Surf Forecasts:
Folly Beach surf forecast from 14 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 18 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 15 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period, E swell with 103 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 18 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period with E swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Folly Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Folly Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m 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 Folly Beach in the next 16 days are 1.1m 7s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 4s period and expected on Monday (Sep 14) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Tue 15th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Folly Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what we've got on the cards.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this is a tough run. We're looking at a long stretch of pretty ordinary conditions for the next couple of weeks. It's not a total write-off, but you're gonna have to be patient. The water temp is sitting at a warm 83°, which is about what you'd expect for this time of year.
For the first week and a half, through to the morning of Friday the 25th, it's a real struggle. We've got tiny swell, barely a ripple, and the wind is all over the shop. The energy levels are pitiful. It's basically flat. There are a few mornings that look glassy or have a clean cross-offshore wind, like Monday the 21st and Wednesday the 23rd, but there's just no swell to work with. It's a bust.
Now, things finally start to look a bit more interesting towards the end of the forecast. On the morning of Friday the 25th of September, we might get a bit of a pulse. We'll see some 4ft swell from the east, but it's a short period windswell. The real positive here is the wind, which is glassy with a light NNE breeze. That will keep the surface clean. Conditions are still ordinary, but at least there's a wave to ride. This swell hangs on through Saturday the 26th morning, with 4ft from the east, and a clean cross-offshore breeze. So, if you're desperate for a paddle, the only real highlight is Folly Beach. Friday the 25th morning and Saturday the 26th morning are the picks. The swell is small, around 4ft from the east, and those clean wind conditions will be the key. It's not going to be epic, but it'll be surfable. Don't expect any crowds to be a problem given how poor the rest of the run is.
Stay patient, and keep an eye on the forecasts. It's been a quiet spell.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 32°C on Mon afternoon, min 24°C on Wed morning). Winds increasing (calm on Mon morning, fresh winds from the ENE by Tue morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 27°C on Fri afternoon, min 23°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 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | E 3 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 5 | ESE 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ESE 6 | E 6 | E 5 | ESE 4 | E 7 | SE 9 | SE 7 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 23 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 11 | 100 | 85 | 57 | 55 | 41 | 58 | 44 | 43 | 27 | 24 | 21 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 7 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:17PM1.73m | 10:55AM1.84m | 10:58PM1.64m | 11:39AM1.78m | 11:41PM1.56m | 12:24PM1.73m | 00:26AM1.49m | 1:12PM1.68m | 1:15AM1.44m | 2:03PM1.64m | 2:07AM1.41m | 2:57PM1.63m | 3:02AM1.41m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:14PM0.12m | 4:23AM0.13m | 4:59PM0.22m | 5:01AM0.21m | 5:46PM0.32m | 5:39AM0.29m | 6:34PM0.42m | 6:21AM0.37m | 7:26PM0.49m | 7:08AM0.42m | 8:21PM0.53m | 8:02AM0.45m | 9:16PM0.54m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | |
 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — |
 | 7:29 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 30 | 29 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 31 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 31 | 26 | 24 | 22 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | — | E 15 | E 15 | — | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 4 | E 7 | E 6 | SE 7 |
| kJ | 23 | 21 | 20 | 19 | — | 4 | 4 | — | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 10 | E 10 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 8 | SE 4 | SE 12 | SE 11 |
| kJ | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 5 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 9 | — | SE 12 | SE 9 | SE 12 | SE 11 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 6 | 3 | 5 | 5 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 3 | S 4 | — | — | E 3 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 5 | ESE 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ESE 6 | E 6 | E 5 | — | — | SE 9 | — |
| kJ | 8 | 5 | — | — | 11 | 100 | 85 | 57 | 55 | 41 | 58 | 44 | 43 | 27 | 24 | 21 | — | — | 12 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 545 | 295 | 295 | 1123 | 530 | 105 | 105 | 204 | 204 | 1417 | 220 | 105 | 854 | 204 | 176 | 854 | 1638 | 419 | 1423 | 336 |
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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