South Carolina
Not the most exciting day — 2-3ft and very poor conditions with 13mph out of the ENE.
Not the most exciting day — 2-3ft and very poor conditions with 13mph out of the ENE.
Best window·Friday 8AM–11AM·2-3ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at South Washout, 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 Very Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on SE swell at 9s and 13mph out of the ENE. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3+ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Midday is the call — 2-3ft waves with gentle S breeze and fair conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on S swell at 5s with moderate WSW wind around 11mph. The SSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 16mph and very poor by then.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 4s period, rated Very Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on SSE swell at 4s with 13mph N winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 17mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Mon, Sep 7: 3–4ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 3-4ft and very poor with 24mph out of the ENE.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Very Poor today — get one free email when South Washout turns Good.
Check South Washout from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
South Washout is a mellow beach break on South Carolina's coast that picks up swell from northwestern directions, making it an excellent choice when Atlantic swells wrap around the barrier islands. The sandy bottom and gradual beach slope create forgiving, rolling waves perfect for learning or improving your skills without intensity. This relatively undiscovered spot offers a peaceful surf session with minimal crowds and plenty of room to practice your technique.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at South Washout is 2-3ft with a 8.9s swell period. Wind is E at 13mph. Conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at South Washout is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.3ft ESE 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 South Washout is Friday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 3ft waves, a 6.9s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
South Washout 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 South Washout. 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.
South Washout is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. South Washout is a mellow beach break on South Carolina's coast that picks up swell from northwestern directions, making it an excellent choice when Atlantic swells wrap around the barrier islands. The sandy bottom and gradual beach slope create forgiving, rolling waves perfect for learning or improving your skills without intensity. This relatively undiscovered spot offers a peaceful surf session with minimal crowds and plenty of room to practice your technique.
The prime season at South Washout 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 South Washout include occasional strong currents, shallow areas during low tide. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our South Washout 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).
