Surf Forecasts:
Holden Beach surf forecast from 4 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 8 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 7s period, SSW swell with 331 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 8 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 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 Wednesday (Jul 08) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Holden Beach in the next 16 days are 2.0m 7s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Wed 8th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Wed 8th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Fri 10th Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Holden Beach over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright, Rusty here. Let's get into it. Straight up, the outlook for the next couple of weeks is pretty bleak. There’s a long dry spell before we even see a wave that’s worth paddling out for. From now until early in the morning of Tuesday, July 14th, it’s a solid ten days of junk. Small, weak swell, onshore winds, and generally poor conditions. Not worth getting the board wet.
But finally, on Tuesday, July 14th, there’s a flicker of hope. The morning at Holden Beach (North Carolina) will see some small clean surf. The swell is coming from the east at 3 ft, with a short period of 6 seconds. Combined energy is really weak at only 60 – barely a pulse. But the wind is a light cross-offshore breeze from the ENE, and the conditions are described as clean. Water temp is about average for this time of year. It’s not going to be a world-beater, just small, crumbly lines. It’s listed as an inconsistent break, and crowds are sometimes a thing, so you might have it mostly to yourself on a Tuesday morning. This is the only standout, and it’s a modest one. After that morning window, the wind swings and the quality drops right off again, back to poor conditions for the rest of the forecast.
The best of a bad bunch is that Tuesday the 14th morning session. Swell is tiny, only suited to a longboard or a funshape, and really only for beginners and cruisers. For the rest of the 16 days, it’s honestly more interesting for kite surfing with the consistent cross-onshore wind and lumpy water, rather than proper paddle surfing.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 31°C on Mon afternoon, min 25°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 41mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 32°C on Tue afternoon, min 25°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Wed afternoon, light winds from the SW by Thu morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 4 | Sunday 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Fri 10 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 7 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 6 | S 5 | SSW 5 | S 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | SSW 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 20 | 32 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 11 | 10 | 42 | 37 | 52 | 49 | 77 | 119 | 58 | 67 | 111 | 47 | 165 | 241 | 181 | 309 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:40PM1.47m | 11:02AM1.25m | 11:20PM1.43m | 11:50AM1.27m | 00:03AM1.38m | 12:41PM1.31m | 00:50AM1.33m | 1:35PM1.37m | 1:43AM1.28m | 2:33PM1.44m | 2:40AM1.25m | 3:33PM1.52m | 3:41AM1.24m | 4:33PM1.61m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:01AM0.33m | 4:55PM0.35m | 5:38AM0.32m | 5:42PM0.39m | 6:18AM0.31m | 6:36PM0.43m | 7:04AM0.28m | 7:40PM0.44m | 7:56AM0.25m | 8:50PM0.43m | 8:54AM0.21m | 10:00PM0.38m | 9:55AM0.15m | ||||||||
 | | |  | | |  | | |  |  |  | |  |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — |
 | 8:27 | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:25 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | 7 | — | 2 | 20 | 5 | 3 | 15 | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 28 | 30 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 28 | 31 | 32 | 29 | 28 | 32 | 26 | 29 | 31 | 28 | 30 | 32 |
Feels °C | 28 | 31 | 32 | 29 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 33 | 28 | 33 | 33 | 27 | 30 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 7 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 6 | SE 9 | SE 10 | S 6 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SSW 6 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | — | SE 9 | — |
| kJ | 20 | 32 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 11 | 10 | 42 | 12 | 14 | 49 | 13 | 20 | 58 | 21 | 21 | 28 | 12 | — | 14 | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | — | — | — | S 3 | — | — | SE 9 | — | SE 10 | SSE 10 | — | — | SE 9 | — | — | SSE 6 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 13 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 3 | — | 4 | 9 | — | — | 20 | — | — | 14 | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 2 | — | S 3 | SSW 3 | — | S 3 | S 3 | — | S 5 | SSW 5 | — | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | — | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | SSW 6 |
| kJ | 1 | — | 1 | 4 | — | 2 | 5 | — | 37 | 52 | — | 77 | 119 | — | 67 | 111 | 47 | 165 | 241 | 181 | 309 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 325 | 82 | 766 | 904 | 1729 | 951 | 1729 | 1263 | 1263 | 52 | 112 | 667 | 377 | 29 | 609 | 45 | 30 | 566 | 519 | 323 | 332 |
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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