Isle of Palms Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you. The next couple of weeks at Isle of Palms Pier are looking pretty flat and messy. We’ve got a long stretch of small, wind-affected swell and nothing that’s going to get the heart racing. The first real chance of something surfable doesn’t pop up until Thursday the 23rd of July, and even then, it’s more about just getting wet than scoring anything memorable.

The water temp is sitting at a warm 84°, which is about what you’d expect for this time of year.

The first highlight, and honestly the only one worth a proper mention, is the early session on Thursday the 23rd of July. We’ll see a 3ft south swell creeping in, with a period of 7 seconds. The wind is coming from the west at 9 mph, giving us a clean, cross-off breeze. The combined energy is moderate at 109, so there’s a little push in the water. It’s surfable, but the conditions are just ordinary. Not a standout, but it’s the only real window you’ve got. The break is exposed to the south swell, and the crowds can be around sometimes, so don’t expect a solo mission.

After that, the forecast drops back into the doldrums. There’s a glimmer of hope on the morning of Thursday the 30th of July, where we get a 3ft SSW swell with a 6-second period and glassy conditions from the ESE at 3 mph. The combined energy is exactly 100, so it’s right on the edge of being moderate. Again, it’s surfable but very ordinary. The wind is off, the surface is clean, but the swell is weak and short period.

For the rest of the 16 days, it’s a mix of tiny swell, strong cross-shore and cross-onshore winds, and a lot of lumpy, choppy water. The swell is mostly under 3ft, with periods between 4 and 8 seconds, and the combined energy stays low, often in the teens or 20s. Honestly, you’d be better off doing something else.

If you’re a beginner, the small stuff on the 23rd and 30th mornings might be manageable, but the lack of any real push and the ordinary shape means it’s not a great learning day either. For the experienced crew, there’s nothing here that’s going to get you out of bed.

Because the spot is a beach/pier setup and the swell is so weak with poor wind, this stretch looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer, if you’re into that sort of thing.

Rusty.

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