Surf Forecasts:
Folly Beach surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 11s period, ESE swell with 47 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 0.4m 11s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 5s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 11s |
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 – the next 16 days are a tough watch for Folly Beach. We’re looking at a long, dry spell with barely a ripple worth paddling for. The first good surf recommendation doesn’t show up until well into the period, so you’re staring down a gap of over a week with nothing to get excited about.
For the first several days, from Sunday the 23rd of August right through the end of the month, it’s a flat, choppy mess. Swell heights are barely scraping 2ft, and the wind is mostly cross or cross-onshore, keeping things messy. The water’s warm though – running at 87°F on Sunday, a solid 4°F warmer than usual for this time of year, which is a nice touch for a swim.
We finally see a little pulse of energy creep in around the morning of Tuesday the 1st of September. A clean morning with light west-southwest winds, a little 1ft SE swell rolling in with a 16-second period. That’s a long-period groundswell, so it’ll have some push but might be a bit walled at the beach. The combined energy is weak (62), but it’s the cleanest we’ve seen. The wind goes onshore by the afternoon though, so don’t sleep in.
The standout of the whole outlook – and I’m being generous here – is the morning of Saturday the 5th of September. Clear skies, a light west-southwest breeze making it clean, and a 1ft SE swell with a 12-second period. The combined energy is still low (40), but it’s the best we’ve got. For a beach break like Folly Beach, that light offshore wind is your best chance for a few clean, crumbly walls. Don’t expect much, but if you’re jonesing, that’s the window.
The morning of Sunday the 6th of September also pops up with a 3ft E swell, clean with a light north-northeast wind, but it’s a short-period 6-second wind swell, so it’ll be a bit lumpy. Might be rideable for the desperate.
Overall, it’s a bleak run. The consistency is low, the energy is weak, and we’re waiting on a real change. For an area that’s fairly exposed, it’s an unusually quiet stretch. But hey, it never stays flat forever, and forecasts can shift. Hang loose.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 31°C on Mon afternoon, min 25°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 30°C on Wed afternoon, min 26°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 3 | S 4 | S 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SE 11 | SE 11 | S 5 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | S 5 | S 4 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 4 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 6 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 32 | 30 | 29 | 16 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 17 | 32 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 13 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:25PM1.66m | 5:28AM1.40m | 6:13PM1.70m | 6:18AM1.45m | 6:57PM1.74m | 7:04AM1.51m | 7:38PM1.77m | 7:46AM1.57m | 8:16PM1.79m | 8:25AM1.63m | 8:51PM1.78m | 9:04AM1.68m | 9:26PM1.75m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:38PM0.37m | 11:27AM0.27m | 00:24AM0.32m | 12:16PM0.23m | 1:07AM0.27m | 1:03PM0.19m | 1:46AM0.21m | 1:48PM0.15m | 2:24AM0.15m | 2:31PM0.13m | 3:00AM0.11m | 3:13PM0.13m | 3:36AM0.08m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | |  | |  | |  | | | | |  | | | |
 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — |
 | 7:55 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 4 | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | — | 8 |
Temp °C | 30 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 |
Feels °C | 31 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 12 | ESE 12 | S 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | S 4 | S 4 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | S 4 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 |
| kJ | 3 | 2 | 6 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 6 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 7 | — | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | — | E 15 | ESE 9 | — | E 13 | ESE 9 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | — | E 10 |
| kJ | 6 | 6 | 2 | — | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | — | 4 | 7 | — | 3 | 32 | 3 | 2 | 2 | — | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 8 | SE 6 | — | — | SE 11 | SE 11 | — | SW 4 | — | — | E 14 | E 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 5 | 2 | — | — | 30 | 29 | — | 3 | — | — | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 3 | S 4 | S 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | — | — | S 5 | — | SSE 4 | S 4 | — | S 5 | S 4 | S 5 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 |
| kJ | 5 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 32 | — | — | 16 | — | 6 | 6 | — | 7 | 17 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 13 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 351 | 866 | 521 | 981 | 241 | 24 | 486 | 338 | 1123 | 1416 | 338 | 521 | 496 | 300 | 3 | 755 | 300 | 525 | 866 | 718 |
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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