Isle of Palms Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the next 16 days for Isle of Palms Pier. Gotta be straight with you – it’s a lean stretch. There’s nothing on offer for the first few days, and honestly, the whole run looks like a tough one. We’ve got a long gap of flat or junk conditions right through to the end of August and into the first week of September. The only whisper of something interesting shows up way out in the second week, and even that’s a long shot.

The water temp is about 84°, which is right around average for this time of year, so you won’t need a thick suit.

For the first week, from Thursday the 27th through to Monday the 7th of September, it’s all tiny, weak waves. The energy is super low – mostly in the teens or twenties (24–60 for the combined energy). We’ve got a mix of cross-onshore breezes and occasional glassy mornings, but the swell is barely there at 0.7 ft to 2 ft and short periods (4–9 seconds). It’s just not worth paddling out. There’s a couple of glassy windows on the 28th morning and the 1st morning, but with swell at 1 ft and 1 ft, you’re looking at ankle-biters.

The best shot – and I’m using that word loosely – is on Wednesday the 9th of September. We get a clean, glassy morning with a 1 ft southeast swell, period bumping up to 12 seconds (groundswell). Combined energy hits 85, which is still weak, but it’s the most organised we’ll see. That long period means better-shaped waves, but at this size, it’s really only for the longboard or the foamie. The break is a beach/pier setup, which can be a bit tricky with long-period swell – it might close out straight, but with clean conditions it could offer a few fun runners. It’s beginner-friendly at this height. Crowds are sometimes an issue here, so you might have company.

After that, the 10th morning offers a clean window with WSW winds and 2 ft swell, period 10 seconds, energy at 103. That’s the highest energy of the whole run, but still modest. It’s surfable but ordinary, as the notes say. The afternoon on the 10th gets blown out by a fresh 19 mph southwesterly – that’s more kite-surfing weather than paddling.

The standout, if you can call it that, is the morning of the 9th. Glassy, clean, longest period we get. It’s the only time the stars align even a little. If you’re desperate, that’s your window. For the rest of it, save your energy.

Rusty.

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