Folly Beach tides today
- Tide now 5.4 ft ↑ rising · high 10:38 pm (5.6 ft)
- Best time tomorrow 3:30–5:00 am average day · 6/10
- Beach day 1:00–4:00 pm Fair beach day · 6/10
- Waves · water 4.4 ft · 67 °F moderate · 6.6 s from the east
- Wind · air 14 mph · 69 °F from the ENE, gusts 31 · clear
- Sun 7:34 am–6:33 pm 10 h 59 min of daylight
- Moon 91% · 8:23 pm waning gibbous · rises at 8:23 pm
- Diving tomorrow 10:00 am–12:40 pm good day · 7/10
- Rip Current Statement: dangerous rip currents at the beaches: swimming is risky. Until 8:00 pm tomorrow. NWS Charleston SC
- Small Craft Advisory: winds or seas hazardous to small boats. Until Fri 30, 8:00 am. NWS Charleston SC
Today in Folly Beach there are high tides at 10:26 am (6.8 ft) and 10:38 pm (5.6 ft) and low tides at 3:37 am and 4:31 pm. Tide coefficient 83. Right now the tide is rising toward the high tide at 10:38 pm. The sun rises at 7:34 am and sets at 6:33 pm: 10 h 59 min of daylight. The moon is 91% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 8:23 pm. Major solunar periods run from 1:55 am to 3:55 am and from 2:27 pm to 4:27 pm. The next spring tides arrive from October 26 to 28. The sea is moderate, with 4.4 ft waves. There's a moderate breeze from the east-northeast (14 mph). Clear, 69 °F.
Fishing in Folly Beach today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: medium- Low tide at 3:37 am
- Major period 1:55–3:55 am
- Steady pressure (30.21 inHg), light offshore wind (6 mph) and some swell (3.5 ft waves) to stir the water
- Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
- Highest tide coefficient today: 83 (average tides)
Your day at a glance
The best window, 2:40 am to 4:00 am, combines the 3:37 am low tide, a major period and some swell. Also good from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, with the 10:26 am high tide, moonset and some swell. Also worth a try from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm, with the 4:31 pm low tide, a major period and some swell, though with moderate wind.
Species with the most records nearby: mahi-mahi, spot, spotted seatrout and cobia. What you can catch
Beach day in Folly Beach
Is it a beach day?
2 good hours- Official statement: Rip Current Statement (NWS Charleston SC)
Rip current risk tomorrow: high (statement in effect) (NWS)
Stay out of the water: rip currents can pull even strong swimmers out to sea. If one catches you, don't swim against it: swim parallel to the shore and wave for help.
- Sunny
- Feels like 78 °F: pleasant
- UV 5 (moderate): SPF 30 sunscreen
- Water at 67 °F (cool)
- Low tide at 4:31 pm: more sand
- Moderate cross-shore wind (14 mph)
Today, hour by hour
- Swimming Use care · 4.1 ft
4.1 ft waves every 7 s: swim with care and stay where you can stand. Low rip current risk. Always follow the lifeguard's flags.
- Water 67 °F
Cool: refreshing on a hot day.
- Sun & sunscreen UV 5 · SPF 30
Max UV 5 (moderate): SPF 30 sunscreen, reapplied every 2 hours.
- Wind 16 mph
Moderate cross-shore wind (16 mph).
- Tide & sand 3:37 am
Low tide at 3:37 am and 4:31 pm: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 10:26 am and 10:38 pm.
The best window, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, brings sunshine, pleasant temperatures and low tide at 4:31 pm, though with moderate wind and some waves.
We don't have data on jellyfish, sargassum or beach closures: ask the lifeguard or check with the local beach authority. How it works · The next 7 days
Beaches near Folly Beach
We don't know of any named beaches within 6.2 mi of Folly Beach.
