South Carolina
Aim for the middle of the day — 1-2ft on SE swell at 9s with 8mph from the SSE.
Aim for the middle of the day — 1-2ft on SE swell at 9s with 8mph from the SSE.
Best window·Monday 6AM–9AM·2-3ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Dunes Cove, 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 Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on SE swell at 9s and moderate SSE wind around 8mph. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on SSE swell at 6s and 10mph SSW winds. The S wind kicks in by afternoon — 16mph and very poor by then.
Sat, Sep 5: 0–1ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with 13mph from the WSW. Afternoon breeze fills in to 22mph.
Sun, Sep 6: 0–1ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with moderate N wind around 8mph. Expect the wind to bump up to around 18mph by PM.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. The sweet spot is around midday — 2-3ft waves, 19mph out of the NE, fair conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor today — get one free email when Dunes Cove turns Good.
Check Dunes Cove from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Dunes Cove is a forgiving sandy beach break located along South Carolina's central coast, offering consistent small to medium waves ideal for learning and progression. The NW-facing break works best with northeast Atlantic swells during fall and winter months when cold fronts generate quality wave trains. Protected by natural dune formations and backed by quieter residential areas, this spot delivers mellow, peeling waves with plenty of room to spread out.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Dunes Cove is 1-2ft with a 8.8s swell period. Wind is SSE at 8mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Dunes Cove is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.7ft SE 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 Dunes Cove is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 5.5s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Dunes Cove works best with a NE swell and NW 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 Dunes Cove. 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.
Dunes Cove is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Dunes Cove is a forgiving sandy beach break located along South Carolina's central coast, offering consistent small to medium waves ideal for learning and progression. The NW-facing break works best with northeast Atlantic swells during fall and winter months when cold fronts generate quality wave trains. Protected by natural dune formations and backed by quieter residential areas, this spot delivers mellow, peeling waves with plenty of room to spread out.
The prime season at Dunes Cove 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 Dunes Cove include occasional rip currents, shallow sandbars at low tide. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Dunes Cove 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).
