South Carolina
Pretty quiet out there — 2-3ft and mostly very poor with 14mph out of the ENE.
Pretty quiet out there — 2-3ft and mostly very poor with 14mph out of the ENE.
Best window·Friday 7AM–10AM·2-3+ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Hunting Island, 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. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on ESE swell at 9s and 14mph out of the ENE. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3+ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3+ft waves on SE swell at 7s and light winds out of the SE. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SSE swell at 5s and moderate WSW wind around 8mph. Onshore flow builds through the day to 15mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 4s period, rated Very Poor. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on S swell at 4s with 10mph from the WNW. Onshore flow builds through the day to 16mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Mon, Sep 7: 3–4ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 2-3ft and very poor conditions with strong ENE wind at 20mph. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 24mph.
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 Hunting Island turns Good.
Check Hunting Island from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Hunting Island offers mellow, rolling beach breaks along South Carolina's mid-coast, making it an ideal spot for learning surfers and those seeking a more relaxed session. The sandy bottom and gradual slope create forgiving, fun waves that work best during fall swells when Atlantic storms send consistent NW-facing waves to the beach. This protected barrier island spot tends to stay less crowded than nearby breaks, providing plenty of space to practice and progress.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Hunting Island is 2-3ft with a 9s swell period. Wind is ENE at 14mph. 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 Hunting Island is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.7ft 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 Hunting Island is Friday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 3ft waves, a 7s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Hunting Island works best with a SE 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 Hunting Island. 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.
Hunting Island is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Hunting Island offers mellow, rolling beach breaks along South Carolina's mid-coast, making it an ideal spot for learning surfers and those seeking a more relaxed session. The sandy bottom and gradual slope create forgiving, fun waves that work best during fall swells when Atlantic storms send consistent NW-facing waves to the beach. This protected barrier island spot tends to stay less crowded than nearby breaks, providing plenty of space to practice and progress.
The prime season at Hunting Island 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 Hunting Island include occasional strong rip currents, jellyfish in summer months, sharp shells in sand. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Hunting Island 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).
