Surf Forecasts:
Folly Beach surf forecast from 31 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period, SSE swell with 141 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 1.3m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 7s period and expected on Monday (Aug 03) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
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 about the next two weeks at Folly Beach. I've looked at the numbers, and honestly, it's a pretty grim stretch for paddling out. The whole 16-day window is a tough beat, with no real highlights to get excited about. We're looking at a long run of tiny, wind-affected slop that just isn't worth your time for a proper surf session.
Starting from Thursday, July 30th, the water is a warm 85.6° which is a touch warmer than normal, but that's the only good news. The swell is tiny, only 1.3 ft from the SSE with a short period of 6 seconds. The energy is weak, just 15, and the conditions are "poor." It's a frustrating start. Friday the 31st through the weekend is more of the same: small, crummy waves from the east and southeast, with bumpy onshore winds ruining any chance of a clean face. We're talking ankle-snappers at best.
The following week doesn't offer any relief. Monday, August 3rd, sees a bit of a bump in energy to 110 (moderate), with a 3.6 ft swell from the SSE, but it's here. The wind is howling at 25 mph from the SSW, ripping straight across the beach. That's a kite-surfing wind, not a paddle-surfing one. The conditions are described as "messy cross-chop" and "poor surf." For a beginner-friendly beach like Folly, anything over 5 ft starts to get a bit much, but with this wind, even the small stuff is a washing machine.
The whole second week continues the same sorry story. Through the 10th of August, we get a few mornings with a "clean" description thanks to a cross-offshore breeze from the WSW, but the swell is still tiny, barely 3 ft with weak energy. It might be clean, but there's no power or shape to ride. From the 11th onward, the swell drops right off to a pathetic 0.7 ft to 1 ft. The energy is barely registering, with single-digit readings. Some mornings are clean, but you could stand on the beach and count the ripples.
Bottom line: there's nothing here to recommend. The entire forecast period is a bust for surf. For a spot that's fairly consistent, this is a real bummer, but it happens. Forecasts can change, so keep an eye on it, but for now, leave the board in the car and maybe find something else to do.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Warm (max 31°C on Thu afternoon, min 27°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 85mm), heaviest during Mon morning. Warm (max 29°C on Tue night, min 24°C on Mon afternoon). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Mon morning, light winds from the WSW by Wed morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 6 | SE 10 | E 10 | SSE 6 | SSE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 4 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | S 4 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 12 | 4 | 2 | 22 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 9 | 14 | 99 | 110 | 58 | 26 | 15 | 20 | 23 | 9 | 9 | 19 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 9:22PM1.70m | 9:32AM1.46m | 9:55PM1.67m | 10:10AM1.49m | 10:29PM1.64m | 10:49AM1.54m | 11:06PM1.59m | 11:33AM1.58m | 11:48PM1.55m | 12:22PM1.63m | 00:38AM1.49m | 1:17PM1.68m | 1:34AM1.45m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:51PM0.09m | 3:34AM0.10m | 3:32PM0.10m | 4:09AM0.08m | 4:13PM0.12m | 4:45AM0.06m | 4:57PM0.16m | 5:23AM0.04m | 5:47PM0.20m | 6:06AM0.03m | 6:42PM0.25m | 6:56AM0.02m | 7:45PM0.28m | |||||||
 |  | | |  | |  | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — |
 | 8:19 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:16 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 5 | 27 | 29 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 1 | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 31 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 28 |
Feels °C | 33 | 31 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 6 | S 6 | S 7 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 4 | ESE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | — | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 |
| kJ | 12 | 6 | 23 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 99 | 110 | 58 | 26 | 15 | — | 23 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 4 | SE 6 | E 10 | SE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 13 |
| kJ | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | SE 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SSE 6 | SSE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SSE 4 | S 4 | SSE 6 | S 7 | WSW 4 | S 6 | SW 5 | SSE 6 | S 5 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 22 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 8 | 14 | 59 | 72 | 7 | 22 | 6 | 20 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 19 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1036 | 213 | 372 | 1205 | 755 | 1177 | 717 | 351 | 1417 | 351 | 419 | 341 | 296 | 316 | 351 | 296 | 316 | 296 | 2322 | 300 |
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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