Surf Forecasts:
Holden Beach surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 5s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 5s period, SSW swell with 77 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 5s 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 Sunday (Aug 23) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.7m and 5s is also forecast. 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 1.2m 5s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 11PM. 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+) | 8AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Holden Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let's break down Holden Beach in feet and miles per hour. The next two weeks are mostly flat and disappointing. Lots of tiny, weak swell and onshore winds making a mess of things. Don't plan your session around this.
The water is running about 85°, which is a bit warmer than usual for this time of year.
Starting Thursday the 20th through the weekend, it’s all knee-high or less. The wave energy is basically nothing, and the wind is onshore or cross-onshore, so you’re looking at bumpy, choppy water. Not worth paddling out.
We get a small window on Sunday the 23rd afternoon. The wind switches to a clean cross-offshore from the WNW. The swell is only 1 foot from the southeast, but with a 12-second period, it’ll have some long, drawn-out lines. The combined energy is just 63, so it’s weak, but it's clean enough to catch a few.
The first week of September has the most to offer. On Tuesday the 1st, the morning looks best. Clean ENE cross-offshore wind with a 2-foot swell from the SSE. The period is 11 seconds, and the combined energy is 151 – a moderate, workable pulse. That’s the best call in a while.
Thursday the 3rd afternoon sees the swell jump to 4 feet from the east, with a combined energy of 187. The wind is a cross-onshore from the SSW, so it won't be glassy, but there’s definitely more size.
The real standout is Friday the 4th morning. Swell at 5 feet from the east, with a combined energy of 184. The wind is a clean cross-offshore from the ENE at 12 mph. That’s the best combination of size and clean conditions in the whole 16 days.
So, to wrap it up: it’s a long wait for anything good. The morning of Friday, September 4th, at Holden Beach is your best shot. Expect 5-foot east swell, clean cross-offshore wind, and moderate energy. It’s a beach break, so the east swell might make it a little straight, but the wind will clean it up nicely. Crowds are sometimes a thing here, so keep an eye out. Everything else is small and messy.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 31°C on Thu morning, min 24°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 32°C on Sun afternoon, min 24°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | S 5 | SE 12 | S 5 | S 6 | S 6 | S 5 | SE 11 | SE 11 | S 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | S 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 35 | 26 | 40 | 51 | 27 | 23 | 21 | 27 | 17 | 25 | 40 | 29 | 46 | 41 | 33 | 66 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 2:17PM1.33m | 2:19AM1.07m | 3:12PM1.32m | 3:15AM1.06m | 4:06PM1.33m | 4:09AM1.07m | 4:57PM1.37m | 5:01AM1.12m | 5:43PM1.42m | 5:49AM1.18m | 6:25PM1.46m | 6:34AM1.24m | 7:05PM1.50m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:52PM0.53m | 8:38AM0.38m | 9:55PM0.53m | 9:37AM0.38m | 10:50PM0.51m | 10:31AM0.36m | 11:37PM0.46m | 11:21AM0.32m | 00:18AM0.42m | 12:06PM0.28m | 00:56AM0.36m | 12:48PM0.25m | 1:31AM0.31m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — |
 | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | 7 | 4 | 4 | 6 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
Temp °C | 31 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 27 | 27 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 35 | 33 | 33 | 34 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | S 5 | ESE 8 | S 5 | S 6 | S 6 | S 5 | SE 11 | S 5 | SE 10 | SSW 5 | SE 9 | S 6 |
| kJ | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 27 | 6 | 21 | 27 | 17 | 13 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 41 | 14 | 66 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | — | — | S 15 | SE 15 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 13 | ESE 8 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 8 | SE 11 | SE 11 | E 7 | SE 9 | — | SE 9 |
| kJ | 2 | — | — | 4 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 7 | 40 | 29 | 1 | 14 | — | 13 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SE 15 | E 6 | — | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | SE 12 | SE 12 | ESE 8 | SE 7 | S 9 | SSE 11 | E 7 | — | — | E 6 | E 6 | E 15 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 9 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 23 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 4 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSW 3 | SSW 3 | SSW 3 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | — | S 5 | — | — | E 4 | S 5 | S 5 | SSE 5 | S 5 | — | SSW 5 | — |
| kJ | — | — | 3 | 2 | 4 | 35 | 26 | 40 | 51 | — | 19 | — | — | 1 | 25 | 17 | 22 | 46 | — | 33 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 828 | 827 | 378 | 1601 | 2345 | 52 | 332 | 501 | 29 | 9 | 0 | 82 | 140 | 284 | 491 | 112 | 949 | 29 | 9 | 168 | 0 |
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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