South Carolina
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Surfside 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, May 5: 0–1ft, 3s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with gentle S breeze. Afternoon breeze fills in to 12mph.
Wed, May 6: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with 9mph SSW winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 20mph by PM.
Thu, May 7: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSE swell at 6s with light WSW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 12mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Fri, May 8: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with moderate NNE wind around 8mph.
Sat, May 9: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with 7mph WSW winds.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Surfside Beach offers accessible, mellow beach breaks along South Carolina's Grand Strand, making it an ideal spot for beginners and intermediate surfers looking to build their skills. The sandy bottom provides soft landings and consistent peeling waves that work best during fall and winter swells, with the break facing northwest and responding well to northeastern Atlantic swells. This family-friendly destination features a wide beach with good amenities, though crowds can build during peak summer tourist season and holiday weekends.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Surfside Beach is 0-1ft with a 3.15s swell period. Wind is S at 10mph and 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 Surfside Beach is 0-1ft, produced by a 0.5ft ESE primary swell at 8s, a 1.1ft SSE 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 Surfside Beach is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 5.6s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Surfside 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 Surfside 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.
Surfside Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Surfside Beach offers accessible, mellow beach breaks along South Carolina's Grand Strand, making it an ideal spot for beginners and intermediate surfers looking to build their skills. The sandy bottom provides soft landings and consistent peeling waves that work best during fall and winter swells, with the break facing northwest and responding well to northeastern Atlantic swells. This family-friendly destination features a wide beach with good amenities, though crowds can build during peak summer tourist season and holiday weekends.
The prime season at Surfside 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 Surfside Beach include swimmers in peak season, rip currents in heavy swells. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Surfside 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.
