Holden Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you right off the bat: Holden Beach is looking at a real drought on the surf front. This 16-day window is a tough one to call home, with the first solid recommendation not popping up until the morning of Thursday, July 30th, and even then it’s a struggle. There’s a good six-day stretch from the start of this forecast with absolutely nothing worth paddling out for, so patience is the name of the game.

The first glimmer of something surfable comes on Thursday morning, July 30th. The swell is tiny, just 3ft from the SSW, and the period is a weak 7 seconds. The combined energy is a low 87 – really just a puff of energy. The wind is glassy and from the NW though, which is a major plus. It’ll be clean, but the waves are going to be very ordinary. If you’re desperate for a knee-paddle, you might find a few lumpy ones, but don’t expect much.

The next slight uptick is on Sunday morning, August 2nd. The swell picks up a touch to 3ft from the SSE, with a period of 7 seconds and a combined energy of 112 (moderate). The wind is a clean cross-offshore from the ENE, so the surface will be clean. The commentary says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” and I’d agree. It’s a very marginal improvement. The break is inconsistent and exposed to the south.

Then on Monday morning, August 3rd, we see the biggest swell of the entire window: 5ft from the S, but with a short, weak period of just 6 seconds. The combined energy is 165 (moderate). The wind is a clean cross-offshore from the ENE again, so the surface will be clean. But 5ft at 6 seconds is a bumpy, close-out mess. It’s a bit too much for beginners, and the period is so short it’ll be choppy and unappealing for anyone. The commentary says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” and honestly, this setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer throwing down some tricks than a surfer trying to get a rail in the water.

After that, the forecast fades right back into tiny, weak, and onshore junk for the rest of the period. There’s no standout, no hidden gem, no day to circle on the calendar. The water temperature is sitting at a warm 84°F, which is about 1°F above normal – nothing crazy, just a nice bath for the wait.

So, to sum it up: the best on offer is the morning of Thursday, July 30th, for the glassy, clean conditions, but the surf is basically flat. The second-best is the morning of Sunday, August 2nd, for the slightly bigger, clean swell, but it’s still very ordinary. If you’re looking for a real wave, this isn’t the week. The area is known for these flat spells, and it doesn’t look like it’s changing any time soon.

Rusty.

Read more