Surf Forecasts:
Folly Beach surf forecast from 13 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period, SSW swell with 77 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period with SSW 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s. 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 6s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) 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 0.7m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Folly Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, and I’m gonna level with ya. Right now, we’re looking at a real flat spell along the Folly Beach (Folly-Beach) stretch. I don’t have a single standout to shout about across the whole 16-day window. Every single forecast slot labels the surf “poor,” and the scores back that up—there’s just no wave energy to get excited about.
The first record kicks off Thursday 13 August morning. You’ve got 0.6 ft of swell coming from the ESE with a period of 8 seconds. That’s tiny, weak energy (6). The water is sitting at 86°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – about a degree and a half above average, so it’s pleasant for a swim, not for surfing.
For the next couple of days, it’s more of the same: 0.6 ft to 2 ft, short-period windswell, energy readings barely cracking double digits. The wind shifts around, but mostly cross-on or cross-off, nothing that would make these ankle-biters rideable. Friday and Saturday mornings offer a clean surface with light offshore flow, but there’s just nothing underneath to push a board.
There’s a slight bump on Tuesday 18 August morning. Swell ticks up to 1 ft from the SE, but the period stretches to 13 seconds—that’s a long-period groundswell. Energy jumps to 54. Still, 1 ft is barely a ripple. By Wednesday 19 August, energy pushes into the 70s, but again, with 1 ft and a 10-second period out of the SE, it’s not going to break cleanly on Folly’s beach break. That long-period swell wants a point or reef, not a straight beach.
From there, through the rest of the forecast, it’s a desert. The wind picks up on several afternoons, especially Wednesday 26 August afternoon with 18 mph cross-onshore winds making it lumpy and choppy. The gauge never shows any swell over 3 ft, and that one (Friday 21 August morning) comes with a 5-second period and energy of just 37—basically a wind puff. That kind of setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing if you happen to have a kite handy.
So here’s the straight truth: there are no good surf options in this 16-day window. For an area like Folly, a stretch like this isn’t unusual. It’s a fairly consistent spot on a good year, but right now, it’s just flat. Forecasts can change, so keep an eye on it, but don’t plan a trip around this window.
Stay tuned, check back later.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 31°C on Thu afternoon, min 27°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 35°C on Mon afternoon, min 27°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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 | S 4 | ESE 7 | S 4 | S 4 | SW 4 | S 4 | S 4 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 13 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | S 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 18 | 24 | 44 | 40 | 35 | 42 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:01AM1.70m | 9:22PM1.92m | 9:53AM1.73m | 10:08PM1.85m | 10:44AM1.74m | 10:53PM1.75m | 11:33AM1.73m | 11:37PM1.65m | 12:21PM1.70m | 00:21AM1.55m | 1:09PM1.66m | 1:06AM1.46m | 1:57PM1.63m | 1:54AM1.40m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:57PM-0.14m | 3:35AM-0.07m | 3:48PM-0.09m | 4:18AM-0.05m | 4:38PM-0.00m | 5:01AM0.01m | 5:28PM0.10m | 5:43AM0.08m | 6:18PM0.22m | 6:25AM0.16m | 7:12PM0.31m | 7:10AM0.23m | 8:07PM0.39m | ||||||||
6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | |
— | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | |
mm | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 7 |
Temp °C | 30 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 33 | 35 | 31 | 32 | 34 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 28 |
Feels °C | 33 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 30 | 34 | 34 | 32 | 36 | 36 | 33 | 36 | 37 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 4 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 4 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 4 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 4 | SE 12 | SE 11 | S 5 | SE 10 | SE 9 |
2 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 3 | 24 | 44 | 12 | 35 | 13 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 8 | — | — | SE 8 | — | — | SE 8 | — | — | SE 8 | SE 8 | — | SE 11 | — | — |
6 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 11 | — | — | 9 | — | — | 11 | 11 | — | 40 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 16 | ESE 13 | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 3 | S 4 | SSW 4 | S 4 | S 4 | SW 4 | S 4 | S 4 | — | S 4 | SSW 4 | — | S 4 | S 4 | — | S 3 | S 4 | S 5 | S 4 | S 5 |
— | 5 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 9 | — | 9 | 10 | — | 6 | 7 | — | 5 | 12 | 16 | 26 | 42 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2322 | 2034 | 1638 | 1947 | 2394 | 295 | 1870 | 1768 | 530 | 717 | 741 | 295 | 372 | 717 | 351 | 61 | 296 | 3 | 61 | 229 | 241 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











