Surf Forecasts:
Folly Beach surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 30 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period, SW swell with 75 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 1.1m 6s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 30) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 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 – looking at the next 16 days for our local stretch, it’s a tough watch. We’ve got a long, long dry spell before we finally see something worth paddling out for.
Right now and for the next week and a half, it’s pretty grim. The energy is barely a whisper, with combined swell readings hanging around that weak 2-digit number vibe. We’re talking tiny, weak waves, and when they do show up, the wind is often a problem. A lot of onshore and cross-onshore junk, keeping things choppy and messy. You’d be fighting a losing battle out there.
The first real sign of life doesn’t pop up until Monday, August 3rd. The morning session at Folly Beach is the only thing that even sniffs at being surfable. Swell bumps up a touch to 4ft out of the SSE, and the energy finally hits a moderate 125. The wind is light and from the NNE, coming slightly offshore, which cleans the surface right up. That’s the standout, but it’s a low bar. Even then, it’s described as "very ordinary conditions." It’s a fair-to-middlin' wave at a beach break, so don’t expect perfection. For the absolute beginner, 4ft is at the top end of what’s manageable, but with clean conditions, it’s doable.
The real highlight? Honestly, the Sunday morning, July 26th forecast was the cleanest the ocean will look, with glassy conditions, but the swell was a paltry 1ft. A total non-starter. So that Monday the 3rd is really your only shot for a surf in the entire two-week window.
For the rest of the run after that, we’re right back to small, wind-affected slop. The winds stay mostly cross-on or onshore, and the swell energy drops back into the weak zone. It’s a blank run. Water temp is sitting at 86°, which is a touch warmer than normal for the time of year.
Keep the board in the car, but maybe leave the wetsuit at home. Check back in a week, things can always flip.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 34mm), heaviest during Sun morning. Warm (max 31°C on Sat afternoon, min 25°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Wed night. Warm (max 33°C on Wed afternoon, min 24°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Wed night, light winds from the N by Fri morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | ||||||||||||||
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 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 4 | SSW 5 | ESE 8 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | E 3 | ESE 4 | E 5 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 33 | 6 | 46 | 41 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 21 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | on | on | on |
High Tide | 5:59PM1.64m | 5:58AM1.32m | 6:45PM1.67m | 6:47AM1.35m | 7:28PM1.70m | 7:33AM1.37m | 8:09PM1.72m | 8:15AM1.40m | 8:47PM1.72m | 8:55AM1.43m | 9:22PM1.70m | 9:32AM1.46m | 9:55PM1.67m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:14AM0.25m | 11:58AM0.16m | 00:59AM0.22m | 12:44PM0.13m | 1:42AM0.18m | 1:29PM0.11m | 2:22AM0.15m | 2:11PM0.10m | 2:59AM0.12m | 2:51PM0.09m | 3:34AM0.10m | 3:32PM0.10m | 4:09AM0.08m | |||||||
 |  | | | |  | |  | | | |  | | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — |
 | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:19 | — |
mm | 4 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 31 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 32 | 33 | 26 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 |
Feels °C | 33 | 34 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 31 | 31 | 35 | 36 | 27 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 6 | SSW 6 | ESE 8 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 5 | SSE 6 |
| kJ | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 5 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 18 | 10 | 6 | 17 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 4 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | — | S 4 | S 5 | S 5 | ESE 8 | S 5 | SE 5 | NE 5 | NE 6 | E 6 | ESE 8 | SE 7 | — | SE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 | — |
| kJ | 3 | — | 3 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 8 | — | 8 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 7 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | NE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | SE 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 7 | SE 7 | — | — | SE 9 | SE 9 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 9 | 7 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | 8 | — | — | 3 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 4 | ENE 3 | E 3 | — | — | SSE 5 | S 3 | SSW 4 | S 4 | SSW 5 | WNW 3 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | — | SE 2 | — | E 3 | ESE 4 | E 5 |
| kJ | — | 5 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 8 | 5 | 4 | 15 | 33 | 1 | 46 | 41 | — | 1 | — | 3 | 17 | 21 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 295 | 224 | 351 | 112 | 496 | 861 | 861 | 868 | 525 | 861 | 536 | 102 | 220 | 3 | 168 | 775 | 381 | 372 | 594 | 585 |
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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