Holden Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let's talk about Holden Beach. This is a tough one to call. The whole 16-day window is looking pretty flat, and the quality is just not there for a proper surf session. The water is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 85°.

We kick off on Friday, August 21st, and it's a real struggle. The morning has a risk of thunderstorms, with a tiny 1.0ft swell from the southeast. The energy is weak, barely registering 18 on the scale. The wind is light onshore, but it's just not enough to make anything of it. The afternoon sees the wind pick up to 12 mph from the south, but the swell stays pathetic. It's a write-off.

Saturday the 22nd is a bit of a tease. The swell bumps up to 3ft, but it's a super short-period 4 seconds from the south-southwest. The energy is still low at 45. The wind is light onshore in the morning, turning cross-onshore in the afternoon. It's messy and weak. You'd be better off with a cold drink than a surfboard.

Sunday the 23rd is the best of a bad bunch, but that's not saying much. The swell is around 3ft from the south-southwest, with a period of 6 seconds and energy hitting 71. The wind is light and cross-shore, which keeps it a little cleaner. But it's still poor surf conditions. It's barely rideable for a beginner.

The whole first week is a string of days with tiny, weak swells and onshore or cross-onshore winds. There's a long, flat stretch from the 24th to the 26th, where the swell drops back to 1.0ft-1ft. The energy is in the teens and twenties. Absolutely nothing to get excited about.

We get a little bump around Thursday, August 27th, with a 4ft swell from the south-southwest, but it's only 6 seconds and the wind is pumping onshore at 16 mph. The energy is moderate at 125, but it's going to be a choppy, blown-out mess. That's a kite-surfing setup, not a paddle-surfing one.

The following week, from the 31st of August right through to the 5th of September, the story is the same. Tiny waves, weak energy, and generally messy conditions. The one bright spot is Thursday, September 3rd, when the morning goes glassy with a 2ft swell. The period is a short 5 seconds, but at least it's clean. It's a tiny wave, but if you're desperate, that's your window.

The last day, Saturday, September 5th, is a return to the tiny 1.0ft, 8-second swell with light onshore winds. The energy is a measly 14 or 15. A total flop.

So, to be honest, there's nothing here that's a standout. The best on offer is that glassy morning on September 3rd, but it's still a very small wave. The rest of the period is a long, flat, and frustrating run for Holden Beach. It's just one of those times.

Rusty.

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