South Carolina
Pretty quiet out there — 2-3ft and mostly very poor with 13mph ENE winds.
Pretty quiet out there — 2-3ft and mostly very poor with 13mph ENE winds.
Best window·Friday 8AM–11AM·2-3ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Folly Beach Pier, 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: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on SE swell at 9s with 13mph ENE winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Aim for the middle of the day — 2-3ft on SE swell at 7s with 7mph S winds. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on S swell at 5s with 9mph WSW winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 13mph from the SSW and dropping conditions to very poor.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 4s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on SSE swell at 4s with moderate NNW wind around 7mph. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 13mph from the E and dropping conditions to very poor.
Mon, Sep 7: 3–4ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 3-4ft and very poor with 16mph out of the ENE.
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 Folly Beach Pier turns Good.
Check Folly Beach Pier from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Folly Beach Pier is a classic East Coast beach break offering fun, forgiving waves ideal for learners and intermediate surfers. The sandy bottom and gentle beach setup create a welcoming environment, though the famous pier can add character and provide shelter from wind on certain conditions. This popular Charleston-area spot works best during fall when Atlantic swells arrive and crowds thin slightly compared to summer.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Folly Beach Pier is 2-3ft with a 8.9s swell period. Wind is E at 13mph. 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 Folly Beach Pier is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.3ft 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 Folly Beach Pier is Friday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 3ft waves, a 6.9s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Folly Beach Pier 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 Folly Beach Pier. 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.
Folly Beach Pier is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Folly Beach Pier is a classic East Coast beach break offering fun, forgiving waves ideal for learners and intermediate surfers. The sandy bottom and gentle beach setup create a welcoming environment, though the famous pier can add character and provide shelter from wind on certain conditions. This popular Charleston-area spot works best during fall when Atlantic swells arrive and crowds thin slightly compared to summer.
The prime season at Folly Beach Pier 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 Folly Beach Pier include pier structure, heavy crowds, strong currents near pier pilings. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Folly Beach Pier 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).
