Holden Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, I’m gonna be straight with you—this stretch is looking pretty flat and quiet for the next couple of weeks. Holden Beach is a beginner-friendly spot, but honestly, there’s not much to get excited about right now. The water’s sitting at 86°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you won’t need a thick suit, but you’ll need patience.

We’ve got a long run of weak energy and small waves. Starting Sunday the 23rd, the swell is tiny at 2ft from the SSW, with a short period of 5 seconds and combined energy of just 33—weak stuff. Winds are cross-offshore in the morning, which keeps things clean, but the surf is just too small and weak to bother. That sets the tone for most of the next week.

Monday the 24th stays small, with a brief bump to 3ft on the afternoon but onshore wind and only 52 combined energy. Tuesday the 25th has a glassy morning with 2ft from the S, but it’s still poor surf. The pattern of small, weak swell and onshore winds sticks around through Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. A few mornings are glassy, like Wednesday the 26th and Saturday the 29th, but the waves are barely there.

We do see a little shift around September 1st. The combined energy climbs to 143 and 119 on Tuesday the 1st, with a longer period of 15-14 seconds from the SE, but the swell height is still only 1-2ft. That’s a long-period groundswell that would normally mean better shape, but it’s too small to do much at a beach break. Winds are mostly cross-onshore, keeping conditions ordinary.

The best chance in the whole window might be Friday the 4th of September. The morning shows 2ft from the SE, period 11 seconds, combined energy 78, and a light NNW cross-offshore wind with clean conditions. The comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” which is about as good as it gets here. Still, it’s small—better for a longboard or a beginner session.

Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th drop back to tiny, weak surf. The last day, Monday the 7th, sees a 3ft swell from the SW with period 5 seconds and 97 combined energy, but it’s onshore and poor.

Honestly, this is a tough run. If you’re really keen, the glassy mornings on the 25th, 26th, or 29th might give you a few knee-high waves, but don’t expect much. The energy stays weak through the whole 16 days, and the swells are short-period or too small. For paddle surfing, it’s a lean stretch. If winds pick up, kite surfers might have more fun on the choppier days.

Hang in there—it tends not to stay this flat forever.

Rusty

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