South Carolina
Afternoon is the play — morning is only very poor at 2-3ft.
Afternoon is the play — morning is only very poor at 2-3ft.
Best window·Friday 8AM–11AM·2-3ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Sullivan's Island, 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 Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on SE swell at 9s with 12mph ENE winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Midday is the call — 2-3ft waves with light winds out of the S and fair conditions. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on S swell at 5s and 9mph WSW winds. The SSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 17mph and very poor by then.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 4s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on SSE swell at 4s with 12mph from the N. Onshore flow builds through the day to 18mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Mon, Sep 7: 3–4ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 2-3+ft and very poor conditions with strong ENE wind at 23mph.
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 Sullivan's Island turns Good.
Check Sullivan's Island from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Sullivan's Island offers user-friendly beach breaks along South Carolina's Atlantic coast, where sandbars create fun, forgiving waves perfect for learners and intermediate surfers. The NW-facing orientation catches northeast swells efficiently, particularly during autumn when consistent Atlantic storms generate quality groundswell. With gentle sandy bottom and mellow wave shape, this spot rewards patience during smaller swells while remaining accessible even for those building their skills.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Sullivan's Island is 2-3ft with a 9s swell period. Wind is ENE at 12mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Sullivan's Island 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 Sullivan's Island is Friday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 2ft waves, a 6.9s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Sullivan's Island 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 Sullivan's Island. 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.
Sullivan's Island is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Sullivan's Island offers user-friendly beach breaks along South Carolina's Atlantic coast, where sandbars create fun, forgiving waves perfect for learners and intermediate surfers. The NW-facing orientation catches northeast swells efficiently, particularly during autumn when consistent Atlantic storms generate quality groundswell. With gentle sandy bottom and mellow wave shape, this spot rewards patience during smaller swells while remaining accessible even for those building their skills.
The prime season at Sullivan's Island 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 Sullivan's Island include strong currents near inlet, occasional rip tides, military installation proximity, sharp shells. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Sullivan's Island 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).