Missing one? Beaches come from OpenStreetMap: you can add it there. Add or fix on OpenStreetMap
Beaches and amenities: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Webcams near Folly Beach
Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam
Tides in Folly Beach
Today's high and low tides
- ▼ Low tide 3:37 am 0.0 ft
- ▲ High tide 10:26 am 6.8 ft · coef. 83
- ▼ Low tide 4:31 pm 0.3 ft
- ▲ Next high tide 10:38 pm 5.6 ft · coef. 82
↑ Rising The tide is rising. 56 min to high tide at 10:38 pm.
Tide coefficient 83 for the 10:26 am high tide and 82 for the 10:38 pm high tide. Average coefficient. The water rises and falls 6.9 ft between the highest high and the lowest low: a large range for this place. 70 is an average tide here; 90 and above means spring tides; below 45, neap tides. What is the tide coefficient?
2026 extremes: the highest tide of the year is on October 27 (6.9 ft) and the lowest, on December 25 (-1.0 ft).
Semidiurnal: two high and two low tides a day, of similar height.
Heights above mean lower low water (MLLW), the zero of US nautical charts. Astronomical prediction: wind and air pressure can raise or lower the water by a few inches, and more in a storm. Not for navigation. MLLW
Tide coefficient and range in October
The biggest tides of the month came from October 26 to 28 (coefficient 85, 6.9 ft range). The smallest, from October 17 to 19 (coefficient 47, 4.0 ft).
Tide and solunar table · this week
| Day | Sun | Tide 1 | Tide 2 | Tide 3 | Tide 4 | Coef. | Moon | Major periods | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today, Wed 28 | 7:34 am · 6:33 pm | Low tide 3:37 am · 0.0 ft | High tide 10:26 am · 6.8 ft | Low tide 4:31 pm · 0.3 ft | High tide 10:38 pm · 5.6 ft | Coef. 83 | 91% | Major periods 1:55 am · 2:27 pm | Medium |
| Thu 29 | 7:35 am · 6:32 pm | Low tide 4:27 am · 0.0 ft | High tide 11:22 am · 6.7 ft | Low tide 5:24 pm · 0.5 ft | High tide 11:36 pm · 5.5 ft | Coef. 80 | 84% | Major periods 2:59 am · 3:32 pm | Medium |
| Fri 30 | 7:36 am · 6:31 pm | Low tide 5:21 am · 0.2 ft | High tide 12:23 pm · 6.6 ft | Low tide 6:22 pm · 0.6 ft | — | Coef. 75 | 74% | Major periods 4:04 am · 4:35 pm | Medium |
| Sat 31 | 7:37 am · 6:30 pm | High tide 12:39 am · 5.3 ft | Low tide 6:20 am · 0.4 ft | High tide 1:29 pm · 6.4 ft | Low tide 7:23 pm · 0.7 ft | Coef. 72 | 63% | Major periods 5:06 am · 5:36 pm | Medium |
| Sun 1 | 6:37 am · 5:29 pm | High tide 1:46 am · 5.3 ft | Low tide 6:27 am · 0.6 ft | High tide 1:34 pm · 6.2 ft | Low tide 7:26 pm · 0.8 ft | Coef. 69 | Last quarter | Major periods 5:04 am · 5:31 pm | Medium |
| Mon 2 | 6:38 am · 5:28 pm | High tide 1:54 am · 5.4 ft | Low tide 7:36 am · 0.7 ft | High tide 2:36 pm · 6.1 ft | Low tide 8:25 pm · 0.7 ft | Coef. 68 | 41% | Major periods 5:57 am · 6:22 pm | Medium |
| Tue 3 | 6:39 am · 5:27 pm | High tide 2:58 am · 5.5 ft | Low tide 8:43 am · 0.7 ft | High tide 3:35 pm · 6.0 ft | Low tide 9:21 pm · 0.5 ft | Coef. 70 | 30% | Major periods 6:45 am · 7:09 pm | Medium |
▲ high tide · ▼ low tide · heights above MLLW. Major periods: start time; they last 2 hours. Activity: based on the moon phase and the solunar periods.
