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, SE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 8s period, SSW swell with 589 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 8 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 8s 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 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 2.3m 8s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) 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+) | 8AM (Sat 8th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sat 8th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Holden Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – the outlook for Holden Beach over the next 16 days is a tough one to write. There’s simply nothing worth paddling out for. The whole stretch from now through the 17th of August is a flat spell with barely a pulse.
The first few days, from the 2nd to the 5th, we’ve got a bit of windswell, but it’s weak and messy. On the 2nd, a SSE swell of 4ft with a short period of 6 seconds and onshore winds from the SSW at 16 mph just makes for a choppy, blown-out mess. The combined energy is only 101, which is barely a whisper. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing to write home about. Don’t even think about Sunday afternoon – the swell bumps to 5ft, but the wind stays onshore, and the period drops to a pathetic 6 seconds.
Monday the 3rd doesn’t get any better. A 6ft S swell with cross-onshore winds at 16 mph and a 7-second period? That’s just a washing machine. The energy climbs to 270, but it’s all wind-chop.
The rest of the first week is a slow bleed. Swell heights drop from 4ft down to 2ft by the 6th, with periods hanging around 5-7 seconds. The winds are mostly onshore or cross-onshore, keeping the surface bumpy. The combined energy drops from 139 down to 33 by Thursday morning. It’s just poor surf conditions, day after day.
The second week is a total write-off. From the 7th to the 17th, we’re looking at ankle-snappers to knee-high dribble. Swell heights hover between 1.0ft and 3ft, with periods rarely breaking 8 seconds. The combined energy sits in the teens and twenties for most of that time – 17, 19, 16, 18 – numbers that mean the ocean is practically asleep. There’s a little glimmer on the 12th with a NNW offshore breeze at 3 mph, but the swell is a pathetic 2ft from the SSW. Clean, sure, but flat.
Because the surf is so small and weak, combined with the onshore winds, this setup is honestly more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing if you’ve got a big kite and a twitchy finger.
Holden Beach is an inconsistent spot, and this run is a blank. For an area like this, a long stretch like this isn’t unheard of when the summer pattern shuts down. It’s a bummer, but forecasts can change. Right now, there’s nothing to chase.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 74mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 28°C on Tue afternoon, min 25°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Tue night. Warm (max 30°C on Fri afternoon, min 25°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | S 7 | SSW 8 | S 7 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 5 | SSE 5 | S 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 4 | S 5 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 28 | 101 | 225 | 589 | 270 | 213 | 188 | 95 | 82 | 66 | 55 | 43 | 27 | 22 | 29 | 36 | 42 | 53 | 91 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | on |
High Tide | 10:10PM1.48m | 10:36AM1.37m | 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 | ||||||
Low Tide | 4:25AM0.25m | 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 | |||||||
 |  | |  | | | | | |  | |  | | |  |  | | | | |
 | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — |
 | 8:13 | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — |
mm | 1 | 6 | 5 | 20 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 |
Feels °C | 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 33 | 32 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 7 | — | SE 8 | SE 7 | — | — | SE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 44 | — | 15 | 12 | — | — | 11 | 29 | 15 | 42 | 53 | 91 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 11 | E 9 | E 9 |
| kJ | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 10 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | S 7 | SSW 8 | S 7 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 5 | SSE 5 | S 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 4 | S 5 | SW 4 | SSE 6 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 28 | 101 | 225 | 589 | 270 | 213 | 188 | 95 | 82 | 66 | 55 | 43 | 27 | 22 | 5 | 36 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1230 | 1719 | 566 | 536 | 348 | 513 | 332 | 30 | 308 | 377 | 30 | 2034 | 501 | 804 | 1000 | 817 | 22 | 786 | 22 |
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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