North Carolina
Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 1-2ft with 9mph SSE winds.
Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 1-2ft with 9mph SSE winds.
Best window·Monday 6AM–9AM·2-3+ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Holden Beach, North 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 9mph from the SSE. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and very poor conditions with moderate SW wind around 12mph.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 4s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and very poor with 12mph from the W.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on S swell at 5s with light NNE winds. The E wind kicks in by afternoon — 13mph and very poor by then.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on E swell at 5s with 11mph NE winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 17mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
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 Holden Beach turns Good.
Check Holden Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Holden Beach is a classic Carolina beach break on a south-facing barrier island that picks up S and SE swells from tropical systems and frontal passages. The sandy bottom and gradual beach slope create consistent, mellow conditions with plenty of room to spread out. Best during fall when Atlantic storms deliver fun, accessible waves.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Holden Beach is 1-2ft with a 8.8s swell period. Wind is SSE at 9mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Holden Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.4ft SE primary swell at 9s, a 0.5ft SSE wind swell swell at 2s. 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 Holden Beach is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 5.4s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Holden Beach works best with a S 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 Holden 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.
Holden Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Holden Beach is a classic Carolina beach break on a south-facing barrier island that picks up S and SE swells from tropical systems and frontal passages. The sandy bottom and gradual beach slope create consistent, mellow conditions with plenty of room to spread out. Best during fall when Atlantic storms deliver fun, accessible waves.
The prime season at Holden 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 Holden Beach include occasional rip currents, summertime crowds. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Holden 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).
