Surf Forecasts:
Folly Beach surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period, SW swell with 40 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 0.9m 5s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 5AM. 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 22) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Folly Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be real, it’s gonna be a lean stretch. We’ve got a solid block of flat, weak conditions to work through before we finally see a pulse of energy on the horizon.
Right now and for the next week and a half, Folly Beach is basically flat. We’re talking tiny 1ft to 1ft slop, mostly from the SE with short, weak periods around 8 seconds. The combined wave energy is in the low double digits to low triple digits (10 to 55), which is nothing to get excited about. The water temp is sitting at a warm 85°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least it’ll be comfortable while you’re sitting there.
The first half of this period is packed with poor surf conditions. The wind isn’t doing us any favors either – mostly cross-onshore or cross, with speeds picking up to 15 or even 19 mph at times, turning the surface into a choppy mess. You’ll get a few clean windows early on the 18th and 19th with some offshore and even glassy conditions, but the swell just isn’t there to make it worthwhile.
Things drag on, with tiny surf and only the faintest hint of energy. Then, on the morning of Thursday, August 27th, we finally catch a break. The swell bumps up to 3ft from the SSW with a period of 6 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 109 (moderate wave energy). The wind goes light offshore from the NW, which means clean, lined-up faces. It’s not a world-beater, but after all this flatness, this morning window is the one true standout. The break quality is still ordinary, but it’s the best we’ve got. After that, it drops right back off into the doldrums with smaller, wind-affected slop through the end of the month.
So, to be blunt – wait for that Thursday morning the 27th. It’s the only real chance to get a wave without battling onshore chop. The rest is kite-surfing weather at best.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Tue night. Warm (max 37°C on Tue afternoon, min 27°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Fri night. Warm (max 32°C on Wed afternoon, min 25°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | ||||||||||||||
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 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | S 5 | S 4 | S 5 | S 5 | SE 10 | SW 5 | ESE 13 | S 4 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 14 | 11 | 30 | 26 | 24 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 33 | 31 | 4 | 9 | 17 | 10 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | off | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 11:37PM1.65m | 12:21PM1.70m | 00:21AM1.55m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:28PM0.10m | 5:43AM0.08m | 6:18PM0.22m | 6:25AM0.16m | 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 | |||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — |
 | 8:02 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:57 | — |
mm | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 14 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 5 | — | 8 |
Temp °C | 33 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 34 | 37 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 27 | 29 | 30 |
Feels °C | 36 | 34 | 35 | 33 | 33 | 35 | 39 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 33 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 35 | 33 | 30 | 31 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 4 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 5 | SE 11 | S 5 | S 5 | SE 9 | S 4 | S 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 5 | ESE 8 | S 5 | S 5 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 |
| kJ | 10 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 30 | 11 | 7 | 13 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 18 | 6 | 19 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | — | SE 8 | E 5 | — | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 10 | SE 10 | — | SE 9 | SE 8 | — | — | ESE 8 | E 15 | SE 8 | ESE 9 | SE 13 | SE 13 |
| kJ | 3 | — | 9 | 1 | — | 11 | 16 | 26 | 24 | — | 12 | 11 | — | — | 7 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 7 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 6 | — | — | SE 12 | E 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 6 | SE 10 | SE 14 | ESE 13 | — |
| kJ | — | — | 1 | — | — | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 7 | 17 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 4 | WSW 4 | S 3 | SSW 4 | — | S 3 | — | — | S 5 | SSW 4 | — | S 5 | S 4 | S 5 | S 5 | NW 3 | SW 5 | S 5 | S 4 |
| kJ | — | 4 | 3 | 5 | 14 | — | 8 | — | — | 11 | 13 | — | 13 | 13 | 33 | 31 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 10 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2322 | 585 | 717 | 717 | 295 | 102 | 296 | 112 | 61 | 737 | 300 | 913 | 737 | 530 | 114 | 883 | 102 | 220 | 353 | 168 |
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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