South Carolina
Aim for the middle of the day — 1-2ft on SE swell at 9s with moderate SE wind around 7mph.
Aim for the middle of the day — 1-2ft on SE swell at 9s with moderate SE wind around 7mph.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Litchfield Beach for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Litchfield Beach, 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: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on SE swell at 9s with 7mph SE winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on SSE swell at 6s with light SSW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 17mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on S swell at 5s and moderate WSW wind around 11mph. Onshore flow builds through the day to 22mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on SSE swell at 5s with moderate NNE wind around 11mph. The E wind kicks in by afternoon — 16mph and very poor by then.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3+ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 2-3+ft waves and very poor conditions with strong ENE wind at 24mph.
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 Litchfield Beach turns Good.
Check Litchfield Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Litchfield Beach is a mellow, sand-bottomed beach break located along South Carolina's Grand Strand, offering forgiving waves perfect for learning and progressing. The spot faces southwest and picks up solid swell during Atlantic storm systems and hurricane season, with consistent peeling waves across a wide beach. This uncrowded gem provides plenty of space to paddle out and work on technique in a relaxed, family-friendly environment.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Litchfield Beach is 1-2ft with a 8.9s swell period. Wind is SE at 8mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Litchfield Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.5ft 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 Litchfield Beach is Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 6.2s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Litchfield Beach works best with a ESE swell and WNW 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 Litchfield 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.
Litchfield Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Litchfield Beach is a mellow, sand-bottomed beach break located along South Carolina's Grand Strand, offering forgiving waves perfect for learning and progressing. The spot faces southwest and picks up solid swell during Atlantic storm systems and hurricane season, with consistent peeling waves across a wide beach. This uncrowded gem provides plenty of space to paddle out and work on technique in a relaxed, family-friendly environment.
The prime season at Litchfield 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 Litchfield Beach include occasional strong currents, seasonal undertow. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Litchfield 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).
