Surf Forecasts:
Folly Beach surf forecast from 19 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 23 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period, SSW swell with 140 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 23 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Folly Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Folly Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 23) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Folly Beach in the next 16 days are 1.4m 6s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
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 shaping up for Folly Beach over the next couple of weeks.
Straight up, I gotta be honest with you – this is a tough one. We’re looking at a long, dry spell with no real surf to speak of for the foreseeable future. The next 16 days are lean, real lean. From now through the first week of August, the energy is just not there. We’ve got days and days with no rideable waves, and even when a little bump shows, the conditions are just plain messy.
For Folly Beach, the water is sitting at a warm 86°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least a dip is pleasant.
Looking at the specifics, the first few days – from Sunday the 19th through the end of the week – are all dominated by weak, short-period south swell, usually under 3 ft, with periods of just 4 to 6 seconds. The wind is a constant problem, mostly cross or cross-onshore, with speeds from 12 to 19 mph, making for a lumpy, choppy mess. The combined energy is weak, usually in the 30s or 40s range. The best you can say is that on Thursday morning the 23rd, there’s a glimmer of hope with a 4 ft SSW swell and a light offshore wind from the west, making it clean. But the waves are still tiny and weak, and the forecast confidence is low for that window.
We get a stretch of glassy, clean conditions on the mornings of the 26th and 27th, and even a flat calm on the 28th, but the swell is barely a ripple – 1 ft with a 7 or 8 second period. It’s pretty, but not surfable.
Moving into the end of July and the start of August, it’s more of the same. The 30th and 31st have a bit of a bump, with a 2 ft to 3 ft SSW swell, but the periods are short and the winds are either light or cross. The energy is still weak.
There is no standout session here, no day to circle on the calendar. This is a classic summer flat spell for Folly Beach. It’s a great time to work on your tan, paddle a SUP, or just enjoy the beach, but the surf is a no-go. Keep an eye on the long-range, but for now, don’t hold your breath.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Warm (max 30°C on Sun morning, min 28°C on Sun morning). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Thu morning. Warm (max 31°C on Wed afternoon, min 27°C on Wed morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Wed afternoon, light winds from the E by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 6 | S 5 | S 5 | S 6 | S 5 | S 5 | S 6 | S 4 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SE 8 | SSW 6 | S 6 | S 5 | SSE 6 | S 6 | SSW 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 33 | 37 | 42 | 40 | 46 | 43 | 0 | 38 | 98 | 0 | 88 | 18 | 83 | 29 | 17 | 37 | 31 | 32 | 15 | 15 | 14 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross |
High Tide | 12:59PM1.61m | 1:01AM1.55m | 1:50PM1.60m | 1:47AM1.46m | 2:40PM1.60m | 2:34AM1.38m | 3:30PM1.59m | 3:24AM1.33m | 4:21PM1.60m | 4:15AM1.30m | 5:10PM1.62m | 5:07AM1.30m | 5:59PM1.64m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:49PM0.12m | 7:11AM0.04m | 7:47PM0.20m | 7:58AM0.09m | 8:44PM0.26m | 8:46AM0.14m | 9:41PM0.29m | 9:34AM0.16m | 10:34PM0.30m | 10:22AM0.17m | 11:25PM0.28m | 11:10AM0.17m | 00:14AM0.25m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | |  | | |  | | | | |  | | |  | | | | |
 | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — |
 | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 4 | — | 3 | — | — | 3 | 6 | 6 | 7 | — | — | — | 6 | 23 | 4 |
Temp °C | 30 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 30 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 33 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 32 | 31 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | — | S 6 | — | SE 7 | — | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 6 | S 6 | S 5 | S 5 | S 6 | SE 7 |
| kJ | 6 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 6 | — | 86 | — | 65 | — | 16 | 18 | 35 | 10 | 10 | 37 | 15 | 8 | 14 | 9 | 14 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 8 | — | — | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 5 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | — | — | 10 | 29 | 31 | 15 | 15 | 5 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 5 | ENE 5 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 6 | S 5 | S 5 | S 6 | S 5 | S 5 | S 6 | S 4 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SSW 6 | S 6 | S 5 | — | S 6 | SSW 5 | — | — | NNE 2 |
| kJ | 33 | 37 | 42 | 40 | 46 | 43 | 47 | 38 | 98 | 66 | 88 | 89 | 83 | 29 | 17 | — | 31 | 32 | — | — | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 545 | 755 | 224 | 351 | 525 | 285 | 1417 | 1276 | 112 | 351 | 584 | 285 | 0 | 381 | 105 | 105 | 105 | 105 | 263 | 296 | 296 |
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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