South Carolina
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Isle of Palms Pier, South Carolina. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sat, May 16: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with barely a breath of wind. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 12mph.
Sun, May 17: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with gentle S breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 12mph.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with light SSE winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 9mph by PM.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with gentle ESE breeze.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with light NW winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 12mph by PM.
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Isle of Palms Pier is a user-friendly beach break offering consistent, mellow waves suitable for learners and intermediate surfers. The sandy bottom provides soft landings and forgiving conditions, while the pier itself offers a convenient reference point and some protection from strong currents. Best during fall and winter swells when Atlantic storm systems send cleaner, longer-period waves toward this northeast-facing South Carolina coast.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Isle of Palms Pier is 1-2ft with a 7.15s swell period. Wind is ESE at 2mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Isle of Palms Pier is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.6ft SE primary swell at 7s. 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 Isle of Palms Pier is Wednesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 8.2s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Isle of Palms Pier 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 Isle of Palms 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.
Isle of Palms Pier is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Isle of Palms Pier is a user-friendly beach break offering consistent, mellow waves suitable for learners and intermediate surfers. The sandy bottom provides soft landings and forgiving conditions, while the pier itself offers a convenient reference point and some protection from strong currents. Best during fall and winter swells when Atlantic storm systems send cleaner, longer-period waves toward this northeast-facing South Carolina coast.
The prime season at Isle of Palms 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 Isle of Palms Pier include pier pilings, crowded beach area, occasional strong rip currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Isle of Palms 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
