Surf Forecasts:
Folly Beach surf forecast from 16 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 22 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 6s period, SSW swell with 164 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 1.5m 6s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 19) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Folly Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Folly Beach over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – there’s nothing worth paddling out for in this entire 16-day window. From Thursday the 16th of July all the way through Friday the 31st, every single morning and afternoon session is a dud. The swell is tiny, mostly around 0.7ft to 3ft, and the period is short – usually 4 to 8 seconds – so you’re looking at weak, wind-chopped slop. The wind is cross-onshore or cross nearly the whole time, and even when it goes glassy on the 22nd morning there’s no swell to work with. Combined wave energy barely reaches double digits, maxing out at 96 (weak) on the 24th morning. Honestly, this is one of those blank runs that stands out. Folly Beach is usually fairly consistent for a beginner-friendly spot, but this stretch is just flat tired.
The water temperature on the first morning (16th) is about 84°, which is roughly 2° warmer than normal for this time of year – you could swim in boardies even without a wetsuit, but there’s no surf to enjoy. As we move through the period, there’s no improvement. A few afternoons like the 22nd and 23rd see some bump up in swell height (3-3ft) but the wind stays cross-onshore and the period is still short – not worth it. The 25th Saturday afternoon has an onshore flow that might make the surface a bit messy, still nothing clean.
For anyone who really needs to get wet, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing – the moderate to fresh cross-onshore winds and small chop could work for a kite, but for a surfer, it’s a write-off. Keep an eye on longer-range forecasts, because it tends not to stay this poor forever. But for now, save your energy.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 30°C on Thu afternoon, min 27°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 29°C on Sun afternoon, min 26°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | |||||||||||||||
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 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 4 | S 6 | S 7 | S 6 | S 6 | SE 8 | S 4 | S 6 | S 6 | S 5 | S 6 | SE 7 | S 5 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 75 | 0 | 94 | 0 | 3 | 28 | 41 | 31 | 52 | 80 | 35 | 52 | 21 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:16AM1.59m | 10:36PM1.86m | 11:12AM1.60m | 11:26PM1.77m | 12:06PM1.61m | 00:14AM1.66m | 12:59PM1.61m | 1:01AM1.55m | 1:50PM1.60m | 1:47AM1.46m | 2:40PM1.60m | 2:34AM1.38m | 3:30PM1.59m | 3:24AM1.33m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:06PM-0.18m | 4:49AM-0.12m | 4:59PM-0.09m | 5:37AM-0.08m | 5:54PM0.01m | 6:24AM-0.02m | 6:49PM0.12m | 7:11AM0.04m | 7:47PM0.20m | 7:58AM0.09m | 8:44PM0.26m | 8:46AM0.14m | 9:41PM0.29m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | |  | | | |  | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — |
 | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:24 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 5 | 7 | 6 | 5 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 66 |
Temp °C | 29 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 28 |
Feels °C | 33 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | — | — | — | — | S 6 | — | — | — | — | SSE 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | S 6 |
| kJ | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 27 | — | — | — | — | 69 | 28 | 18 | 49 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | E 6 | E 5 | — | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 11 | 21 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | E 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSW 3 | — | S 3 | S 3 | S 4 | S 4 | S 6 | S 7 | S 6 | S 6 | — | S 4 | S 6 | S 6 | S 5 | S 6 | S 6 | S 5 | — |
| kJ | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | 4 | 15 | 75 | 73 | 94 | 79 | — | 28 | 41 | 31 | 52 | 80 | 35 | 52 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 878 | 741 | 1693 | 1669 | 1813 | 604 | 1638 | 803 | 1491 | 584 | 351 | 3 | 61 | 351 | 285 | 299 | 336 | 61 | 3 | 105 | 38 |
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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