South Carolina
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Isle of Palms Pier, South Carolina. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sun, May 10: 0–1ft, 3s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with light S winds.
Mon, May 11: 0–1ft, 12s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with moderate WSW wind around 7mph. Expect the wind to bump up to around 13mph by PM.
Tue, May 12: 3–4ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SE swell at 12s with 15mph out of the NNE. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Wed, May 13: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on ESE swell at 8s with 8mph from the E. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Thu, May 14: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with 7mph from the NW.
8s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Isle of Palms Pier is a user-friendly beach break offering consistent, mellow waves suitable for learners and intermediate surfers. The sandy bottom provides soft landings and forgiving conditions, while the pier itself offers a convenient reference point and some protection from strong currents. Best during fall and winter swells when Atlantic storm systems send cleaner, longer-period waves toward this northeast-facing South Carolina coast.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Isle of Palms Pier is 1-2ft with a 2.95s swell period. Wind is S at 13mph 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 Isle of Palms Pier is 1-2ft, produced by a 0.8ft ESE primary swell at 6s, a 0.5ft SE secondary swell at 13s, a 0.5ft SE tertiary swell at 8s, a 1.6ft SSW 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 Isle of Palms Pier is Wednesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 7.8s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Isle of Palms Pier 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 Isle of Palms Pier. 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.
Isle of Palms Pier is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Isle of Palms Pier is a user-friendly beach break offering consistent, mellow waves suitable for learners and intermediate surfers. The sandy bottom provides soft landings and forgiving conditions, while the pier itself offers a convenient reference point and some protection from strong currents. Best during fall and winter swells when Atlantic storm systems send cleaner, longer-period waves toward this northeast-facing South Carolina coast.
The prime season at Isle of Palms Pier 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 Isle of Palms Pier include pier pilings, crowded beach area, occasional strong rip currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Isle of Palms Pier 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.
