Surf Forecasts:
Holden Beach surf forecast from 2 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 9s period, SE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 6 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 5s period, ESE swell with 82 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 3 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 9s 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 Thursday (Sep 03) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 9s 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 1.3m 5s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sun 6th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Holden Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let me tell you, it's a tough one for the next couple of weeks around Holden Beach. The swell is weak, the wind is mostly wrong, and honestly, I'm struggling to find a real reason to paddle out.
The whole 16-day window is a bit of a write-off. We're looking at a long stretch starting from the 2nd of September and running all the way through with nothing that's worth getting excited about. The combined swell energy is consistently low, mostly in the 20s to 80s, which is barely a ripple. The water temperature is sitting at a warm 83°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year, but that's about the only thing going for it.
Right from Wednesday the 2nd, we've got a S swell at 9 mph blowing onshore, making a mess of the tiny 2ft swell. That pattern just keeps repeating itself. The wind stays onshore or cross-onshore from the south and southwest for days, keeping the surface choppy and ugly. The swell height never gets above 4ft, and even then, the period is short and weak.
There are a couple of moments where the wind cleans up, like Sunday the 6th morning with a light offshore from the NNE, but the swell is a pathetic 3ft at a 4-second period. That's just windslop. Then on Monday the 7th morning, we get a bit of a bump to 3ft from the east with a cross-offshore breeze, but it's still nothing special. The energy is pathetic (64).
The best we can scrape together is probably the morning of Monday the 14th of September. It's glassy, and the swell is a tiny 2ft from the SE at 9 seconds. The water is glassy, but it's still just a dribble. The energy is only 55.
Honestly, for a beach break like Holden Beach, this setup is more interesting for a kite than a surfboard. The wind is consistent, and the waves are just too small and weak to offer any real ride. Don't bother wetsuiting up for this one, lads. Keep an eye on the charts, but for now, find another hobby.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Wed afternoon, min 25°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 31°C on Sat afternoon, min 23°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 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) | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | SE 4 | SE 4 | ESE 5 | E 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 79 | 57 | 65 | 50 | 46 | 45 | 17 | 10 | 12 | 17 | 22 | 18 | 24 | 71 | 48 | 74 | 82 | 56 | 33 | 26 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | glassy | cross | cross-on | on | off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 00:04AM1.26m | 12:51PM1.52m | 1:03AM1.22m | 1:54PM1.52m | 2:07AM1.19m | 3:00PM1.53m | 3:14AM1.21m | 4:04PM1.56m | 4:19AM1.26m | 5:04PM1.60m | 5:20AM1.34m | 5:59PM1.62m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:06PM0.34m | 6:07AM0.19m | 7:11PM0.38m | 7:08AM0.21m | 8:22PM0.40m | 8:16AM0.22m | 9:34PM0.38m | 9:28AM0.20m | 10:39PM0.33m | 10:36AM0.16m | 11:35PM0.27m | 11:37AM0.12m | 00:25AM0.20m | |||||||
 |  | | | | | | | | |  | |  |  |  | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — |
 | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 31 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 28 | 26 | 29 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 26 |
Feels °C | 33 | 31 | 33 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 32 | 29 | 28 | 31 | 28 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 5 | S 5 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 5 | SE 8 | — | SE 8 | SE 6 | SE 6 |
| kJ | 79 | 57 | 65 | 50 | 46 | 45 | 17 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 22 | 7 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 11 | — | 10 | 33 | 26 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | S 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 8 | — | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | — | SE 9 | S 5 | — | ESE 11 | E 10 | E 9 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 20 | 11 | 3 | 10 | — | 6 | 10 | 6 | — | 12 | 2 | — | 11 | 8 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | — | SE 9 | E 3 | SE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | E 10 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSE 3 | — | — | S 3 | — | S 6 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | — | SE 4 | SE 4 | ESE 5 | E 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | — | — |
| kJ | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | 15 | 8 | 12 | 17 | — | 18 | 24 | 71 | 48 | 74 | 82 | 56 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 319 | 30 | 110 | 332 | 308 | 514 | 733 | 274 | 1791 | 2170 | 836 | 168 | 827 | 593 | 645 | 599 | 0 | 110 | 293 | 491 |
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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