
Surf Forecasts:
The Washout surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 21 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 23 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period, SSW swell with 134 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 21 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for The Washout this week:
The surf forecast for The Washout over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at The Washout in the next 16 days are 1.3m 6s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 23) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Washout over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I gotta be honest with you – it’s a bit of a dry spell. The Washout is the only game in town, and for the first week and a half, it’s looking pretty grim. We’ve got a long stretch from Saturday the 18th right through to Thursday the 23rd where the waves are just a mess. The swell is tiny, mostly under 3 ft, and the wind is a constant problem – cross-shore and cross-onshore, keeping things choppy and lumpy. The combined energy is weak, barely cracking 100 (21 to 177 in that period), so there’s just no power in the water. The water temperature is a touch warmer than normal (85°) for the time of year, but that’s about the only thing going for it.
Saturday morning the 1st of August finally shows a little glimmer. The Washout (beach/pier) is looking at a 2 ft swell from the SW with a period of 5 seconds. The wind goes glassy in the morning. The water temp is still warm, but the energy is still weak (44). It’s surfable, but it’s not going to light your fire. The crowds are “sometimes” here, so you might have a few others scratching around on these tiny waves.
Then, the real quiet period kicks in. The combined energy drops to 21 for the afternoon, and the swell gets even smaller. Sunday the 2nd of August brings a bit more hope with a 3 ft swell from the SSW, but the wind is offshore from the NW. That’s clean at least, and the energy is a little better (52), but it’s still a weak, short-period swell. It’s more of a longboard glide than a proper surf.
Honestly, the standout for the whole 16-day window is that glassy morning of August 1st. It’s the only time the stars align for a truly clean, surfable wave. But it’s small, weak, and the break is inconsistent. For the rest of the time, the wind is just too strong and the swell too weak to get excited about.
If you’re a kite surfer, you might be in luck on some of those windier afternoons, but for paddle surfing? We’re packing it in. That’s the reality of it for this stretch. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 30°C on Sat afternoon, min 27°C on Sun morning). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Thu afternoon. Warm (max 31°C on Wed afternoon, min 25°C on Fri morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Wed afternoon, light winds from the NNE by Thu night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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 | S 6 | SSW 6 | S 5 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 5 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SSW 6 | S 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
24 | 75 | 64 | 55 | 60 | 24 | 30 | 40 | 32 | 52 | 92 | 66 | 88 | 109 | 35 | 58 | 9 | 31 | 51 | 22 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 00:46AM1.75m | 1:31PM1.69m | 1:33AM1.63m | 2:22PM1.68m | 2:19AM1.53m | 3:12PM1.68m | 3:06AM1.45m | 4:02PM1.68m | 3:56AM1.40m | 4:53PM1.68m | 4:47AM1.37m | 5:42PM1.70m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:03PM0.01m | 6:33AM-0.02m | 6:58PM0.11m | 7:20AM0.04m | 7:56PM0.19m | 8:07AM0.09m | 8:53PM0.25m | 8:55AM0.13m | 9:50PM0.28m | 9:43AM0.16m | 10:43PM0.28m | 10:31AM0.16m | 11:34PM0.27m | |||||||
— | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | |
8:27 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:22 | — | |
mm | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 3 | — | — | 2 | — | 7 | 12 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 26 | 27 | 27 |
Feels °C | 31 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 32 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 34 | 23 | 23 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | — | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 6 | ESE 8 | — | S 6 | — | — | SE 8 | SE 10 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 6 | S 6 | SE 7 | E 6 | SE 8 |
3 | — | 6 | 2 | 2 | 24 | 6 | — | 32 | — | — | 28 | 4 | 18 | 10 | 24 | 9 | 17 | 18 | 22 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 6 | SE 8 | E 5 |
— | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 9 | 5 | 20 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 6 | S 5 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | S 6 | SSW 6 | S 5 | S 6 | — | S 6 | S 5 | — | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SSW 6 | ENE 3 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | — |
24 | 75 | 64 | 55 | 60 | — | 30 | 40 | — | 52 | 92 | 66 | 88 | 109 | 35 | 58 | 3 | 31 | 51 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2324 | 217 | 217 | 542 | 215 | 99 | 483 | 215 | 125 | 1414 | 114 | 302 | 556 | 238 | 99 | 0 | 292 | 302 | 717 | 201 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Carolina | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Information about the The Washout Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for The Washout provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at The Washout can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our The Washout 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 (The Washout) 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 The Washout 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.
The Washout is 7 km (4 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.










