Surf Forecasts:
Folly Beach surf forecast from 9 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 11 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 5s period, SW swell with 49 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 1.0m 5s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 11) 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 5s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Tue 11th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Folly Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s doing for Folly Beach over the next couple of weeks. Gotta be straight with you: the paddle’s not looking good for a long stretch, so don’t rush to load up the car just yet.
Right off the bat, we’re looking at a flat spell. From now through the middle of the month, the swell is tiny and the reports are all the same: poor surf conditions. It’s a solid string of days with nothing to get excited about. Most mornings have some clean, glassy looks to the water, but with waves barely pushing 2ft from the SE and SSW, it’s mostly dribble. The water’s sitting at a warm 85° with a positive anomaly of 3°, so it's a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. But you need waves, not just a bath. The wind stays mostly light or moderate, but the wave energy is just weak, with values often in the 20s and 30s (low energy). Crowds can show up on the better-looking days at Folly, but with this lack of swell, it won’t be an issue.
Now, there is a glimmer. Hold on for Wednesday, the 19th of August. The afternoon brings a sudden pulse: a 3ft swell from the east with a very long period of 13 seconds and a far stronger combined energy of 364 (moderate energy). That’s a proper groundswell. The wind is light and onshore, which is a bit of a bummer, but for Folly Beach, that’s the only real window of size in the whole outlook. With that long period, the waves will have real shape and push, but be aware it might break a bit straight on the sandbars here. It’s the standout, but it’s a long way off, so keep your fingers crossed.
After that, the energy drops right back down into the teens and 20s, with tiny 0.7ft to 1ft swells and mixed up, cross-onshore winds for the final week. Saturday the 22nd and beyond is mostly small and lumpy. No real upgrade in sight.
So, plain and simple: the park is mostly dry. That afternoon on the 19th of August is your best bet, and it’s the only one worth circling on the calendar. Forecasts change, but right now, don’t hold your breath for the rest of the window.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Mon morning. Warm (max 33°C on Tue afternoon, min 26°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 39mm), heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 34°C on Wed afternoon, min 24°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SE 8 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 4 | S 5 | ESE 8 | S 6 | E 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 35 | 19 | 12 | 11 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 17 | 32 | 3 | 17 | 31 | 34 | 24 | 30 | 30 | 27 | 0 | 6 | 29 | 15 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 5:42PM1.87m | 6:07AM1.49m | 6:44PM1.93m | 7:09AM1.57m | 7:41PM1.96m | 8:07AM1.64m | 8:33PM1.96m | 9:01AM1.70m | 9:22PM1.92m | 9:53AM1.73m | 10:08PM1.85m | 10:44AM1.74m | 10:53PM1.75m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:04AM-0.05m | 00:10AM0.13m | 12:07PM-0.09m | 1:07AM0.05m | 1:07PM-0.14m | 1:59AM-0.02m | 2:04PM-0.16m | 2:48AM-0.07m | 2:57PM-0.14m | 3:35AM-0.07m | 3:48PM-0.09m | 4:18AM-0.05m | 4:38PM-0.00m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  | | |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — |
 | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:05 | — |
mm | — | — | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | — | — | 23 | 1 | 6 | 7 |
Temp °C | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 34 | 32 | 31 | 34 | 30 | 28 | 31 | 29 | 26 | 27 | 27 |
Feels °C | 33 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 34 | 32 | 32 | 34 | 32 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 33 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSW 4 | ESE 7 | ESE 6 | SSW 5 | SE 6 | S 5 | SSW 5 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SSW 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | S 5 | SE 7 | S 5 | S 5 | SSE 6 | S 5 |
| kJ | 35 | 19 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 13 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 15 | 6 | 5 | 13 | 2 | 28 | 15 | 10 | 2 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SE 7 | SE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 6 | SE 9 | SE 6 | SE 8 | SE 6 | E 11 | SE 8 | — | — | SE 7 | — | SSW 5 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 5 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | — | — | 8 | — | 15 | 6 | 2 | 5 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | E 10 | — | — | SE 9 | — | SE 8 | SE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 3 | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 2 | S 3 | — | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | — | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 4 | WSW 5 | — | S 6 | E 5 |
| kJ | — | 1 | 3 | — | 17 | 17 | 20 | 17 | 32 | — | 17 | 31 | 34 | 24 | 30 | 30 | 27 | 19 | — | 29 | 15 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 102 | 955 | 295 | 296 | 1821 | 102 | 102 | 967 | 102 | 737 | 737 | 295 | 295 | 525 | 162 | 295 | 1223 | 3 | 295 | 854 | 353 |
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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