Surf Forecasts:
Holden Beach surf forecast from 7 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 6s period, SSW swell with 254 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Holden Beach this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Holden Beach in the next 16 days are 1.8m 6s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 5s period and expected on Monday (Jul 13) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Fri 10th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Holden Beach over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you – this outlook for Holden Beach is a tough one. The whole 16-day window is a washout for decent waves. There isn't a single session I'd recommend paddling out for. The combined swell energy stays weak, mostly well under 100, with only a few brief moments barely cracking the triple digits, and the highest reading hits 246 (moderate energy), but it's paired with poor conditions. The swell is short-period (4 to 9 seconds), mostly under 6 seconds, meaning weak, crumbly waves that won't offer much push. You'll see small stuff from the SSW, S, or SE, but it's never going to come together.
Starting now, on Tuesday the 7th, we've got junk. Cross-onshore winds and choppy surf with waves barely hitting 3ft. That sets the tone. Wednesday the 8th and Thursday the 9th are more of the same – poor surf, moderate wind, and messy conditions. There's a bit more energy on the 10th, with the combined swell energy hitting 206 on Friday afternoon, and swell heights up to 5ft, but it's still short-period (6 seconds) and cross-onshore with a risk of thunderstorms. That's too big and choppy for beginners and not clean enough for anyone else.
The water temperature is pretty average for this time of year, nothing weird going on there.
We go through the weekend of the 12th and into the following week with tiny, weak swell and mostly onshore or cross-onshore wind. Monday the 13th and Tuesday the 14th see a brief dip to tiny 1ft waves. Wednesday the 15th picks up a little to 4ft from the SSW, but it's straight onshore, so forget about it. The pattern stays poor right through to the final day on Wednesday the 22nd. The only decent wind we see is some clean, light cross-offshore on the morning of the 19th and again on the 21st, but the swell is too small and weak to do anything with it.
So, in short, Holden Beach is a flat spell for the next two and a half weeks. For an exposed beach break like this, a blank run like this is pretty normal when the swell just doesn't line up. No standouts here, just a long wait.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 34°C on Wed afternoon, min 27°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 35°C on Sat afternoon, min 28°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Mon 13 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SW 6 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 91 | 52 | 65 | 99 | 55 | 66 | 132 | 48 | 102 | 231 | 85 | 172 | 209 | 53 | 57 | 111 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 21 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | on |
High Tide | 00:50AM1.33m | 1:35PM1.37m | 1:43AM1.28m | 2:33PM1.44m | 2:40AM1.25m | 3:33PM1.52m | 3:41AM1.24m | 4:33PM1.61m | 4:42AM1.26m | 5:32PM1.70m | 5:42AM1.30m | 6:30PM1.77m | 6:41AM1.35m | 7:26PM1.82m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:04AM0.28m | 7:40PM0.44m | 7:56AM0.25m | 8:50PM0.43m | 8:54AM0.21m | 10:00PM0.38m | 9:55AM0.15m | 11:06PM0.32m | 10:56AM0.08m | 00:06AM0.25m | 11:55AM0.01m | 1:01AM0.18m | 12:52PM-0.04m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | |  | |  | | |  | | | | | | |  | | | |
 | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — |
 | 8:27 | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:24 |
mm | 4 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 31 | 32 | 29 | 31 | 34 | 30 | 32 | 33 | 29 | 31 | 33 | 30 | 32 | 35 | 32 | 31 | 34 | 32 | 30 | 32 |
Feels °C | 31 | 33 | 33 | 30 | 33 | 34 | 31 | 34 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 33 | 35 | 32 | 30 | 34 | 32 | 31 | 33 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 10 | SSW 6 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SSW 6 | SSE 8 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SE 9 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 |
| kJ | 9 | 52 | 14 | 13 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 14 | 14 | 53 | 6 | 65 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 16 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 10 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 9 | E 11 | — | E 8 | SE 9 | — | SE 9 | SE 10 | SSE 7 | SE 9 | — | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 |
| kJ | — | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | 39 | 2 | — | 5 | 14 | — | 12 | 4 | 5 | 22 | — | 23 | 23 | 21 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 8 | — | SE 7 | E 9 | SSE 9 | — | — | — | E 5 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | 2 | 2 | 9 | — | — | — | 2 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 5 | — | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | — | SSW 6 | SW 6 | — | SSW 6 | — | — | ENE 5 |
| kJ | 91 | — | 65 | 99 | 55 | 66 | 132 | 48 | 102 | 231 | 85 | 172 | 209 | — | 57 | 111 | — | 24 | — | — | 7 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 377 | 29 | 1263 | 308 | 29 | 946 | 427 | 52 | 626 | 332 | 30 | 323 | 293 | 30 | 49 | 29 | 82 | 69 | 69 | 9 | 504 |
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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