Folly Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 32.66° N 79.93° W

Folly Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 am 11 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Folly Beach sea temperature is
28.0°C
0.6° 

Folly Beach surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Folly Beach surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 15 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period, E swell with 101 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 1.1m 6s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 13) at 8AM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful 2PM (Tue 15th Sep)3.5ft (1.1m) 6s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Folly Beach over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a long hard look at what Folly Beach has got cooking for the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – this stretch ain’t shaping up to be one for the memory books. The water temp is sitting right around 82°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so at least you won’t be freezing your toes off while you’re waiting for something, anything, to happen.

We are starting with a pretty grim run. Right now and for the next several days, the wave energy is just pathetic. We’re talking combined swell energy in the teens and twenties (17 to 40) – that’s weak stuff. Tiny little knee-high waves with short-period slop. The wind is mostly cross or onshore, keeping things bumpy and uninviting. There’s a tiny window early on Saturday the 12th and Monday the 14th where the wind goes light offshore or cross-off, and you might get a clean little ripple, but it’s still only about 1 foot. Hardly worth paddling out for.

We hit a bit of a lift mid-week, starting Tuesday the 15th. The swell bumps up to about 4 ft, coming from the East, but the period is a lousy 6 seconds. That’s windswell junk. The wind is howling out of the ENE at 19 mph, putting a nasty cross-chop on the surface. The combined energy climbs a bit (96), but it’s messy. This pattern of onshore wind and short-period, lumpy surf runs all the way through to the 21st. The size stays around 3 ft to 4 ft, but the wind is never your friend.

Now, the first real standout isn’t until the end of the period. On Wednesday the 23rd in the morning, we get a small break. The north wind goes light offshore (3 mph) and the combo swell from the ESE at 2 ft has a bit more period (9 seconds). It’s the only time in the whole window that the conditions are called "surfable". The energy is low (86), but the clean, glassy surface will make the most of it. This is the one to circle on your calendar.

Later that week, on Saturday the 26th, the swell period jumps up to 11 and even 12 seconds. That’s a real groundswell signal. The problem is, the swell size is still small (2 ft to 2 ft) and the wind cranks onshore at 19 mph. The combined energy peaks at 172 for the afternoon, which is a moderate amount of energy, but it’s all being obliterated by the fresh cross-onshore wind, making it lumpy and sloppy. It’s a frustrating tease of some deeper water energy that never gets to clean up.

Best Bet: Honestly, the top of this sorry heap is Wednesday, September 23rd, morning. It’s the only session where you’ll find clean, glassy conditions on a small but rideable 2 ft ESE swell. For the hardcore who are just desperate for a paddle, that’s your window. The Saturday the 26th has more energy, but the wind will ruin it. Folly is a fairly consistent spot, but this is a tough run. Hang in there – forecasts can change.

- Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Fri afternoon. Warm (max 31°C on Sun afternoon, min 25°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 32°C on Mon afternoon, min 22°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Mon morning, fresh winds from the ENE by Tue morning).

Friday
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
7
0.3
SE
8
0.3
SE
8
0.3
SE
9
0.3
SE
10
0.4
SE
10
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.4
ESE
9
1.1
E
6
1
E
7
0.9
E
6
0.9
E
6
1
E
7
1
E
7
1
E
6
1
E
5
0.7
ESE
6
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
17
15
13
11
11
13
14
23
21
20
19
26
92
89
66
64
86
89
78
49
43
Wind (km/h)
10
SW
15
S
10
W
5
W
20
S
20
SSW
15
WSW
20
SSW
15
SW
5
WSW
15
S
10
NNE
30
ENE
30
ENE
25
ENE
25
NE
25
E
20
NE
30
NE
25
ENE
15
E
Wind State
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
8:39AM1.87m
8:54PM1.90m
9:26AM1.89m
9:36PM1.82m
10:11AM1.87m
10:17PM1.73m
10:55AM1.84m
10:58PM1.64m
11:39AM1.78m
11:41PM1.56m
12:24PM1.73m
00:26AM1.49m
1:12PM1.68m
1:15AM1.44m
Low Tide
2:40PM-0.01m
3:04AM0.03m
3:28PM0.04m
3:44AM0.07m
4:14PM0.12m
4:23AM0.13m
4:59PM0.22m
5:01AM0.21m
5:46PM0.32m
5:39AM0.29m
6:34PM0.42m
6:21AM0.37m
7:26PM0.49m
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
cloud
rain showers
rain showers
thunderstorm
part cloud
thunderstorm
clear
part cloud
rain showers
thunderstorm
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:00
7:01
7:01
7:01
7:03
7:03
7:03
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:30
7:30
7:29
7:27
7:25
7:24
7:22
 mm
3
4
1
1
2
2
3
1
1
16
Temp °C
28
29
28
27
29
28
29
31
29
30
32
30
26
25
25
25
25
25
24
27
27
Feels °C
31
32
30
30
31
30
31
32
30
33
34
32
26
23
23
23
22
23
22
26
29
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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