Where this tide comes from
Tides from the Folly River Bridge station (NOAA), 0.5 mi from Folly Beach. Times and heights are its predictions. It is a NOAA subordinate station: its times and heights come from the Charleston (Customhouse Wharf) reference station with the official corrections.
Station data attribution: Slackwater database (https://github.com/openwatersio/slackwater-database)
The sea at Folly Beach
Sea stateSea state: moderate
The waves you may find
- Most commonMost common2.2 ft
- Significant4.4 ft
- Highest expectedHighest9.0 ft
One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 9.0 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 9.0 ft.
Wind on the coast and offshore
Cross-shore wind. The coast faces southeast and the wind blows along the shore: drift and current run parallel to the beach.
Wave height, next 7 daysWaves, next 7 days
Waves stay much the same all week. The biggest waves arrive on Monday 2: 4.7 ft with a period of 6 s, from the east (moderate).
Water temperature
Water temperature →Water temperature changes how fish behave: in very cold or very warm water they feed less. The water warms over the next few days: about 70.0 °F by Tuesday 3.
Water colder than normal for late October (−4.5 °F).
Satellite: NASA MUR (JPL MUR MEaSUREs, PO.DAAC), doi:10.5067/GHGMR-4FJ04. Sources and licenses
Water temperature →Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 9:42 pm (local time).
Nearest buoy
This is a real measurement of the sea, not a forecast. Data from stations 41076 and 41066, NOAA National Data Buoy Center (public domain).
Surf in Folly Beach today
Surf today
Fair- 2.4–3.7 ft surf at the shore, a fun size for most surfers
- 3.2 ft swell at 7 s from the east-southeast, short: weak, messy waves
- Light offshore wind (11 mph): it holds up and grooms the waves
- Rising tide (low tide at 4:31 pm)
Rip current risk tomorrow: high (statement in effect) (NWS)
Stay out of the water: rip currents can pull even strong swimmers out to sea. If one catches you, don't swim against it: swim parallel to the shore and wave for help.
Surf height from the NWS, tomorrow: 3.0–5.0 ft
- Light: First light 7:09 am · sunrise 7:34 am · sunset 6:33 pm · last light 6:58 pm
- Tide: low 3:37 am (-0.0 ft), high 10:26 am (6.8 ft), low 4:31 pm (0.3 ft) and high 10:38 pm (5.6 ft). Every break has its own tide: some work at low tide and others at high tide. The tide doesn’t change the score here.
- Water at 66.9 °F: a springsuit or a 2 mm fullsuit.
- Energy: 83 kJ · Low power
Today’s surf at a glance
The best window, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, has a good size and light offshore wind, though with a short-period swell.
An estimate for this stretch of coast, not for a specific break: every beach or reef works its own way (its tide, bottom and angle). Check it when you get there.
Diving in Folly Beach today
Diving and snorkeling today
Likely visibility: good- Slack water around high tide (10:26 am): little current from 9:40 am to 11:00 am
- 3.2 ft swell at 7 s from the east-southeast: some surge on the bottom
- Light offshore wind (11 mph)
- 0.2 mph current toward the southeast, weak (model)
- Sun high: more light underwater
- Slack water today: low tide 3:37 am (3:20–4:00 am), high tide 10:26 am (9:40–11:00 am), low tide 4:31 pm (4:10–4:50 pm) and high tide 10:38 pm (9:50–11:10 pm)
- Likely visibility: good. Swell (up to 2.9 ft at 8 s) over the last few days has stirred up the water. Based on the last 24 hours of data.
- Water at 66.9 °F: a 5 mm wetsuit.
- Snorkeling: better not, with these waves, wind or current.
- Night dive: dark from 6:58 pm. Waning gibbous (91%), rising at 8:23 pm: a bright night.
Your diving day at a glance
The best window, 9:10 am to 11:40 am, combines slack water at high tide, light wind, weak current and the sun high, though with some swell.
