South Carolina
Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly very poor with strong NE wind at 16mph.
Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly very poor with strong NE wind at 16mph.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Burkes Beach for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Burkes Beach, South Carolina. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. The sweet spot is around midday — 1-2ft waves, 16mph NE winds, poor conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on SE swell at 8s with gentle SSE breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the SSE and dropping conditions to very poor.
Sat, Sep 5: 0–1ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with 7mph WSW winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 11mph by PM.
Sun, Sep 6: 0–1ft, 8s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with 8mph WNW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 12mph.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and very poor with 16mph out of the NE. Afternoon breeze fills in to 22mph.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Very Poor today — get one free email when Burkes Beach turns Good.
Check Burkes Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Burkes Beach is a mellow, sandy beach break located on the South Carolina coast near Charleston, offering forgiving rollers that are perfect for learning surfers and those seeking a relaxed session. The beach faces west-northwest, picking up swell best from fall and winter Atlantic storm systems while remaining sheltered from the worst summer hurricanes. With its sandy bottom and gentle approach, this spot provides a stress-free environment to progress your skills without the intensity of more exposed breaks.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Burkes Beach is 1-2ft with a 9s swell period. Wind is ENE at 16mph. Conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Burkes Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 2ft ESE primary swell at 9s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Burkes Beach is Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 1ft waves, a 8s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Burkes Beach works best with a ESE swell and WNW winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Burkes Beach. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Burkes Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Burkes Beach is a mellow, sandy beach break located on the South Carolina coast near Charleston, offering forgiving rollers that are perfect for learning surfers and those seeking a relaxed session. The beach faces west-northwest, picking up swell best from fall and winter Atlantic storm systems while remaining sheltered from the worst summer hurricanes. With its sandy bottom and gentle approach, this spot provides a stress-free environment to progress your skills without the intensity of more exposed breaks.
The prime season at Burkes Beach is fall, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Burkes Beach include occasional rip currents, strong summer heat. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Burkes Beach forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable; extended forecasts show general trends. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
