Surf Forecasts:
Holden Beach surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 29 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 7s period, S swell with 196 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 29 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 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 Wednesday (Jul 29) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 6s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Holden Beach in the next 16 days are 1.5m 7s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Holden Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey folks, Rusty here. Gotta level with you – this is a tough one. Over the next 16 days at Holden Beach, we’ve got no real surf on offer. It’s a long stretch of small, weak, onshore junk. Let me break it down.
Starting Sunday the 26th: a tiny 2ft SE windswell with a short 8-second period. Combined energy is a weak 33. South wind at 9 mph keeps it bumpy. Water temp is 85°, which is about average for the time of year.
Monday and Tuesday: even smaller. Swell drops to 1ft, same short period, energy in the teens and twenties. Winds stay onshore or cross-onshore. Poor conditions across the board.
Wednesday the 29th morning finally offers something: 3ft from the SSW, period still short at 6 seconds, but the wind goes cross-offshore from the NW at 9 mph, cleaning it up. Energy is 64 – still weak. It’s surfable but very ordinary.
Best window is Thursday the 30th morning: 3ft from the south with a 7-second period and a clean offshore wind from the north at 9 mph. Energy is 70. Small but clean.
After that, it’s back to tiny waves and poor winds. Through the second week, swell never tops 4ft and combined energy barely gets above 100. By the weekend of August 9-10, you’re looking at 0.7ft waves and energy in the low teens. Nothing to chase.
Truth is, there’s no standout here. The best call is Thursday morning the 30th when the offshore wind gives you a clean 3ft wave. For an area with mostly inconsistent breaks, a long run of no surf isn’t out of the ordinary. Forecasts can shift, but right now? I’d find something else to do.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 30°C on Tue afternoon, min 26°C on Sun afternoon). Winds increasing (calm on Sun night, fresh winds from the SW by Tue night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sat morning. Warm (max 34°C on Wed afternoon, min 24°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | S 6 | S 7 | S 7 | SE 7 | SSE 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SSE 7 | S 6 | S 5 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 31 | 30 | 15 | 20 | 15 | 23 | 17 | 143 | 64 | 72 | 41 | 69 | 52 | 27 | 16 | 49 | 17 | 26 | 51 | 47 |
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 | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | on | on | cross-on | on | on |
High Tide | 6:16PM1.45m | 6:18AM1.14m | 6:58PM1.49m | 7:02AM1.19m | 7:38PM1.52m | 7:45AM1.23m | 8:16PM1.54m | 8:27AM1.28m | 8:54PM1.54m | 9:09AM1.31m | 9:32PM1.52m | 9:52AM1.34m | 10:10PM1.48m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:50AM0.41m | 12:32PM0.25m | 1:29AM0.37m | 1:13PM0.23m | 2:06AM0.34m | 1:53PM0.22m | 2:42AM0.31m | 2:32PM0.22m | 3:16AM0.29m | 3:12PM0.24m | 3:50AM0.27m | 3:52PM0.27m | 4:25AM0.25m | |||||||
 |  | |  |  |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — |
 | 8:17 | — | — | 8:16 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:13 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 7 |
Temp °C | 27 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 34 | 31 | 28 | 32 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 27 |
Feels °C | 28 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 33 | 33 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | — | SSW 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 7 | S 7 | SE 7 | SSE 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SSE 7 | S 6 | SE 7 |
| kJ | 31 | 30 | 15 | 20 | 15 | 23 | 17 | — | 64 | 51 | 41 | 69 | 52 | 27 | 16 | 49 | 17 | 26 | 51 | 13 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 4 | SSW 4 | SSE 5 | — | SSE 5 | SSW 5 | E 6 | — | — | E 6 | SE 7 | E 8 | E 8 | S 6 | SSW 5 | E 9 | SE 7 | SSW 5 | — | E 7 |
| kJ | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 6 | — | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 4 | SSW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | E 5 | E 6 | — | — | — | — | E 9 | — | E 8 | SSW 6 | S 8 | — | SE 9 | E 7 | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | S 5 | — | SSW 4 | SSW 6 | NW 3 | SSW 6 | — | N 3 | — | SW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | S 5 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 13 | — | 10 | 143 | 2 | 72 | — | 1 | — | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | 47 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 273 | 284 | 332 | 827 | 957 | 826 | 951 | 563 | 0 | 29 | 29 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 140 | 407 | 327 | 388 | 810 | 826 |
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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