Surf Forecasts:
Folly Beach surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 21 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 6s period, SSW swell with 108 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 1.2m 6s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 21) 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 1.1m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Folly Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this forecast for Folly Beach is a tough one. We’re looking at a long, dry spell with barely any surf to speak of for the next couple of weeks. It’s one of those stretches where the ocean just goes flat, so don’t be holding your breath for any waves.
The entire 16-day window is a bit of a washout. From Friday, July 17th right through to the end of the month, the wave energy is almost non-existent. We’re talking about combined energy readings that are mostly in the single digits or low teens (9, 10, 11, 14) – that’s pitiful, barely enough to ruffle a duck’s back. The swell heights are tiny, mostly 0.7 ft to 2 ft, with a few afternoon pulses of 4 ft, but those are all windswell with short periods (4 to 6 seconds) and cross-onshore winds that just chop it all up. The wave comment for every single session is “poor surf conditions,” and the scores reflect that. It’s a bummer.
There’s a glimmer of something on Thursday, July 30th. The morning shows a 4 ft swell from the south, with a period of 6 seconds and a combined energy of 130. That’s moderate energy, the best we’ll see, and the wind is cross-offshore from the west-southwest, cleaning it up. It’s still not going to be fantastic, but it’s the only session in the whole run that even looks rideable. The afternoon locks up with cross-shore winds, so that morning window is the one to try. The water is running about 84°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year.
Honestly, if you’re desperate for a paddle, the morning of July 30th is your only real shot. Apart from that, the boards are staying in the car. At Folly Beach, these flat spells happen, and forecasts can change, but right now, it’s looking like a long wait.
– Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 30°C on Fri morning, min 26°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri morning, fresh winds from the SSW by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Tue morning. Warm (max 30°C on Mon afternoon, min 26°C on Mon morning). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 4 | S 6 | ESE 8 | S 6 | S 6 | E 12 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SE 8 | SSW 5 | SE 8 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | S 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 64 | 6 | 82 | 54 | 3 | 56 | 66 | 0 | 77 | 86 | 16 | 58 | 18 | 74 | 42 | 80 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on |
High Tide | 11:12AM1.60m | 11:26PM1.77m | 12:06PM1.61m | 00:14AM1.66m | 12:59PM1.61m | 1:01AM1.55m | 1:50PM1.60m | 1:47AM1.46m | 2:40PM1.60m | 2:34AM1.38m | 3:30PM1.59m | 3:24AM1.33m | 4:21PM1.60m | 4:15AM1.30m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:59PM-0.09m | 5:37AM-0.08m | 5:54PM0.01m | 6:24AM-0.02m | 6:49PM0.12m | 7:11AM0.04m | 7:47PM0.20m | 7:58AM0.09m | 8:44PM0.26m | 8:46AM0.14m | 9:41PM0.29m | 9:34AM0.16m | 10:34PM0.30m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  | | |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — |
 | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:23 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 3 | 6 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 6 | — | 8 | 14 |
Temp °C | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 33 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 3 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | — | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | S 6 | SE 8 | — | — | SE 8 | — | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 8 | S 6 | S 6 | S 5 |
| kJ | 1 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 3 | — | 6 | 6 | 3 | 36 | 2 | — | — | 16 | — | 16 | 8 | 18 | 26 | 15 | 20 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 8 | — | — | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | — | — | 10 | 10 | 9 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 3 | S 3 | S 3 | S 4 | S 6 | S 7 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SSW 5 | S 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | S 5 |
| kJ | — | 3 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 64 | 55 | 82 | 54 | 74 | 56 | 66 | 38 | 77 | 86 | 49 | 58 | 92 | 74 | 42 | 80 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2150 | 1813 | 1699 | 1638 | 367 | 224 | 718 | 544 | 162 | 243 | 1205 | 215 | 1497 | 1417 | 215 | 336 | 372 | 38 | 38 | 3 | 585 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)- Wind Speed (km/h)
FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website
The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Folly Beach surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
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.
Nearest