South Carolina
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Litchfield Beach, 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, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with barely a breath of wind. Afternoon breeze fills in to 12mph.
Mon, May 11: 0–1ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with light winds out of the SW. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 11mph.
Tue, May 12: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Expect 1-2ft waves early on SE swell at 11s.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with light E winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 14mph.
Thu, May 14: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with light WNW winds.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Litchfield Beach is a mellow, sand-bottomed beach break located along South Carolina's Grand Strand, offering forgiving waves perfect for learning and progressing. The spot faces southwest and picks up solid swell during Atlantic storm systems and hurricane season, with consistent peeling waves across a wide beach. This uncrowded gem provides plenty of space to paddle out and work on technique in a relaxed, family-friendly environment.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Litchfield Beach is 0-1ft with a 5.55s swell period. Wind is SW at 3mph 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 Litchfield Beach is 0-1ft, produced by a 0.9ft ESE primary swell at 6s, a 0.9ft S secondary swell at 4s, a 0.3ft ESE tertiary swell at 10s. 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 Litchfield Beach is Tuesday from 3 PM to 6 PM with 3ft waves, a 6s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Litchfield Beach works best with a ESE swell and WNW 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 Litchfield 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.
Litchfield Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Litchfield Beach is a mellow, sand-bottomed beach break located along South Carolina's Grand Strand, offering forgiving waves perfect for learning and progressing. The spot faces southwest and picks up solid swell during Atlantic storm systems and hurricane season, with consistent peeling waves across a wide beach. This uncrowded gem provides plenty of space to paddle out and work on technique in a relaxed, family-friendly environment.
The prime season at Litchfield 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 Litchfield Beach include occasional strong currents, seasonal undertow. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Litchfield 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.