Slack water comes from the tide: in inlets, channels and between islands the water can keep running for an hour or two after. Ask the local dive shop.
Never dive alone and check with the local dive shop: this rating is a guide, not a substitute for a professional.
Dive sites, wrecks and dive shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Col. J. E. Sawyer 10 mi
- USS Housatonic 11 mi
- Former Wrecksite of Hunley 11 mi
- Wreck 6.4 mi
- Wreck 7.6 mi
- Wreck 7.7 mi
- Lowcountry Anglers' Reef 5.9 mi
- Charleston Coastal Anglers Reef 11 mi
- Air Force Reef 11 mi
- Charleston Community Reef 11 mi
- Carolina Dive Locker 11 mi
- Joe's Scuba 12 mi
Within 12 mi. Some may be missing or closed; marine reserves usually need a permit. Open the map on OpenStreetMap · Missing one? Add it to OpenStreetMap
Wreck and reef positions are approximate and not for navigation; a wreck’s depth runs from the top of the hull to the seabed.
Sites: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). US wrecks: NOAA electronic navigational charts (ENC), a U.S. Government work; not for navigation. Artificial reefs: NOAA and BOEM (MarineCadastre.gov), a U.S. Government work.
Weather in Folly Beach
Now in Folly Beach
- Low / high
- 56 / 76 °F
- Rain
- 0.00 in · 0%
- Clouds
- 18%
- Humidity
- 81%
- Dew pointDew point
- 62 °F
- Visibility
- 11 mi
- UV indexUV
- 0 · low
- Air qualityAir
- Good · 48
- Saharan dust
- No
Pressure and fishing
- ↗ RisingRising Anglers say fish bite less for a while
- → SteadySteady · now Anglers expect normal activity
- ↘ FallingFalling Anglers say fish feed more before the change
Steady now (+0.02 inHg in 3 hours). It barely changes over the next 48 hours. Steady pressure: anglers expect normal activity. Fast changes, either way, tend to affect fishing.
Today, hour by hourHour by hour
Bars: mean wind. Dashed line: gusts. Arrows point where the wind blows to.
| Time | 12:00 am | 3:00 am | 6:00 am | 9:00 am | 12:00 pm | 3:00 pm | 6:00 pm | 9:00 pm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sky | Clear | Clear | Clear | Mainly clear | Clear sky | Clear sky | Clear sky | Clear |
| Temperature | 59° | 57° | 56° | 62° | 71° | 76° | 72° | 68° |
| Wind (mph) | 6 NNE | 6 NNE | 8 NNE | 9 NNE | 11 NNE | 14 ENE | 11 ENE | 14 ENE |
| Gusts | 18 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 19 | 24 | 31 |
| Waves | 3.3 ft | 3.5 ft | 3.6 ft | 3.7 ft | 3.8 ft | 4.1 ft | 4.3 ft | 4.4 ft |
| Rain | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in |
- 9:00 pm 68° 14 ENE 4.4 ft
- 12:00 am 67° 12 NE 4.5 ft
- 3:00 am 65° 10 NNE 4.5 ft
- 6:00 am 63° 9 NNE 4.5 ft
- 9:00 am 67° 13 NE 4.3 ft
- 12:00 pm 77° 13 NE 4.1 ft
- 3:00 pm 76° 16 ENE 3.9 ft
- 6:00 pm 73° 14 NE 3.7 ft
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | Max wave | High tides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 28 | 56 / 76 °F | 16 mph NE | 4.5 ft | 10:26 am · 10:38 pm | |
