South Carolina
The sweet spot is around midday — 2-3ft waves, moderate E wind around 12mph, poor conditions.
The sweet spot is around midday — 2-3ft waves, moderate E wind around 12mph, poor conditions.
Best window·Friday 8AM–11AM·2-3+ft·Fair
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on SE swell at 9s and 12mph from the E. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3+ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Aim for the middle of the day — 2-3ft on SE swell at 7s with gentle S breeze. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. The sweet spot is around midday — 2-3ft waves, moderate WSW wind around 8mph, fair conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down. Afternoon wind picks back up so try to get wet before 2pm.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on S swell at 4s and 12mph from the N. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 18mph from the E and dropping conditions to very poor.
Mon, Sep 7: 3–4ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 3-4ft and mostly very poor with 23mph ENE winds.
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 Isle of Palms Pier turns Good.
Check Isle of Palms Pier from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 2-3ft with a 8.9s swell period. Wind is E at 12mph. 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 2-3ft, produced by a 2.6ft 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 Isle of Palms Pier is Friday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 3ft waves, a 6.8s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. 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. 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).
