Surf Forecasts:
Isle of Palms Pier surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 15 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 5s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 12s period, SE swell with 142 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 15 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 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 (Aug 15) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 5s. 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 0.7m 12s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 5s period and expected on Friday (Aug 14) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Isle of Palms Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you: the next 16 days for Isle of Palms Pier are looking pretty grim. The short version is, there's really nothing to get excited about for a surf. We've got a solid 16-day window, but the first recommendation for anything even close to surfable doesn't pop up until the 19th of August, and even then, it's a real struggle.
Right now, the water is sitting at 85°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. The energy in the water is weak, barely registering (5). The swell is tiny, mostly 0.3 ft from the SE, and the wind is all over the place. Wednesday morning the 12th is clean with a light W cross-off, but the swell is just too small. The afternoon gets messy with a 12 mph S cross-on wind chopping up the 1 ft waves. The whole first week is a write-off – tiny swells, short periods, and onshore winds ruining any chance of a wave.
We don't see any real improvement until the 19th of August (Wednesday morning). That's a full week away. We get a glassy morning with a risk of thunderstorms, and a 2 ft SE swell with a period of 11 seconds. The combined energy is still low (61). It's surfable, but the conditions are described as "very ordinary." The afternoon goes back to choppy onshore junk from the south.
The 20th of August (Thursday morning) is similar – glassy, 3 ft from the S, but the period is a weak 5 seconds, and energy is still low (62). It's a long wait for very average waves. The rest of the days are just more of the same: tiny swells, short periods, and cross-onshore winds. The best you'll find are those fleeting glassy mornings, but without any swell to back them up, it's a flat, clean ocean.
Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer with those consistent onshore breezes. For a wave, you're waiting on a prayer. The forecast can change, but as it stands, leave the board at home and go for a swim.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Wed night. Warm (max 31°C on Wed afternoon, min 26°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 34°C on Mon afternoon, min 27°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | ESE 8 | S 4 | SE 8 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | SSW 5 | S 5 | S 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 13 | SE 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 3 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 20 | 45 | 23 | 24 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 18 | 28 | 71 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | off | glassy | on | on |
High Tide | 8:14AM1.58m | 8:40PM1.88m | 9:08AM1.63m | 9:29PM1.84m | 10:00AM1.66m | 10:15PM1.77m | 10:51AM1.67m | 11:00PM1.68m | 11:40AM1.66m | 11:44PM1.58m | 12:28PM1.63m | 00:28AM1.48m | 1:16PM1.60m | 1:13AM1.40m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:01PM-0.14m | 2:45AM-0.06m | 2:54PM-0.13m | 3:32AM-0.07m | 3:45PM-0.08m | 4:15AM-0.04m | 4:35PM-0.00m | 4:58AM0.01m | 5:25PM0.09m | 5:40AM0.07m | 6:15PM0.19m | 6:22AM0.14m | 7:09PM0.28m | ||||||||
 | |  | | |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — |
 | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — |
mm | — | — | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 19 |
Temp °C | 29 | 31 | 30 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 34 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 30 |
Feels °C | 31 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 34 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 31 | 34 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 35 | 33 | 34 | 33 | 36 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | S 4 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | S 4 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | SE 9 | S 5 | S 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 4 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 12 |
| kJ | 1 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 21 | 3 | 12 | 7 | 10 | 16 | 3 | 10 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 71 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 6 | — | ESE 8 | — | SE 5 | SE 7 | — | — | SE 7 | — | SE 8 | SE 8 | — | — | SE 8 | — | E 7 | S 4 | SE 13 | S 4 |
| kJ | 3 | 1 | — | 6 | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | 7 | — | 3 | 10 | — | — | 10 | — | 4 | 3 | 7 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | E 6 | — | E 6 | — | SE 15 | SE 13 | — |
| kJ | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 8 | 28 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SW 4 | S 4 | S 4 | — | S 4 | S 4 | SSW 5 | S 5 | S 5 | — | S 4 | S 3 | — | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | — | SSE 4 | — |
| kJ | — | 6 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 9 | — | 9 | 20 | 45 | 23 | 24 | — | 6 | 3 | — | 6 | 6 | — | 4 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1680 | 2220 | 1695 | 1085 | 1714 | 1701 | 501 | 2344 | 78 | 78 | 1925 | 322 | 372 | 746 | 78 | 350 | 746 | 357 | 357 | 81 | 81 |
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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