Surf Forecasts:
Folly Beach surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period, S swell with 72 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 (Aug 25) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 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 be straight with you: the 16-day outlook for Folly Beach is a bit of a tough one. The first real chance to even think about paddling out doesn’t show up until Tuesday, the 1st of September. Before that, we’re staring down a long, bleak stretch of tiny, weak, and messy waves. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-shore, and the swell energy is just pitiful. You’ll see a lot of numbers in the single digits to low tens, and the biggest pulse we get before that is a weak 96 (moderate energy) on the 30th, but it’s blown out. It’s the kind of run that makes you wish you had a kiteboard, because the beach-and-reef setup here will be more interesting for kiting than for paddle surfing.
The one standout, the only light in the tunnel, is the morning of Tuesday, September 1st. We get a light offshore breeze from the NNW at 6 mph, and the water is a touch warmer than normal at 86°F. The swell is a tiny 3 ft from the NE with a short, choppy period of 4 seconds. The combined energy is a weak 53. It’s not big, but it’s clean. For a beginner-friendly spot like Folly, this is about as good as it gets in this window. The crowds are sometimes an issue here, so if you’re keen, get out early.
The afternoon of the 1st actually sees a jump in energy to 122 (moderate) with a 3 ft swell from the E and a 6-second period, and the wind is cross-offshore from the NNE at 12 mph, keeping it clean. That afternoon session might actually have a little more push to it, but the morning is the pick for the cleanest surface.
Then Wednesday, the 2nd of September, the morning keeps the cross-offshore wind from the NNE at 12 mph, but the swell drops to a tiny 1 ft from the SE with a long 13-second period. The energy is a modest 61. That long period will make for some drawn-out lines, but it’s just so small. The afternoon sees a moderate 121 energy with a 3 ft ENE swell, but the wind goes cross-shore, so it’s not as clean.
Overall, it’s a bleak forecast, but the 1st of September offers a couple of clean windows that are worth a look if you’re desperate. Don’t expect much, but if you’re on a log, you might get a few.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 35°C on Tue afternoon, min 28°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 34mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 31°C on Sat afternoon, min 25°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | S 4 | S 5 | S 4 | S 5 | S 5 | S 4 | S 5 | S 6 | S 5 | S 5 | SE 12 | S 5 | S 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 18 | 30 | 26 | 23 | 21 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 17 | 21 | 19 | 26 | 24 | 64 | 52 | 31 | 6 | 28 | 29 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 1:09PM1.66m | 1:06AM1.46m | 1:57PM1.63m | 1:54AM1.40m | 2:48PM1.61m | 2:45AM1.36m | 3:40PM1.61m | 3:39AM1.35m | 4:34PM1.62m | 4:34AM1.36m | 5:25PM1.66m | 5:28AM1.40m | 6:13PM1.70m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:12PM0.31m | 7:10AM0.23m | 8:07PM0.39m | 7:58AM0.29m | 9:03PM0.42m | 8:49AM0.32m | 9:58PM0.43m | 9:42AM0.32m | 10:49PM0.41m | 10:36AM0.30m | 11:38PM0.37m | 11:27AM0.27m | 00:24AM0.32m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:45 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — |
 | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:53 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 2 | 1 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 32 | 35 | 32 | 32 | 34 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
Feels °C | 34 | 37 | 34 | 33 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | S 6 | SE 8 | SE 12 | S 5 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 |
| kJ | 4 | 30 | 26 | 23 | 21 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 24 | 3 | 6 | 20 | 13 | 12 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | E 5 | S 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 15 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 13 | ESE 8 | SE 12 | SE 8 | SE 12 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 |
| kJ | 18 | 16 | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 8 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | E 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 6 | SE 14 | E 6 | — | — | SE 13 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 8 | 1 | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 4 | SSW 4 | — | S 3 | SSW 4 | S 4 | S 3 | S 4 | S 5 | S 4 | S 5 | S 5 | S 4 | S 5 | S 6 | S 5 | S 5 | — | S 5 | S 5 |
| kJ | — | 9 | 13 | — | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 7 | 17 | 21 | 19 | 26 | 24 | 64 | 52 | 31 | — | 28 | 29 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 102 | 224 | 243 | 61 | 737 | 883 | 913 | 215 | 1353 | 1813 | 1123 | 146 | 540 | 351 | 351 | 534 | 1336 | 224 | 215 | 787 | 316 |
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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