Surf Forecasts:
Holden Beach surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 2 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 11s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 12s period, SE swell with 110 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 2 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 11s 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 Wednesday (Sep 02) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 4s. 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 0.6m 12s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Holden Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab a coffee and settle in, because this stretch of the coast is in a bit of a funk. We're looking at Holden Beach, and I gotta be straight with you – the next two weeks are a tough watch for any surfer who actually wants to paddle. We've got a massive gap at the start with nothing to recommend. It’s not until the second week that things finally start to look surfable, but even then, it’s nothing to write home about.
For the first ten days, from August 28th right through to September 6th, it’s a write-off. We’re talking about tiny swell, mostly around 1 ft to 2 ft, with periods all over the shop but mostly short and weak. The combined wave energy is in the gutter – we’re seeing numbers like 37 and even dropping to 13 (weak energy). It’s just flat and gutless. The winds are all over the place too, sometimes onshore, sometimes glassy, but with no swell to work with, it’s a non-starter.
Now, things finally try to wake up a little on September 8th. The morning brings a bit of a pulse. We’ve got a clean 3 ft swell from the SW, with a period of 5 seconds. It’s small and choppy period, but the wind is offshore and light – that’s clean. The water temp is sitting around 84°F, which is about 1°F warmer than normal for this time of year, so it feels pretty average. The combined energy (65) is still in the weak range, so it’s not powerful. It’s surfable, but just barely.
September 9th is probably the best we’ve got in this whole outlook. Wednesday morning brings a similar 3 ft swell from the SSW, with a 6-second period. The combined energy pushes up to 88 (still weak energy), but the real hero is the light offshore wind from the ENE. It’s clean, with a bit of shape, but don't get too excited. This is strictly for the longboard or the foamie crew.
September 10th morning is also worth a mention. We get that glassy early window with a light northerly wind and a 3 ft SSW swell. It’s clean, but again, the energy is weak at 97. If you’re desperate for a slide, that’s your window. The rest of the second week fades back into weak, onshore slop with no real standouts.
Look, Holden Beach is an inconsistent spot to begin with, so a blank run like this isn’t a total shock. The setup looks more interesting for a kite than a paddle for most of this period. Forecasts can change, but right now, we’re in a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Fri morning. Warm (max 29°C on Sun afternoon, min 24°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Mon morning. Warm (max 30°C on Mon afternoon, min 26°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 12 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 11 | 24 | 25 | 17 | 30 | 28 | 19 | 25 | 19 | 57 | 96 | 82 | 59 | 40 | 28 | 25 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | glassy | cross | cross | cross | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 8:22PM1.52m | 8:42AM1.44m | 9:01PM1.49m | 9:25AM1.49m | 9:42PM1.45m | 10:11AM1.51m | 10:25PM1.39m | 11:00AM1.53m | 11:12PM1.33m | 11:53AM1.52m | 00:04AM1.26m | 12:51PM1.52m | 1:03AM1.22m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:10PM0.20m | 2:39AM0.22m | 2:52PM0.20m | 3:14AM0.19m | 3:35PM0.22m | 3:51AM0.17m | 4:20PM0.25m | 4:31AM0.16m | 5:10PM0.29m | 5:16AM0.17m | 6:06PM0.34m | 6:07AM0.19m | 7:11PM0.38m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — |
 | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — |
mm | 6 | — | 4 | 2 | — | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 32 | 28 |
Feels °C | 28 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 33 | 30 | 33 | 33 | 30 | 33 | 32 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 33 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 12 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 15 | 10 | 12 | 18 | 18 | 11 | 24 | 25 | 17 | 30 | 28 | 19 | 25 | 19 | 57 | 96 | 82 | 59 | 40 | 28 | 25 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | E 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 15 | SSE 14 | SE 7 | — | — | — | — | E 6 | E 5 |
| kJ | 19 | 18 | 18 | 5 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 18 | 13 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 12 | — | E 11 | SSW 4 | S 4 | SSE 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 3 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 4 | SSE 5 | — | — | SSW 3 | WSW 3 | SSW 2 | SW 3 | SW 3 | SSW 3 | SSW 4 | SW 4 | SSW 3 | SW 4 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 9 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 21 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 327 | 552 | 82 | 159 | 159 | 949 | 312 | 2167 | 697 | 312 | 667 | 549 | 82 | 605 | 45 | 22 | 946 | 45 | 22 | 552 | 82 |
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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