Surf Forecasts:
Holden Beach surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 5s period, SSW swell with 57 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s 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 1.1m 5s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Holden Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's break down what we’ve got for the next couple of weeks at Holden Beach.
To be straight with you, it’s a tough outlook. For the first week and a half, we’re looking at a long, flat spell. From right now through the end of August and into the first couple days of September, the wave energy is just not there. We’re seeing swell heights barely bumping up to 3 ft, and when it does show, it’s short-period junk from the S or SSW. The combined energy stays in the weak range (26 to 264), and the comment on just about every session is "poor surf conditions." The wind is mostly cross-on or onshore, chopping things up. There’s a standout morning on Tuesday, 25 August, with glassy conditions and a nice 1 ft SE swell at 11 seconds, but the energy is still low at 56, and the wave comment still says poor. It promises clean surf but just not enough push.
We finally get a flicker of hope on the morning of Thursday, 3 September. A solid 4 ft swell from the SE, packed with a long 15-second period, delivers a combined energy of 475 – that’s moderate wave energy starting to show its teeth. The wind is a clean offshore from the NNW at 9 mph. That’s the best we’ll see, but the score is only a 2 out of 10. It’s rideable for the experienced lot, and that long period (15s) will be best at the points, as it'll be a bit straight for a beach break. The water temp is about 85 °F, which is a touch warmer than normal this time of year.
Friday morning, 4 September, continues the theme with a 3 ft SE swell, 14-second period, and glassy winds from the NNW. Combined energy drops to 232. It’s the last little surge before we fade back into the small stuff for the rest of the second week. By the 5th and 6th, we’re back down to knee-high dribble with clean winds but no grunt.
Honestly, Holden Beach remains a beginner-friendly spot, but this stretch is a long wait. The one or two decent mornings on the 3rd and 4th of September are your best bet for a surfable wave, with that offshore wind making the most of it. Before that, it’s a long gap of nearly ten days with nothing recommended. For the rest of the period after the 4th, it’s back to small, clean but weak conditions. For an exposed beach break with this set-up, it looks more suited for a kite session than a paddle session most of the time.
Stay patient, keep an eye on the charts. Sometimes these flat spells break quicker than we think.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Mon night. Warm (max 30°C on Mon afternoon, min 26°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 30°C on Fri afternoon, min 24°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | |||||||||||||||
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 12 | S 5 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 4 | S 5 | SE 9 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 22 | 21 | 19 | 29 | 28 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 20 | 23 | 22 | 57 | 36 | 35 | 28 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 27 | 24 | 20 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:43PM1.42m | 5:49AM1.18m | 6:25PM1.46m | 6:34AM1.24m | 7:05PM1.50m | 7:17AM1.32m | 7:44PM1.52m | 8:00AM1.38m | 8:22PM1.52m | 8:42AM1.44m | 9:01PM1.49m | 9:25AM1.49m | 9:42PM1.45m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:21AM0.32m | 00:18AM0.42m | 12:06PM0.28m | 00:56AM0.36m | 12:48PM0.25m | 1:31AM0.31m | 1:29PM0.22m | 2:05AM0.26m | 2:10PM0.20m | 2:39AM0.22m | 2:52PM0.20m | 3:14AM0.19m | 3:35PM0.22m | 3:51AM0.17m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | |  | | | | | | |  | | | | |  | |
 | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — |
 | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:40 | — |
mm | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | — | 2 | 3 | — | 2 | — | 1 | 17 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 3 | 3 | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 |
Feels °C | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | S 4 | SE 11 | SE 10 | S 5 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 3 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 18 | 17 | 7 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 27 | 24 | 20 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | S 9 | SE 8 | SE 11 | SE 10 | E 7 | SE 9 | E 16 | E 15 | ESE 8 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | E 10 | SE 6 | E 10 | S 3 | — | — |
| kJ | 22 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 28 | 1 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 6 | SE 9 | SE 11 | SE 11 | E 7 | — | — | E 16 | — | SE 14 | S 6 | — | — | — | — | — | E 10 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | 3 | 19 | 29 | 1 | — | — | 5 | — | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 5 | S 4 | — | S 5 | S 5 | — | S 5 | S 4 | S 5 | S 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | — | SSW 3 | SSW 3 |
| kJ | — | 21 | 18 | — | 11 | 10 | — | 10 | 20 | 23 | 22 | 57 | 36 | 35 | 28 | 15 | 9 | 7 | — | 1 | 3 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 284 | 552 | 284 | 159 | 284 | 112 | 112 | 1256 | 505 | 377 | 319 | 29 | 82 | 658 | 505 | 308 | 969 | 552 | 793 | 786 | 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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