Isle of Palms Pier Surf Break

Lat Long: 32.80° N 79.73° W

Isle of Palms Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 pm 16 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Isle of Palms Pier sea temperature is
29.1° C
1.0° 

Isle of Palms Pier surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Isle of Palms Pier surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 5s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 5s period, S swell with 53 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 5s period with SW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Isle of Palms Pier this week:

The surf forecast for Isle of Palms Pier over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Isle of Palms Pier in the next 16 days are 1.0m 5s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 2AM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Wed 19th Aug)3.5ft (1.0m) 5s
Best Surf 5AM (Wed 19th Aug)3.5ft (1.0m) 5s
Most Powerful 2AM (Sat 22nd Aug)3.5ft (1.0m) 5s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Isle of Palms Pier over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, it’s Rusty here, and I’m looking at what we’ve got for the next couple of weeks at Isle of Palms Pier. Honestly, I’ve gotta be straight with you—this is a tough one. Surf’s going to be pretty flat and pretty sloppy for the bulk of the 16 days, with almost nothing worth paddling out for.

The pattern starts dull. From Monday the 17th right through to late in the month, we’re looking at tiny, weak scraps. Early on, the swell is barely 1 ft, mostly out of the SE, with energy readings sitting in the teens and twenties (13 to 57). The period is often short, around 5 to 8 seconds, which means weak, crumbly little waves. And the wind—it’s all over the shop but rarely helps. Most mornings have OK wind direction, but the swell is just too small to care. Afternoons get messy with moderate to fresh onshore breezes. It’s a stretch of “poor surf conditions” day after day.

For instance, Monday morning the 17th is glassy with a tiny 1 ft SE swell, 8 seconds, and a combined energy of just 13… that’s not even enough to feel. Tuesday and Wednesday mornings are tidy but still too small. By the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd, the swell bumps up to 2 ft to 2 ft, but it’s mostly from the S with a period of 4 to 5 seconds—chop city. The wind is cross-on and fresh, so it’s lumpy and ugly. Not a good look.

The best of a bad bunch shows up on Monday the 24th. A clean, clean morning with a glassy look and a 2 ft SE swell, but here’s the thing—the period jumps to 12 seconds, and the combined energy hits 60. That’s “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” It’s the first time we crack triple-digit energy, but it’s still only a 1 out of 10. For a beginner spot, waves that small are fine, but for anyone wanting a real wave, it’s a tough go.

Then on Wednesday the 26th morning, a risk of t-storms but also glassy conditions, with a 3 ft SSW swell, 5 seconds, and energy of 81—again, “surfable but very ordinary.” Still a 1 out of 10. That’s the biggest swell we see, but at 3 ft and 5 seconds, it’s just a mushy little bump.

After that, from the 27th onward, it’s a repeat of small, short-period S and SE swells, often cross-onshore or lumpy. By the 28th afternoon, we see combined energy jump to 148, but that’s with a 2 ft SE swell and 10-second period—decent potential, but with a cross-onshore wind and only a 0 rating. It’s not coming together.

The last day on the 1st of September is a write-off: fresh onshore wind, 2 ft, 5 seconds.

So here’s the deal. There is no stand-out session. No magic window. If you’re desperate and you’re a beginner, the mornings of the 24th or 26th offer the cleanest water and the best chance at a tiny, gentle wave, especially if you can handle the lack of push. But for anyone else, you’re better off waiting for a proper swell or a change in the weather pattern.

Keep an eye on the sky—things can flip.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 35°C on Tue afternoon, min 28°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 30°C on Wed night, min 24°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds.

Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
SE
8
0.3
SE
8
0.3
SE
8
0.3
SE
8
0.3
SE
8
0.4
SE
11
0.4
SE
10
0.4
SE
10
0.3
SE
9
0.3
SE
9
0.3
SE
8
0.5
S
5
0.6
S
4
0.5
S
5
0.7
S
5
1
S
5
0.5
S
5
0.7
S
4
0.6
S
5
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
9
9
9
10
11
30
26
24
13
13
11
12
11
11
20
53
14
14
16
Wind (km/h)
15
SW
5
SW
20
SSW
20
SW
10
W
25
SSW
15
SSW
5
W
20
S
15
SW
20
SSW
30
S
25
SW
20
SSW
30
SSW
10
ENE
15
WSW
25
SSW
25
SW
Wind State
cross
glassy
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross
glassy
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross
High Tide
11:44PM1.58m
12:28PM1.63m
00:28AM1.48m
1:16PM1.60m
1:13AM1.40m
2:04PM1.57m
2:01AM1.34m
2:55PM1.55m
2:52AM1.30m
3:47PM1.54m
3:46AM1.30m
4:41PM1.56m
4:41AM1.31m
Low Tide
5:40AM0.07m
6:15PM0.19m
6:22AM0.14m
7:09PM0.28m
7:07AM0.21m
8:04PM0.34m
7:55AM0.26m
9:00PM0.38m
8:46AM0.28m
9:55PM0.38m
9:39AM0.29m
10:46PM0.37m
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
thunderstorm
part cloud
clear
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:43
6:43
6:43
6:45
6:46
6:46
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:02
8:01
8:00
8:00
7:58
7:57
7:55
 mm
4
1
6
12
Temp °C
30
30
31
31
34
35
32
31
31
30
30
30
30
30
30
27
28
29
30
Feels °C
32
34
32
33
35
35
34
34
31
33
32
31
32
31
30
27
30
29
30
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Isle of Palms Pier Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Isle of Palms Pier provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Isle of Palms Pier can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Isle of Palms Pier 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 (Isle of Palms Pier) 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 Isle of Palms Pier 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.

Isle of Palms Pier is 21 km (13 miles) from the city of Mount Pleasant. If you plan a vacation in South Carolina, look for hotels and other accommodation in Mount Pleasant. Mount Pleasant has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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