Surf Forecasts:
Holden Beach surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s period, SE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 11s period, SE swell with 60 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s period with SE 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.9m and 5s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
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 0.2m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 16) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 10s |
| 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, listen up folks, Rusty here. I’ve been staring at the charts for Holden Beach, and I gotta be straight with you – it’s going to be a lean stretch.
The whole 16-day window is a write-off for anything worth paddling out for. We’re looking at a real flat spell. For the first 12 days, from Saturday the 15th all the way through Wednesday the 26th, the swell is tiny. We’re talking knee-high dribble at best, with most of that time seeing waves that barely push 2 ft. The poor surf conditions just keep rolling in. The combined swell energy is weak, mostly sitting below 100, which tells you just how little power is in the water.
There is a brief flicker of something on Thursday the 27th. The swell bumps up to 5 ft out of the SSW with a period of 6 seconds. The energy finally climbs into a moderate range (159), and with a crisp cross-offshore breeze from the NNE at 12 mph, it’ll be clean. But the period is short and junky, and frankly, for a beach break, a 5 ft windswell like that is gonna be a messy, crumbly closeout. Not exactly the kind of day you set the alarm for.
After that, it’s right back to tiny surf as we roll into the end of the month and the 16-day mark on the 30th.
Here’s the thing: Holden Beach is an inconsistent spot in the best of times, so a run like this isn't surprising. It’s just the way it goes sometimes. The water temperature is sitting around 84°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year. Keep your eyes on the charts, because it never stays this quiet forever, and the forecasts can flip.
Stay patient,
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 33°C on Sat afternoon, min 26°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Tue night. Warm (max 32°C on Tue afternoon, min 24°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | |||||||||||||||
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 | S 4 | SSW 4 | S 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 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 | S 5 | S 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 12 | 9 | 21 | 11 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 28 | 19 | 58 | 48 | 31 | 29 | 21 | 19 | 27 | 46 | 25 | 25 | 31 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | glassy | on | glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 3:12PM1.32m | 3:15AM1.06m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 8:38AM0.38m | 9:55PM0.53m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | | |  | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — |
 | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — |
mm | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 4 |
Temp °C | 31 | 33 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 28 | 31 | 32 | 29 | 31 | 32 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 29 |
Feels °C | 34 | 35 | 34 | 36 | 34 | 31 | 35 | 34 | 32 | 38 | 35 | 34 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 33 | 26 | 32 | 32 | 33 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 5 | SE 11 | SSW 5 | S 5 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | SE 9 | SE 9 |
| kJ | 6 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 17 | 15 | 8 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 58 | 18 | 17 | 29 | 20 | 19 | 11 | 11 | 25 | 12 | 13 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | — | E 10 | SE 8 | — | E 5 | SE 8 | E 6 | E 6 | SE 9 | E 6 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ENE 3 | SE 8 | E 7 | — | SE 8 | SE 15 | SE 14 |
| kJ | 11 | — | 2 | 11 | — | 4 | 15 | 2 | 3 | 19 | 1 | 48 | 31 | 29 | 1 | 11 | 1 | — | 11 | 8 | 8 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | E 4 | E 6 | S 13 | SSE 12 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | — | — | — | — | S 15 | E 7 | SE 14 |
| kJ | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | 8 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 4 | SSW 4 | — | S 5 | SSW 4 | — | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | — | S 5 | SSW 5 | — | S 5 | S 5 | — | S 5 | SSW 5 | — | S 5 | S 5 |
| kJ | — | 9 | 21 | — | 11 | 14 | — | 16 | 28 | — | 11 | 33 | — | 11 | 21 | — | 27 | 46 | — | 25 | 31 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 810 | 2516 | 491 | 549 | 2345 | 427 | 514 | 667 | 9 | 9 | 308 | 0 | 491 | 549 | 436 | 827 | 312 | 52 | 82 | 1735 | 82 |
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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