Surf Forecasts:
Holden Beach surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 11s period, SE swell with 60 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 0.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 16) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Holden Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this is gonna be a tough one. Looking at the whole 16-day picture for Holden Beach, there’s not a lot to get excited about. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak, messy surf, and it pretty much stays that way. The first real sign of anything surfable doesn't show up until Friday the 28th of August, and even then it’s a bit of a stretch. So yeah, prepare for a long blank run of several days before we maybe see a window.
For the first week and a half, from Sunday the 16th right through to Thursday the 27th, the reports are all "poor surf conditions" with tiny waves, mostly under 2 ft, coming from the south-east or south with short periods. The wind is all over the place – mostly onshore or cross-onshore – so it’s going to be choppy and messy. We do get a few glassy moments, like Tuesday the 18th morning with that 1 ft swell from the SE when the wind goes glassy, but it’s still just too small to really do anything on. The wave energy during this whole start is really low, sitting around 16 to 43. It’s just not worth paddling out for.
Now, the one small glimmer of hope comes at the very end of the period. On Friday, August 28th, the morning session at Holden Beach might actually be worth a look. The swell picks up a bit to 2 ft from the SE with an 11-second period – that’s a longer period groundswell, which usually means a bit more push. The wave energy jumps up to 149 – that’s a moderate energy level, which is the best we see in the whole forecast. But the real kicker here is the wind: a clean cross-offshore breeze from the ENE at 15 mph. That’s going to set up some tidy, clean little waves. It won’t be big by any stretch, but for a small wave board, it could be fun and uncrowded since it’s an inconsistent break. Nothing else after that comes close, with the energy dropping straight back down into weak numbers.
So, if you’re desperate and can wait, that Friday morning is your only real shot. But this is a long period of poor surf, folks. It’s a normal blank run for this area. Keep the boards waxed, but don’t hold your breath.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 34°C on Tue afternoon, min 25°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Fri night. Warm (max 31°C on Wed afternoon, min 26°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | |||||||||||||||
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 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 5 | SE 9 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 5 | S 5 | SSW 5 | S 5 | SE 8 | E 4 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 11 | 17 | 15 | 23 | 15 | 24 | 19 | 58 | 48 | 31 | 29 | 20 | 15 | 21 | 23 | 12 | 11 | 24 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 3:12PM1.32m | 3:15AM1.06m | 4:06PM1.33m | 4:09AM1.07m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 8:38AM0.38m | 9:55PM0.53m | 9:37AM0.38m | 10:50PM0.51m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — |
 | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — |
mm | 1 | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 10 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
Temp °C | 29 | 29 | 28 | 31 | 32 | 29 | 32 | 34 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 |
Feels °C | 33 | 32 | 32 | 34 | 34 | 31 | 36 | 37 | 32 | 34 | 35 | 33 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 5 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 5 | SE 8 | SSW 5 | S 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | S 5 | S 5 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 11 | 17 | 15 | 23 | 15 | 15 | 19 | 58 | 48 | 31 | 29 | 20 | 15 | 11 | 23 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 13 | 11 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 5 | E 4 | E 5 | E 5 | E 5 | E 6 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | — | — | SE 8 | E 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ENE 4 | E 4 |
| kJ | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 19 | 16 | 8 | 4 | — | — | 11 | 1 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 4 | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | S 4 | — | — | E 6 | S 13 | SSE 12 | E 6 | — | — | — | — | E 6 | — | E 6 | S 15 | SSW 5 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 9 | SE 13 |
| kJ | 2 | 3 | — | — | 1 | 3 | 14 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 12 | 7 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 3 | — | SSW 4 | SW 4 | SSW 3 | SSW 5 | — | S 5 | — | — | S 4 | S 4 | — | S 5 | NW 3 | — | SE 3 | E 4 | E 5 | — | S 5 |
| kJ | 3 | — | 3 | 2 | 6 | 24 | — | 13 | — | — | 6 | 13 | — | 21 | 2 | — | 2 | 24 | 10 | — | 13 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 810 | 549 | 2516 | 378 | 514 | 327 | 49 | 9 | 501 | 22 | 82 | 827 | 328 | 327 | 609 | 140 | 159 | 549 | 82 | 284 | 30 |
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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