Surf Forecasts:
Isle of Palms Pier surf forecast from 4 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 5 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 5s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 9s period, SE swell with 123 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 5s period with S 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 Saturday (Sep 05) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 8s 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 0.9m 9s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Isle of Palms Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about the surf at Isle of Palms Pier.
Okay, the outlook for the next couple of weeks is a bit of a tough one. To be straight with you, the whole 16-day window is looking flat and pretty disappointing. From the first recommendation on the 4th of September right through to the 19th, there’s just nothing worth getting excited about. It’s a long, dry spell ahead.
We start off Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th with tiny, weak swell, 1ft to 2ft from the southeast, and the wind is a problem. It’s a messy cross-onshore breeze, making for poor surf conditions. The combined energy is weak (67 on Friday morning, dropping to 35 on Saturday), and you’re looking at short-period, wind-affected slop.
Sunday the 6th shows a slight improvement with a clean window in the morning thanks to a light west-northwest cross-offshore wind, but the swell is still tiny at 2ft from the south, with an energy reading of just 27. It’s barely breaking.
The whole of the following week, from the 7th to the 13th, is dominated by strong easterly and northeasterly winds, often 15 to 22 mph, creating a lumpy, choppy mess. The swell heights rarely get above 3ft, and the periods are short, so the quality is just not there. The combined energy during this period is weak, hovering in the teens and twenties. On the 13th, we see a 3ft easterly swell (68 energy), but the period is a dreadful 5 seconds and the wind is a moderate cross-shore, so it’ll be a bumpy, gutless close-out.
There’s a brief moment on the morning of Thursday the 10th with a tiny 0.7ft swell and an easterly cross-breeze, but it’s not enough to paddle for.
The second week doesn’t get any better. From the 14th to the 19th, it’s the same story: small, weak swells, mostly from the southeast, with persistent cross-shore or onshore winds. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
Truth be told, this setup looks more promising for a kite session than a paddle surf. The strong, consistent onshore winds and small, choppy waves are a kiter’s dream, but for a surfer, there’s nothing to chase. The pier is inconsistent at the best of times, and this forecast is a real bummer. Don’t hold your breath; forecasts can change, but for now, keep the boards in the garage.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Sun morning, min 26°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 37mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 27°C on Mon afternoon, min 23°C on Sun night). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | ||||||||||||||
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 | S 5 | SE 8 | S 3 | S 4 | S 5 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | ESE 9 | ENE 4 | E 6 | E 8 | E 4 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 4 | ESE 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 123 | 41 | 32 | 19 | 16 | 7 | 13 | 15 | 24 | 17 | 8 | 18 | 50 | 76 | 30 | 53 | 45 | 27 | 15 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 1:32AM1.43m | 2:15PM1.73m | 2:41AM1.41m | 3:26PM1.75m | 3:53AM1.43m | 4:35PM1.78m | 5:03AM1.48m | 5:40PM1.82m | 6:07AM1.57m | 6:38PM1.86m | 7:05AM1.66m | 7:29PM1.88m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:32AM0.12m | 8:40PM0.33m | 8:39AM0.12m | 9:48PM0.30m | 9:47AM0.11m | 10:51PM0.25m | 10:52AM0.07m | 11:50PM0.18m | 11:54AM0.03m | 00:43AM0.11m | 12:52PM-0.01m | 1:33AM0.05m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | |  | |  | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — |
 | 7:40 | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:32 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | 13 | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 |
Feels °C | 31 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 34 | 32 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 8 | S 7 | ESE 8 | S 5 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | SE 9 | SSW 5 | S 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | — | — | — | ESE 10 | — | ESE 5 |
| kJ | 46 | 41 | 1 | 6 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 17 | 4 | 7 | 7 | — | — | — | 9 | — | 15 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 6 | ESE 8 | E 6 | SE 9 | SE 7 | — | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | S 5 | — | S 5 | SE 8 | — | SE 10 | — | ESE 9 |
| kJ | — | 26 | 26 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | — | 8 | 8 | 2 | — | 2 | 3 | — | 4 | — | 8 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SE 8 | — | SE 9 | SE 9 | — | — | E 8 | SE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 16 | — | 3 | 3 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | — | SE 8 | S 5 | — | S 3 | S 4 | S 5 | SSW 4 | — | NE 3 | ENE 4 | E 6 | E 8 | E 4 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 4 | — |
| kJ | 123 | — | 32 | 19 | — | 7 | 13 | 15 | 24 | — | 6 | 18 | 50 | 76 | 30 | 53 | 45 | 27 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 318 | 205 | 2185 | 78 | 271 | 2185 | 239 | 348 | 745 | 745 | 745 | 749 | 81 | 81 | 81 | 521 | 516 | 862 | 318 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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