South Carolina
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.
Sat, May 16: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with glassy conditions. Afternoon breeze fills in to 14mph.
Sun, May 17: 1–2ft, 4s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with light winds out of the WSW. Afternoon breeze fills in to 15mph.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and very poor with barely a breath of wind. Afternoon breeze fills in to 10mph.
Tue, May 19: 0–1ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 9mph.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 12mph.
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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 7.25s swell period. Wind is SW at 4mph 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 Myrtle Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.2ft SE primary swell at 7s, a 0.8ft S wind swell swell at 3s. 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 Wednesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 8.35s 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