| Thu 29 | 63 / 77 °F | 16 mph NE | 4.5 ft | 11:22 am · 11:36 pm | |
| Fri 30 | 63 / 75 °F | 13 mph NE | 3.1 ft | 12:23 pm | |
| Sat 31 | 65 / 73 °F | 22 mph NE | 4.1 ft | 12:39 am · 1:29 pm | |
| Sun 1 | 64 / 73 °F | 22 mph NE | 3.9 ft | 1:46 am · 1:34 pm | |
| Mon 2 | 65 / 72 °F | 21 mph NE | 4.7 ft | 1:54 am · 2:36 pm | |
| Tue 3 | 64 / 74 °F | 19 mph NE | 4.4 ft | 2:58 am · 3:35 pm | |
| Wed 4 | 65 / 75 °F | 16 mph ENE | 4.1 ft | 4:00 am · 4:30 pm | |
| Thu 5 | 65 / 73 °F | 14 mph ESE | 3.5 ft | 4:56 am · 5:21 pm | |
| Fri 6 | 60 / 71 °F | 11 mph WSW | 3.7 ft | 5:46 am · 6:07 pm | |
| Sat 7 | 57 / 70 °F | 11 mph NNW | 4.2 ft | 6:31 am · 6:49 pm | |
| Sun 8 | 55 / 69 °F | 10 mph N | 3.3 ft | 7:12 am · 7:30 pm | |
| Mon 9 | 53 / 66 °F | 11 mph N | 3.7 ft | 7:52 am · 8:10 pm | |
| Tue 10 | 51 / 67 °F | 8 mph NNE | 3.0 ft | 8:29 am · 8:50 pm |
- Thu 29 Overcast 63° / 77° 4.5 ft
- Fri 30 Overcast 63° / 75° 3.1 ft
- Sat 31 Overcast 65° / 73° 4.1 ft
- Sun 1 Light drizzle 64° / 73° 3.9 ft
- Mon 2 Light drizzle 65° / 72° 4.7 ft
- Tue 3 Mainly clear 64° / 74° 4.4 ft
- Wed 4 Partly cloudy 65° / 75° 4.1 ft
Each day comes from the best model covering this spot: regional ones first (HRRR and NBM in the U.S., AROME, ICON-EU), then ECMWF; day 16, NOAA GFS. Waves: Météo-France up to day 10, then ECMWF WAM, coarser and further offshore. High tides: our own tide calculation.
- Normal Today, warmer than normal for late October (+2.8 °F; normal high: 73 °F). Climate by month →
Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 9:42 pm (local time).
The sun in Folly Beach
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 6:40 am
- Full dark 7:27 pm
- Civil dawn 7:09 am
- Civil dusk 6:58 pm
- Solar noon 1:04 pm (44° high)
- Daylight 10 h 59 min (−2 min)
- Evening golden hour 5:59 pm
- Full dark 7:27 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,354,438 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.
The moon in Folly Beach
Moon phase and position
Today the moon is 226,429 mi away and looks 32′ 47″ across.
Solunar periods
Today's activity: medium- 1:55–3:55 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
- 2:27–4:27 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 9:58–10:58 am Minor · moonset · medium activity
- 7:53–8:53 pm Minor · moonrise · medium activity
According to solunar theory, fish feed more when the moon passes overhead or underfoot (major periods, about 2 h) and when it rises or sets (minor periods, 1 h). It works best around new and full moon.
Upcoming moon phases
2026 moon calendar →- Last quarter Sun, Nov 1 · 3:29 pmNov 1 in 4 days
- New moon Mon, Nov 9 · 2:03 amNov 9 in 12 days
- First quarter Tue, Nov 17 · 6:48 amNov 17 in 20 days
- Full moon Tue, Nov 24 · 9:54 amNov 24 in 27 days
Perigee on October 28, 226,426 mi away, coinciding with the spring tides from October 26 to 28: they will be stronger than usual.
