Surf Forecasts:
Holden Beach surf forecast from 6 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 8s period, SE swell with 125 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 1.0m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Sat 8th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Holden Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. I’ve been staring at the charts for Holden Beach and, well, I gotta be straight with you—it’s a tough stretch ahead. The whole 16-day window is looking pretty flat and messy. We’ve got a long run from now through about the 21st of August where the surf just isn’t worth paddling out for. The swell is tiny, the wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, and the wave energy is weak. The few times we get a bit of glass, like on the morning of the 18th, the swell is still only 2 ft and the energy is a weak 42. It’s just not doing anything.
To be honest, there’s not a single standout day here. The best you could hope for is maybe a sneaky session on the 18th of August, when we get a glassy morning with calm winds and a 2 ft SE swell, but even then, it’s short period at 9 seconds and the energy is a paltry 42 (moderate). The afternoon of the 18th is also glassy, but again, no real push. The water temperature is sitting at 83°F right now, which is about normal for the time of year, so at least the water is warm for a paddle.
If you’re really desperate, the morning of the 6th of August had a 3 ft SE swell at 6 seconds, but it was onshore with a light breeze and the wave comment was “poor surf conditions.” That’s pretty much the story for the whole run. The swell directions are all over the place—SE, SSE, SSW, S—but nothing ever lines up. The combined energy values are all two-digit numbers, mostly under 100, which is weak. It’s a big blank run. For a spot like Holden Beach, an exposed beach break, this kind of dead spell is more normal than not. Forecasts can change, but right now, there’s nothing to chase.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 29°C on Thu afternoon, min 26°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 33°C on Tue afternoon, min 26°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SW 6 | SW 6 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 25 | 34 | 36 | 92 | 113 | 86 | 125 | 51 | 27 | 19 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 39 | 20 | 22 | 88 | 44 | 42 | 58 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 2:11PM1.49m | 2:19AM1.21m | 3:14PM1.54m | 3:23AM1.21m | 4:17PM1.60m | 4:27AM1.24m | 5:18PM1.66m | 5:29AM1.30m | 6:16PM1.72m | 6:28AM1.37m | 7:09PM1.74m | 7:24AM1.44m | 8:00PM1.74m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:33PM0.42m | 8:30AM0.20m | 9:46PM0.39m | 9:37AM0.16m | 10:52PM0.34m | 10:43AM0.11m | 11:51PM0.27m | 11:44AM0.05m | 00:45AM0.20m | 12:41PM0.01m | 1:34AM0.15m | 1:35PM-0.01m | 2:20AM0.11m | |||||||
 |  | | |  | | | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — |
 | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:02 | — |
mm | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | 3 | 2 | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 29 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 33 | 30 | 31 | 34 | 30 |
Feels °C | 31 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 29 | 31 | 34 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 10 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 8 | SE 6 | SE 8 | SSE 8 |
| kJ | — | — | 2 | 92 | 113 | 86 | 125 | 51 | 27 | 19 | 16 | 15 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | — | — | — | S 4 | — | — | S 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 6 | — |
| kJ | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 1 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 9 | E 8 | — | E 8 | — | E 8 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 4 | S 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SW 6 | SW 6 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 |
| kJ | 25 | 34 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 12 | 10 | 17 | 39 | 20 | 22 | 88 | 44 | 42 | 58 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 327 | 1257 | 762 | 327 | 946 | 46 | 22 | 580 | 30 | 325 | 577 | 389 | 501 | 501 | 552 | 112 | 864 | 58 | 52 | 1612 |
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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