South Carolina
Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with 7mph SSE winds.
Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with 7mph SSE winds.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Myrtle Beach for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Myrtle 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. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on SE swell at 9s with 7mph SSE winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on SSE swell at 6s with 8mph from the SSW. The S wind kicks in by afternoon — 16mph and very poor by then.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on S swell at 4s with 10mph WSW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 18mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on SSE swell at 5s with light N winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 14mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on E swell at 6s with strong NE wind at 14mph. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
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 Myrtle Beach turns Good.
Check Myrtle Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Myrtle Beach offers accessible beach break waves along South Carolina's Grand Strand, with a NW-facing orientation that picks up northeastern Atlantic swells effectively during autumn and winter months. The sandy bottom provides a forgiving learning environment for beginners, with peaks forming along the wide, developed shoreline that stretches for miles. As a popular tourist destination, expect consistent crowds and commercial development, but reliable, peeling waves during good swell windows.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Myrtle Beach is 1-2ft with a 8.9s swell period. Wind is SSE at 7mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Myrtle 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 Myrtle Beach is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 5.5s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Myrtle Beach works best with a NE 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 Myrtle 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.
Myrtle Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Myrtle Beach offers accessible beach break waves along South Carolina's Grand Strand, with a NW-facing orientation that picks up northeastern Atlantic swells effectively during autumn and winter months. The sandy bottom provides a forgiving learning environment for beginners, with peaks forming along the wide, developed shoreline that stretches for miles. As a popular tourist destination, expect consistent crowds and commercial development, but reliable, peeling waves during good swell windows.
The prime season at Myrtle 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 Myrtle Beach include heavy crowds, swimmers and tourists, jetties at nearby breaks. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Myrtle 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).
