Surf Forecasts:
Holden Beach surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period, SSW swell with 108 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Holden Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Holden Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Holden Beach in the next 16 days are 1.3m 6s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Holden Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, surfers, Rusty here, and it’s been a tough stretch down at Holden Beach. We’ve got a long, dry spell on our hands before anything worth paddling out for shows up. Let me walk you through it.
Right now, and for the rest of August and the first few days of September, it’s flat. I mean, there’s water moving, but the energy is just sad. We’re looking at combined wave energy reading mostly under 100, barely a whisper. Winds are either cross-on or straight on, and the sea state is choppy and junky. The water temp is sitting around 85°, which is a touch warmer than normal for late August, but that’s the only thing that’s pleasant. Don’t even bother checking the cams; there’s nothing to see.
This blank run stretches for days. There is simply no quality surf recommendation on the table from Saturday the 22nd of August all the way through Thursday the 3rd of September. That’s a long time to be staring at a flat ocean.
Finally, on Friday, September 5th, we get a glimmer. The morning brings a jump in swell height to 6ft from the SE, with a period of 11 seconds. That combined energy shoots up to 676, which is a solid pulse. The big win here is the wind: light, from the NW, which is cross-offshore. That’s going to clean up the surface. The waves will have some push and shape, but it’s worth noting that at a beach break like Holden, a long-period SE swell can sometimes stand up too straight and close out. Still, with glassy conditions and solid energy, this is your best and only real window. It won’t be perfect, but after two weeks of nothing, a clean 6ft day feels like a miracle.
Saturday the 6th will still have some size from the same swell, coming in at 4ft with a clean cross-off breeze from the NNE. It’s a step down and more marginal, but if you missed Friday, it’s still a surfable option.
Don’t hold your breath for the second week, mate. The only real standout is that Friday the 5th. Lock it in if you can.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 27mm), heaviest during Sat morning. Warm (max 31°C on Mon afternoon, min 25°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Thu night. Warm (max 29°C on Tue morning, min 25°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 4 | SE 9 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | S 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | S 6 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | S 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 15 | 12 | 32 | 29 | 18 | 35 | 51 | 51 | 84 | 27 | 30 | 50 | 29 | 29 | 33 | 29 | 53 | 71 | 41 | 73 | 30 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 4:06PM1.33m | 4:09AM1.07m | 4:57PM1.37m | 5:01AM1.12m | 5:43PM1.42m | 5:49AM1.18m | 6:25PM1.46m | 6:34AM1.24m | 7:05PM1.50m | 7:17AM1.32m | 7:44PM1.52m | 8:00AM1.38m | 8:22PM1.52m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:37AM0.38m | 10:50PM0.51m | 10:31AM0.36m | 11:37PM0.46m | 11:21AM0.32m | 00:18AM0.42m | 12:06PM0.28m | 00:56AM0.36m | 12:48PM0.25m | 1:31AM0.31m | 1:29PM0.22m | 2:05AM0.26m | 2:10PM0.20m | 2:39AM0.22m | |||||||
 | |  | |  | |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — |
 | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — |
mm | 12 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | — | 6 | 2 | 2 | 20 |
Temp °C | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 27 |
Feels °C | 30 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SSW 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SSE 11 | SSW 5 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SSW 5 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 6 | SE 8 | S 6 |
| kJ | 13 | 12 | 11 | 29 | 7 | 6 | 22 | 20 | 12 | 27 | 18 | 18 | 29 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 41 | 18 | 30 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 13 | ESE 8 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | E 7 | SE 11 | SE 8 | SE 11 | SE 11 | — | SE 9 | E 16 | E 15 | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 | SE 9 | E 12 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 15 | 14 | 1 | 20 | 3 | 18 | 18 | — | 14 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 20 | 3 | 18 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 13 | E 7 | SE 12 | — | — | E 7 | — | — | — | — | — | E 16 | — | E 14 | E 14 | — | — | E 12 | — | E 11 |
| kJ | — | 7 | 1 | 6 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | 4 | 4 | — | — | 3 | — | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | S 4 | SSW 4 | — | S 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | — | S 6 | SSW 5 | — | S 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | — | S 6 | — |
| kJ | 15 | 9 | 32 | — | 18 | 35 | 51 | 51 | 84 | — | 30 | 50 | — | 29 | 33 | 29 | 53 | 71 | — | 73 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1719 | 312 | 49 | 82 | 781 | 312 | 52 | 71 | 89 | 251 | 129 | 49 | 30 | 1144 | 327 | 327 | 957 | 29 | 82 | 501 | 110 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Holden Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Holden Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Holden Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Holden 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 (Holden 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 Holden 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.
Are you planning a vacation in North Carolina? If you are looking for accommodation near Holden Beach, camping, hotels and condos and appartments in North Carolina, consider staying in Wilmington which is 48 km (30 miles) away. Other places in and around North Carolina where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Myrtle Beach which is 70 km (43 miles) away and Socastee, 80 km (50 miles) away.
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