Surf Forecasts:
Holden Beach surf forecast from 14 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 21 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 6s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 21 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 6s period, SSW swell with 195 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s 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 (Jul 19) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 6s period. 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 1.6m 6s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Holden Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's take a look at what's on the cards for Holden Beach.
To be straight up, the next couple of weeks are looking pretty flat and frustrating. We’ve got a long dry spell ahead until we see anything worth paddling out for.
Right now, for the rest of this week and through the weekend, it's a write-off. Tiny waves – we're talking knee-high at best, with onshore winds messing things up. The water temp is sitting at 84°, which is pretty average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
Next week doesn't offer much hope either. Monday the 21st of July might give us a brief moment of hope with a clean little 3ft swell from the S, but conditions are just ordinary and it won't last. After that, it's back to small, choppy junk.
Now, the one true standout in this whole 16-day period is Saturday morning, the 25th of July. This is what we're waiting for. A solid 5ft SSW groundswell will be pushing in, with a period of 7 seconds. The combined energy of all swells directed here will be 276, which is moderate energy. The morning is set to be glassy, with a WSW breeze at just 3 mph. That's a major positive – clean, smooth surf is on the cards. This won't be for beginners, as it's pushing 5ft, but for the experienced crew, Saturday morning at Holden Beach is going to be the pick. The swell direction isn't a perfect match for the optimum S, but the clean conditions make up for it.
The rest of that weekend and the start of the following week look like they'll drop back down to small, messy waves with onshore winds. It stays poor right the way through.
So, to keep it simple: save your energy for the morning of Saturday, July 25th. That's your window. The rest of the time, you're better off doing something else.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Wed afternoon, min 24°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 32°C on Sat afternoon, min 27°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | |||||||||||||||
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 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | E 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 4 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SSW 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 19 | 20 | 20 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 25 | 104 | 90 | 80 | 111 | 76 | 91 | 195 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 8:19PM1.83m | 8:34AM1.44m | 9:11PM1.79m | 9:30AM1.46m | 10:01PM1.72m | 10:24AM1.47m | 10:50PM1.62m | 11:19AM1.46m | 11:39PM1.50m | 12:14PM1.43m | 00:27AM1.37m | 1:09PM1.40m | 1:16AM1.26m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:47PM-0.06m | 2:44AM0.11m | 2:41PM-0.04m | 3:33AM0.10m | 3:35PM0.02m | 4:21AM0.11m | 4:29PM0.11m | 5:08AM0.14m | 5:24PM0.21m | 5:56AM0.19m | 6:22PM0.32m | 6:45AM0.24m | 7:23PM0.41m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | |  | | | | |  | | |
 | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — |
 | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — |
mm | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 6 |
Temp °C | 26 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 32 | 29 | 31 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 33 | 30 |
Feels °C | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 30 | 33 | 33 | 30 | 31 | 33 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | SE 9 | E 5 | E 6 | E 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | — | SSW 6 | — | — | S 6 | — | S 6 |
| kJ | 8 | 20 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 6 | — | 90 | — | — | 76 | — | 112 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SW 4 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | E 6 | E 6 | E 5 | — | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | — | — | — | S 13 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 19 | 1 | 20 | 12 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 6 | SSW 5 | SW 4 | — | SW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 7 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 4 | E 5 | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 3 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 3 | S 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 6 | — | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | — | S 6 | SSW 6 |
| kJ | 9 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 25 | 104 | — | 80 | 111 | — | 91 | 195 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1782 | 110 | 9 | 159 | 549 | 845 | 831 | 590 | 904 | 1609 | 2516 | 949 | 1601 | 388 | 58 | 29 | 377 | 82 | 29 | 766 | 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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