4 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 57 | 31 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 6 | 9 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 9 | — | S 4 | S 4 | SSE 5 | — | SE 7 | — | S 4 | S 4 | — | E 5 | S 3 | E 5 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | — | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | 13 | — | 3 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 7 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | E 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | — | — | S 3 | SSW 4 | — | — | S 4 | — | SSE 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 3 | SSW 3 | SSW 3 | S 3 | S 3 |
| kJ | 131 | 149 | 132 | 86 | 87 | — | — | 3 | 5 | — | — | 6 | — | 6 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 587 | 105 | 105 | 105 | 2322 | 105 | 24 | 866 | 300 | 351 | 1108 | 486 | 1417 | 1417 | 299 | 61 | 1417 | 285 | 295 | 595 | 295 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Folly Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Folly Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Folly Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Folly Beach 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 (Folly Beach) 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 Folly Beach 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.
Folly Beach is 8 km (5 miles) from the city of Mount Pleasant. If you plan a vacation in South Carolina, look for hotels and other accommodation in Mount Pleasant. Mount Pleasant has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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