South Carolina
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and poor with glassy conditions. Expect the wind to bump up to around 13mph by PM.
Wed, Jul 1: 2–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on ESE swell at 8s with light ENE winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 11mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Thu, Jul 2: 2–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2ft waves on ESE swell at 8s with light winds out of the N. The ESE wind kicks in by afternoon — 12mph and poor by then.
Fri, Jul 3: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with calm winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 11mph.
Sat, Jul 4: 1–1ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 1ft waves and very poor conditions with gentle WSW breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 14mph.
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 1ft with a 8.3s swell period. Wind is ENE at 8mph 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 1ft, produced by a 1.2ft ESE primary swell at 8s, a 1.4ft ENE wind swell swell at 4s. 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 Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 7.8s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
