Holden Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.91° N 78.18° W

Holden Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 pm 14 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Holden Beach sea temperature is
28.6° C
0.4° 

Holden Beach surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Holden Beach surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 9s period, ESE swell with 71 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 0.7m 9s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 2PM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful 8PM (Wed 19th Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 9s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Holden Beach over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's be real about what's on the table for the next couple of weeks. I'm looking at the entire stretch, and I've got to be straight with you: it's a tough run. The only spot in the mix is Holden Beach, and honestly, it's shaping up to be a real struggle for paddle surfers. The water's sitting at a warm 84°, which is pretty much what you'd expect for this time of year, so at least you won't be cold while you're waiting for a wave.

The first real chance at anything rideable doesn't show up until Sunday, the 23rd of August. Up until then, it's a whole lot of nothing. From now through that Saturday, the 22nd, we're looking at a solid week of tiny, weak, wind-affected surf. The swell energy is barely registering, with values hanging in the low hundreds, and the period is short and weak. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, just chopping everything up. It's a write-off.

Then, on Sunday morning, the 23rd, things get *slightly* interesting. The swell bumps up to 3 ft from the S, with a period of 6 seconds, and the energy climbs to 79. It's still not great, but it's the difference between nothing and something. The wind is light and cross-offshore from the ENE, which will clean it up. The report calls it "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions," and I'd agree. For a beginner looking to get wet, this is your best bet, but don't expect any gems. Crowds are "sometimes" a problem, so you might have some company. After that, it's back to tiny surf and onshore winds through the next week.

Looking further out to Thursday, the 27th of August, we get a morning session with a 2 ft SE swell, but here's the kicker: the period is 10 seconds, and the energy hits 109, which is a moderate bump. The wind is a clean cross-offshore from the ENE as well. This is the only other window that isn't a total zero. It's still small, but the longer period might give a little bit more push. But again, it's a small window.

The bottom line is this: unless you're a beginner who just wants to paddle around in the whitewash, or you're a kitesurfer who can make the most of a clean, light wind window, Holden Beach is a tough sell. The waves are just too small, the winds are too often wrong, and the consistency is non-existent. For the next two weeks, it's a waiting game. Forecasts can change, but right now, it's a scrappy outlook.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 32°C on Fri afternoon, min 27°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 36°C on Mon afternoon, min 26°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light.

Fri
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
SE
8
0.9
SSW
4
0.6
S
5
0.7
SSW
5
0.7
S
5
0.6
S
5
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
10
0.5
SE
11
0.5
SE
10
0.4
SE
10
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.3
SE
8
0.3
SE
8
0.3
SE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
10
26
15
23
23
18
17
15
15
15
17
23
58
49
33
21
20
11
11
11
Wind (km/h)
20
SSW
20
SW
10
SW
20
SSW
5
SSW
5
NNE
15
S
10
W
10
W
15
SSW
5
SSW
5
ENE
15
SSE
5
NNE
5
SSW
15
S
10
SSW
10
SW
20
S
10
NE
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
glassy
on
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
on
glassy
glassy
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-off
High Tide
9:34PM1.62m
9:59AM1.53m
10:19PM1.52m
10:49AM1.51m
11:04PM1.40m
11:39AM1.47m
11:49PM1.29m
12:30PM1.41m
00:36AM1.20m
1:22PM1.36m
1:26AM1.12m
2:17PM1.33m
2:19AM1.07m
Low Tide
3:18PM0.07m
3:49AM0.10m
4:08PM0.15m
4:32AM0.14m
4:59PM0.24m
5:15AM0.19m
5:51PM0.34m
6:00AM0.25m
6:47PM0.43m
6:48AM0.31m
7:48PM0.49m
7:40AM0.35m
8:52PM0.53m
clear
rain showers
clear
part cloud
thunderstorm
clear
clear
thunderstorm
clear
clear
rain showers
clear
clear
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:33
6:33
6:35
6:35
6:35
6:37
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:00
7:59
7:58
7:57
7:55
7:54
7:53
 mm
1
8
1
1
5
1
Temp °C
32
29
31
32
29
30
31
30
32
36
30
31
32
30
29
31
29
30
31
28
Feels °C
33
32
35
34
33
36
35
34
35
38
34
35
35
34
33
33
33
32
32
30
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
How to use the Wavefinder 
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Holden Beach:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Holden Beach surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


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.

Nearest locationNearest