Where to fish in Folly Beach
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Edwin S. Taylor Fishing Pier 0.1 mi
- Fishing Pier 6.1 mi
- Cinder Creek Pier 6.2 mi
- Jetty 3.8 mi
- Boat ramp 0.4 mi
- Boat ramp 1.3 mi
- Boat ramp 1.8 mi
- Marina 0.6 mi
- Sunset Cay Marina 1.3 mi
- Tight Line Outfitters 4.7 mi
- Haddrell's Point Tackle 8.6 mi
- Site Fuel 8.6 mi
Within 9.3 mi. A spot may be missing or closed. Open the map on OpenStreetMap · Missing one? Add it to OpenStreetMap
Spots: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps.
Water depth
Very shallowVery shallow and flat: 3.1 mi from shore the water is still only about 24 ft deep.
From the shoreline (700 ft from Folly Beach) out to sea, heading southeast.
How far from shore
- 16 ft deep1.8 mi
- 33 ft deepnot within 3.1 mi
- 66 ft deepnot within 3.1 mi
- 164 ft deepnot within 3.1 mi
For fishing, swimming and diving
- Shore fishing. Shallow, gradual bottom (16 ft at 1.8 mi): cast far from the beach and fish the high tide, when there is more water close in.
- Swimming. The water gets deeper little by little, but a few dozen yards out you can no longer stand.
- Diving. Shallow: the water doesn't reach 33 ft within 3.1 mi. For deeper dives, take a boat farther out.
Source: NOAA U.S. Coastal Relief Model (public domain), cells of about 300 ft; depth below mean sea level. For reference only: not for navigation or anchoring.
Nearest lighthouse
Morris Island Light 4.3 mi northeast
- Tower height
- 161 ft
- Built
- 1767
Data from Wikidata. For reference only: not for navigation. Wikipedia · Wikidata · Sources and licenses
Tides near Folly BeachTides nearby
- James Island4.9 mi
- Charleston8.4 mi
- Kiawah Island9.0 mi
- Sullivans Island9.6 mi
- Mount Pleasant11 mi
- Isle of Palms12 mi
- Shell Point13 mi
- Seabrook Island14 mi
- Rockville15 mi
- Meggett18 mi
Folly Beach at a glance
- Town or city of about 2,774 people. Coordinates: 32.655° N, 79.940° W.
- It is 8.4 mi south of Charleston, the main place in South Carolina. The sun rises at the same time and sets at the same time than in Charleston.
- The nearest tide station, Folly River Bridge, is 0.5 mi to the northwest.
- Its coast faces southeast.
Questions about Folly BeachQuestions
What time is high tide today in Folly Beach?
Today in Folly Beach there are high tides at 10:26 am (6.8 ft) and 10:38 pm (5.6 ft) and low tides at 3:37 am and 4:31 pm. Tide coefficient 83.
What time is sunset today in Folly Beach?
At 6:33 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 6:58 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in Folly Beach?
At 7:35 am. First light comes at 6:41 am.
What phase is the moon today?
Waning gibbous, 91% illuminated. New moon on Mon, Nov 9 · 2:03 am.
When are the next spring tides?
From October 26 to 28, together with the lunar perigee: they will be stronger than usual.
What are today's solunar periods?
Major 1:55–3:55 am, Minor 9:58–10:58 am, Major 2:27–4:27 pm, Minor 7:53–8:53 pm. Today's activity is medium.
What's the weather like today in Folly Beach?
Mainly clear, from 56 °F to 76 °F, with a moderate breeze from the east-northeast (14 mph) and a 0% chance of rain.
How is the sea today in Folly Beach?
Moderate (Douglas 4): 4.4 ft waves with a period of 6.6 s from the east. The water is 67.5 °F.
When is the best time to visit Folly Beach?
The best time to visit Folly Beach is from April to May and in October: highs of 74 °F to 81 °F, about 8 rainy days a month and 8 hours of sunshine a day.
Can I use this data for navigation?
No. These are predictions for fishing and leisure; for navigation, use the official publications.
Where this data comes from
Tide: NOAA station Folly River Bridge (public domain), via Slackwater database. Sun and moon: our own calculation with astronomy-engine. Places: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Coastline: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).