Surf Forecasts:
Holden Beach surf forecast from 2 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 8 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 8s period, SSE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 7s period, S swell with 364 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 8 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 8s period with SSE 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 Saturday (Aug 08) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 8s period. 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 2.0m 7s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 8PM. 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+) | 8AM (Sat 8th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sat 8th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Holden Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – this outlook for Holden Beach is a tough one. We're looking at a full 16-day window, and honestly, there's not a single session that's going to get the heart pumping. The forecast is pretty much a bust for surfers.
The first real chance of a wave comes on Sunday afternoon, the 2nd of August, but it's a no-go. We've got a 6ft south swell coming in, but the wind is howling onshore from the SSW at 22 mph, and there's a risk of thunderstorms. The water's warm, at 84°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year, but that's the only good thing. The combined wave energy is moderate at best (211), but it's all wind-affected junk. That marks the start of a long, grim stretch.
For the entire first week, through to the 9th of August, it's a write-off. The swell hangs around a bit, but it's short-period, mostly 6-7 seconds, and the wind stays onshore or cross-onshore. There's a brief moment on the afternoon of the 5th when the wind goes glassy, but the swell is down to a measly 3ft and the energy is weak (56). Even then, it's still "poor surf conditions" according to the data. The crowds are listed as "sometimes," but honestly, with surf this bad, you'll likely have the beach to yourself.
The second week is even worse. From the 10th of August onward, the swell drops off a cliff. We're looking at tiny waves, 1ft to 3ft, with periods as low as 4 seconds. The wind is mostly a moderate cross-onshore, making it choppy and bumpy. The energy readings are all in the double digits, which is weak. The last entry on the 17th of August shows a 1ft swell with a 9-second period, but the wind is ruining even that. It's just not happening.
So, the bottom line? There's nothing to recommend here. For paddle surfing, it's a zero. If you're desperate to get wet, the setup here is a beach, so with the persistent onshore wind and lack of quality, this is looking more like a kite surfing week than a surf week. Put the boards away and wait for a better forecast. This blank run is a real bummer, but it happens.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 56mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 28°C on Sun afternoon, min 24°C on Tue afternoon). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Sun afternoon, light winds from the SSE by Tue afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Thu afternoon, min 24°C on Wed afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 6 | S 7 | S 7 | S 6 | S 6 | SSW 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 211 | 335 | 295 | 240 | 176 | 46 | 78 | 64 | 49 | 46 | 53 | 33 | 26 | 42 | 42 | 56 | 64 | 69 | 67 | 51 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | glassy | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 10:50PM1.42m | 11:23AM1.40m | 11:34PM1.36m | 12:14PM1.42m | 00:23AM1.30m | 1:11PM1.45m | 1:18AM1.24m | 2:11PM1.49m | 2:19AM1.21m | 3:14PM1.54m | 3:23AM1.21m | 4:17PM1.60m | 4:27AM1.24m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:36PM0.31m | 5:02AM0.24m | 5:24PM0.35m | 5:43AM0.23m | 6:19PM0.39m | 6:31AM0.23m | 7:22PM0.41m | 7:27AM0.22m | 8:33PM0.42m | 8:30AM0.20m | 9:46PM0.39m | 9:37AM0.16m | 10:52PM0.34m | |||||||
 |  | | | | |  | | | |  |  | |  | | |  |  | | | |
 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — |
 | 8:12 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — |
mm | 3 | 15 | 13 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 28 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 27 |
Feels °C | 28 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 8 | — | — | — | SE 7 | SE 6 | — | SE 6 | SE 6 | — | E 11 | E 11 | — | SE 6 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
| kJ | — | 129 | — | — | — | 29 | 41 | — | 49 | 46 | — | 2 | 2 | — | 42 | 56 | 64 | 69 | 67 | 46 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 9 | E 9 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 6 | S 7 | S 7 | S 6 | S 6 | SSW 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | — | — | SSW 3 | — | — | SSE 8 |
| kJ | 211 | 335 | 295 | 240 | 176 | 46 | 78 | 64 | 17 | 10 | 53 | 33 | 26 | 42 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 51 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 549 | 549 | 536 | 549 | 378 | 332 | 82 | 348 | 501 | 9 | 377 | 251 | 22 | 817 | 284 | 946 | 30 | 110 | 110 | 501 |
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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