Best Pawleys Island surf window today: tide and conditions
Pawleys Island's best surf window today is 8:30 PM-9:30 PM, with rising tide, 6 mph wind, and 0.9 ft swell; incoming tide, cross-shore winds, good swell angle. Pawleys Island Pier is the top pick at 0.9 ft.
Live surf planning
Plan around the live conditions
Best time to surf Pawleys Island this week
September rates 93/100 for Pawleys Island. 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, 6 mph wind, and 0.9 ft swell are the live surf report cues to confirm first.
Seasonal pattern in September
September
1 of 1 beaches are in peak season right now. Expect 3-7 ft waves and 80°F water.
Surf Score by Month
Score reflects overall surf quality each month — combining peak season activity, water temperature, and crowd levels.
Monthly Breakdown
January
Cold front swells, Folly Beach quiet
February
Winter northeasters
March
Spring transitions
April
Small clean days
May
Mostly flat, warm water
June
Tourist season begins
July
Warm water, occasional tropical
August
Hurricane season building
September
PeakHurricane swells, warm water
October
PeakFall swells, crowds thin
November
PeakNor'easters, fewer crowds
December
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 Pawleys Island
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
