Surf Forecasts:
Holden Beach surf forecast from 8 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 9 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 8 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 7s period, E swell with 204 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period with ESE 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 (Sep 09) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 6s period. 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 1.5m 7s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Wed 9th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Wed 9th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Holden Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again, same outlook but in feet and Fahrenheit for the crew that thinks that way.
Let’s be straight: Holden Beach is in for a long dry spell. We’re looking at nearly 12 days before anything even close to rideable shows up, and even then, it’s slim pickings.
Monday the 7th of September starts with a waist-to-chest high swell around 5ft out of the east, but the period is short – only 6 seconds – and the cross-off wind from the ENE at 16 mph is making a mess of it. The combined wave energy is weak (165). Water temp is a warm 84°, which is a touch warmer than normal. It’s poor, plain and simple.
The next several days are a grind. Swell drops to 2-2ft, periods stay short, and winds are mostly cross or onshore. We get a glassy moment on Friday morning the 11th, but the swell is barely 2ft. Not worth suiting up.
The second week is even quieter. Most days see swell under 2ft, with periods barely reaching 9 seconds. Winds stay onshore. There’s a clean offshore breeze on Thursday the 17th, but the swell is only 1ft – flat.
The only “standout” is Saturday the 19th of September – and I use that term loosely. Swell bumps to 3ft from the SSW, but with a terrible 4-5 second period. Winds are clean, cross-off from the NNE and ENE. The energy is weak (43-60), and the report calls it “surfable but very ordinary.” That’s the high point.
Then on Tuesday the 22nd, we see a small pulse: 4ft from the east, period of 7 seconds, clean wind, and moderate energy of 206. Still short-period and crumbly.
This break is inconsistent, and it’s living up to that. The winds and swell just never line up. If you’re into kite surfing, a few of those onshore days might work, but for a paddle surfer, it’s a bust.
Holden Beach is an exposed beach break, and most of the swell is coming from the east or southeast, not the optimum south. For beginners, anything over about 5ft is too much, but that’s not even a concern here.
Keep the wax in the shade on this one. Forecasts can turn, but right now, it’s a hard pass.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Mon afternoon, min 24°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 30°C on Fri afternoon, min 26°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | ||||||||||||||
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) | E 6 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 8 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 165 | 204 | 131 | 112 | 90 | 91 | 91 | 66 | 45 | 36 | 29 | 25 | 34 | 17 | 10 | 24 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 29 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | glassy | on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | glassy | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:04PM1.60m | 5:20AM1.34m | 5:59PM1.62m | 6:17AM1.42m | 6:50PM1.63m | 7:10AM1.50m | 7:37PM1.60m | 7:59AM1.55m | 8:22PM1.56m | 8:46AM1.58m | 9:05PM1.49m | 9:31AM1.58m | 9:47PM1.40m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:35PM0.27m | 11:37AM0.12m | 00:25AM0.20m | 12:32PM0.08m | 1:10AM0.15m | 1:24PM0.07m | 1:53AM0.11m | 2:13PM0.09m | 2:34AM0.10m | 3:00PM0.13m | 3:14AM0.11m | 3:46PM0.19m | 3:54AM0.15m | |||||||
 |  | | | | | | | | |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — |
 | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 28 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 29 |
Feels °C | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 33 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 33 | 32 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 8 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 66 | 45 | 36 | 29 | 25 | 24 | 17 | 10 | 24 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 29 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 8 | E 9 | SE 8 | S 5 | ESE 7 | SSE 9 | SSW 5 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | E 6 | E 6 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 11 | 12 | 34 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 4 | E 9 | — | — | SSE 9 | — | E 7 | E 6 | ENE 6 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | 7 | — | 1 | 1 | 3 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | — | — | — | — | S 4 | S 4 |
| kJ | 165 | 204 | 131 | 112 | 90 | 91 | 91 | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | 14 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 780 | 552 | 514 | 110 | 0 | 110 | 2031 | 110 | 274 | 593 | 30 | 82 | 771 | 159 | 1257 | 1258 | 331 | 82 | 561 | 82 |
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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