Holden Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s talk about what’s happening at Holden Beach. Honest truth, the next couple of weeks are mostly a washout. We’ve got a long stretch of weak, choppy, ankle-high slop. There’s a little bump in the middle, but nothing that’s going to have you sprinting to the water. Let’s run through it.

Right now, through the 14th, it’s flat. Sunday the 13th has a cross-on breeze and a tiny 1ft southeast swell, weak energy. It’s messy. Monday the 14th cleans up with a light cross-offshore in the morning, but the swell is still tiny at 1ft and the period is short. You’re just floating out there.

Tuesday the 15th sees a slight bump to 4ft out of the east, but the period drops to a junky 6 seconds. That’s short-period windswell, and while the morning is clean with a cross-offshore, it’s not going to have any grunt. Wave energy is moderate, but quality is poor. Wednesday and Thursday are similar – small, short-period slop, with a brief glassy window Friday morning the 18th, but the swell is down to 2ft and weak.

Then we hit a real dead patch. From the 19th through the 21st, there’s nothing. Swell fades to around 1ft, and even with offshore winds, there are no waves to ride. It’s flat and frustrating.

The first real hint of something bigger arrives late on Monday the 22nd. The afternoon sees 5ft of east swell at 7 seconds, and energy jumps to 261 – that’s moderate to strong. Wind is a fresh cross-offshore, so it’ll be clean, but the short period means steep and crumbly. Tuesday morning drops a bit to 5ft, but the period is still short. Not a classic.

The standout window, if you can call it that, is Thursday the 24th. We’ve got 5ft out of the east, period at 6 seconds, and a moderate cross-offshore breeze all day. Energy’s at 185. It’s clean, but again, the short period is the issue. It’ll be a bit walled and soft, but it’s the most rideable we’ve seen. Then Friday the 25th brings a fresh offshore wind (30 km/h) and a smaller 4ft east swell with a slightly longer 8-second period. That’s your best bet for clean, punchy little waves. The offshore wind will hold it up nicely, and energy is 174 – decent.

After that, it fades again. Saturday the 26th has a morning pulse at 2ft with a fresh offshore, but it’s dropping fast. By Sunday the 27th, we’re back to 1ft dribble and onshore winds. Done.

For the one or two moments worth chasing, I’d say your best bets are Thursday the 24th and Friday the 25th. Thursday has the size at 5ft from the east, but Friday has the better wind and cleaner shape. Both are moderate energy, so don’t expect a full-blown session – but if you’re desperate, Friday morning looks the most fun.

Holden Beach is exposed to south swells, and this east-northeast windswell isn’t what it wants. It’s a beach break, so short-period swells like this tend to close out and break too straight. If you’re a beginner, anything over 5ft on Thursday could be a bit much. For the experts, it’s still weak. Water temp is about average for this time of year. Crowds won’t be an issue on a run like this – most folks will stay home. There’s a chance of thunderstorms on the 13th, 17th and 18th, so keep an eye on the sky.

Honestly, this is a pretty bleak forecast. We’ve got a long gap of nothing from the 18th to the 21st, and the only real pulse is that brief window around the 24th and 25th. If you’re a kitesurfer, the 22nd and 23rd with 5-5ft and strong cross-offshore winds might get your kite up, but for the paddle crew, it’s slim pickings. The surf isn’t great, but at least the winds are mostly clean.

I’ll keep watching, but for now, don’t waste the gas. Come back around the 24th if you want a few grovelly ones. This is Rusty, signing off.

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