Best Folly Beach surf window today: tide and conditions

Folly Beach's best surf window today is 8:30 PM-9:30 PM, with rising tide, 15 mph wind, and 1.7 ft swell; incoming tide, cross-shore winds, good swell angle. Folly Beach is the top pick at 1.7 ft.

Live surf planning

Plan around the live conditions

Best time to surf Folly Beach this week

August rates 69/100 for Folly Beach. 1 of 1 local beaches are in peak season; September is the historical peak if this week's surf report looks marginal.

Match the surf report

Rising tide, 15 mph wind, and 1.7 ft swell are the live surf report cues to confirm first.

Check today's Folly Beach surf report
0
Good

Seasonal pattern in August

August

1 of 1 beaches are in peak season right now. Expect 2-4 ft waves and 82°F water. Peak month: September.

Next steps

Turn Folly Beach's season guide into today's surf call

The calendar shows when this zone usually works. Start with the live report before you load boards.

Check today's Folly Beach surf reportStart with the live wave height, wind, tide, and board call before committing.Open pageFind the best current Folly Beach windowCompare the city's current forecast and spot list against the seasonal pattern.Open pageCompare nearby Folly Beach spotsUse the map to switch beaches when crowd, wind, or tide changes the call.Open page

Surf Score by Month

Score reflects overall surf quality each month — combining peak season activity, water temperature, and crowd levels.

Monthly Breakdown

January

0
Waves2-4 ft
Water temp57°F
Wetsuit3/2mm
CrowdsLow
Beaches peaking0

Cold front swells, Folly Beach quiet

February

0
Waves2-4 ft
Water temp55°F
Wetsuit3/2mm
CrowdsLow
Beaches peaking0

Winter northeasters

March

0
Waves2-3 ft
Water temp60°F
Wetsuit3/2mm
CrowdsLow
Beaches peaking1

Spring transitions

April

0
Waves1-3 ft
Water temp65°F
Wetsuitspring suit
CrowdsModerate
Beaches peaking1

Small clean days

May

0
Waves1-2 ft
Water temp72°F
Wetsuitboardshorts
CrowdsModerate
Beaches peaking0

Mostly flat, warm water

June

0
Waves1-3 ft
Water temp78°F
Wetsuitboardshorts
CrowdsHigh
Beaches peaking0

Tourist season begins

July

0
Waves1-3 ft
Water temp80°F
Wetsuitboardshorts
CrowdsHigh
Beaches peaking0

Warm water, occasional tropical

August

0
Waves2-4 ft
Water temp82°F
Wetsuitboardshorts
CrowdsHigh
Beaches peaking1

Hurricane season building

September

Peak
0
Waves3-7 ft
Water temp80°F
Wetsuitboardshorts
CrowdsModerate
Beaches peaking1

Hurricane swells, warm water

October

Peak
0
Waves3-5 ft
Water temp75°F
Wetsuitboardshorts
CrowdsModerate
Beaches peaking1

Fall swells, crowds thin

November

Peak
0
Waves2-5 ft
Water temp65°F
Wetsuitspring suit
CrowdsLow
Beaches peaking1

Nor'easters, fewer crowds

December

0
Waves2-4 ft
Water temp58°F
Wetsuit3/2mm
CrowdsLow
Beaches peaking0

Cold fronts, winter surf

Dawn Patrol vs Afternoon Sessions

Dawn Patrol

  • Typically glassier conditions before onshore winds build
  • Smaller crowds, especially on weekdays
  • Water temps at their coolest — plan your wetsuit for the low end (57°F in winter)
  • Best for beach breaks and exposed reef setups in Folly Beach

Afternoon Sessions

  • Onshore winds can create chop, but swell is often more consistent
  • Higher crowds on popular beaches, especially weekends
  • Water warms through the day — upper end (82°F in summer)
  • Sunset sessions can be magic when winds die down

Top Surf Spots in Folly Beach

Folly Beach
lower-intermediatecrowded

Peak: Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Mar, Apr

Surf Guides for Folly Beach, SC

Conditions

Dawn Patrol
Best early morning sessions
Sunset Sessions
Evening golden hour spots
Tide Windows
Optimal tidal conditions
Water Temperature
Conditions & wetsuit guide