Surf Forecasts:
Holden Beach surf forecast from 11 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 11 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 11 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 6s period, SSW swell with 193 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 11 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s 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 Saturday (Jul 11) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Holden Beach in the next 16 days are 1.7m 6s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 11) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 12) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sat 11th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Sat 11th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sat 11th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Holden Beach over the next 16 days.
Alright, this is Rusty checkin’ in from right here at Holden Beach. It’s a quiet stretch ahead, so let’s get into it.
To be straight with you, the next 16 days are looking pretty grim for Holden Beach. For a spot that’s an exposed beach break, we’re just not getting any decent swell energy moving in. The water’s sitting at a balmy 85°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least the swims will be nice, but the surf? Barely a ripple for almost the whole period. We’ve got a gap that stretches nearly all the way through until the 20th of July with no real recommendations at all. There’s nothing to get excited about.
The first time we see even a hint of something is on Monday the 20th of July, in the morning. The combined energy of all swells directed here is barely ticking over at 102, which is just weak, and the swell is a tiny 4 ft out of the SSW with a short period of just 7 seconds. There’s no wind, conditions are glassy, but the comment says it best: “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” Still, for this stretch, that’s the best we get. It’s the only real standout, and that’s only because everything else is a zero.
After that, it’s right back to poor conditions. We get a clean moment on the morning of Wednesday the 22nd with glassy conditions and a tiny 1 ft swell, but it’s barely breaking. Then on the morning of Thursday the 23rd, there’s a little bump with clean cross-off winds and 3 ft swell from the SSW, 71 combined energy. “Surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” That’s the other faint pulse. The rest of the time it’s onshore winds, tiny chop, and just plain poor.
Look, when it’s this flat and inconsistent for this long, it’s not a surprise for a beach break like this in the summer. It won’t stay poor forever, forecasts can flip, but right now there is no real wave to chase. Don’t bother paddling out unless you just want to sit in the warm water.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 27mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 32°C on Sat afternoon, min 23°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Sat night, calm by Mon morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 31°C on Thu morning, min 24°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | SW 6 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SSW 5 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 59 | 117 | 95 | 25 | 23 | 32 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 26 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 51 | 33 | 36 | 47 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 5:32PM1.70m | 5:42AM1.30m | 6:30PM1.77m | 6:41AM1.35m | 7:26PM1.82m | 7:38AM1.40m | 8:19PM1.83m | 8:34AM1.44m | 9:11PM1.79m | 9:30AM1.46m | 10:01PM1.72m | 10:24AM1.47m | 10:50PM1.62m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:56AM0.08m | 00:06AM0.25m | 11:55AM0.01m | 1:01AM0.18m | 12:52PM-0.04m | 1:53AM0.13m | 1:47PM-0.06m | 2:44AM0.11m | 2:41PM-0.04m | 3:33AM0.10m | 3:35PM0.02m | 4:21AM0.11m | 4:29PM0.11m | ||||||||
 | |  | | |  | | | |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — |
 | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:22 | — |
mm | — | — | 9 | — | — | 12 | — | — | 6 | 1 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 |
Temp °C | 30 | 32 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 29 |
Feels °C | 30 | 32 | 29 | 30 | 32 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 33 | 31 | 32 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 34 | 34 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SSE 9 | SW 6 | SSW 6 | SE 10 | SSW 5 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 12 | 8 | 95 | 25 | 23 | 32 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 26 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | SE 7 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SSW 5 | E 4 | E 8 | SSW 5 | E 7 | E 6 | E 7 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | — | E 6 | E 6 | E 7 |
| kJ | 1 | 2 | 13 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 4 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | E 8 | E 8 | — | E 4 | E 8 | SSW 5 | E 7 | SSW 4 | S 5 | S 4 | — | — | E 7 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | NW 4 | — | S 6 | NW 3 | SSE 3 | S 5 | — | ENE 3 | — | — | — | SSW 5 | SSW 3 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 |
| kJ | 59 | 117 | 20 | — | 23 | 2 | 2 | 14 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 4 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 51 | 33 | 36 | 47 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 30 | 1601 | 30 | 112 | 168 | 30 | 112 | 82 | 9 | 82 | 1673 | 82 | 284 | 831 | 332 | 312 | 951 | 513 | 110 | 766 | 9 |
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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