Surf Forecasts:
Holden Beach surf forecast from 10 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 10s period, SE swell with 33 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 0.4m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 5AM. 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+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Holden Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, it's Rusty here, and I gotta give it to you straight. To be honest, looking at Holden Beach over the next 16 days, there isn’t a single moment I’d call a stand-out surf session. It’s a tough run ahead.
From now until the 25th of September, the waves are consistently small and weak, with the combined energy only hitting triple digits on a handful of afternoons. Most of the time the swell is around 1.0 ft to 2 ft with a short period. We’ve got a long gap of poor conditions with no real recommendations at all. The majority of the period shows light to moderate onshore or cross-onshore winds, making for messy, choppy surf.
Now, the water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing wild going on there.
On Monday morning the 14th and Tuesday morning the 15th, we get a little wink from the ocean with glassy conditions and a tiny 1 ft groundswell from the SE, but the energy is weak. You could get a fun little log out if you’re desperate, but you won't be bragging about it.
The only noticeable pulse shows up right at the end. On the afternoon of Sunday the 21st of September, the swell bumps to 4 ft from the E, with a 6-second period and moderate wave energy. The wind is clean cross-offshore, so it'll look tidy, but the period is short. Same again on Tuesday the 22nd afternoon with 4 ft and a fresh breeze, still clean, and energy building. This could be okay for a beach break but honestly, with that short period and the cross-off wind, it’s probably more interesting for the kite surfers than for paddlers.
For the brave, the morning of Wednesday the 23rd shows a clean 3 ft swell from the E with a 9-second period and moderate energy. That’s the best of a bad bunch in terms of period and shape, but still nothing that’ll fire.
Remember, this stretch is mostly inconsistent and exposed to the south, so it tends to have these blank runs. It won’t stay poor forever, forecasts can change, but for now, this is a long stretch of flat to weak, sloppy surf.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Warm (max 30°C on Sat afternoon, min 26°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Mon night. Warm (max 30°C on Sun afternoon, min 25°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SE 6 | SE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 32 | 31 | 22 | 10 | 28 | 18 | 17 | 25 | 27 | 30 | 33 | 31 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 19 | 12 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | glassy | on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 7:10AM1.50m | 7:37PM1.60m | 7:59AM1.55m | 8:22PM1.56m | 8:46AM1.58m | 9:05PM1.49m | 9:31AM1.58m | 9:47PM1.40m | 10:16AM1.54m | 10:29PM1.31m | 11:02AM1.49m | 11:12PM1.23m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 4:33PM0.26m | 4:34AM0.20m | 5:20PM0.35m | |||||||
 |  | |  |  |  | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — |
 | 7:28 | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — | — | 7:19 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | — | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 27 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 8 | SE 6 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SSW 5 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 |
| kJ | 32 | 31 | 10 | 9 | 28 | 18 | 17 | 25 | 27 | 30 | 20 | 31 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 19 | 12 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 9 | E 9 | SE 8 | E 9 | — | SE 9 | S 4 | — | — | SE 10 | E 6 | E 5 | SSW 4 | — | SSW 4 | — | — | S 14 |
| kJ | 13 | 12 | 1 | 10 | 1 | — | 13 | 3 | — | — | 33 | 1 | 1 | 4 | — | 3 | — | — | 4 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | — | — | E 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSE 6 | SSW 3 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | — | S 4 | SSW 4 | — | SSW 5 | SSW 4 | — | SSW 4 | — | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | S 4 |
| kJ | — | — | 22 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | — | 6 | 20 | — | 13 | 12 | — | 3 | — | 1 | 5 | 11 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 946 | 501 | 573 | 378 | 82 | 312 | 308 | 1258 | 1258 | 377 | 30 | 501 | 52 | 82 | 904 | 159 | 1782 | 1263 | 1259 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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