Chatham County Area Beaches: rip current risk and surf forecast
Rip current risk today: Low. Life-threatening rip currents are not expected, but they can still form near groins, jetties, reefs and piers. Swim near a lifeguard.
Surf around 1 foot, water in the mid 80s. Buoy FPKG1, 12 mi out, measured 84 °F water. Sunset 7:22 PM.
- Rip current risk
- LowToday
- Surf
- Around 1 footForecast
- Water
- In the mid 80sForecast
- Sunset
- 7:22 PMEDT
Rip current risk on the map
Today’s rip current risk in every surf zone the National Weather Service forecasts for over Chatham County Area Beaches. Open it for the live map, where it pans and zooms.
Open the live map with rip current risk
Map layer from NOAA National Weather Service surf zone forecasts. Boundaries from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet.
Alerts in force
No beach hazards statement, high surf advisory or other warning is in force for Chatham County Area Beaches. Those are the products a coastal office issues when the water turns dangerous. When one is issued it appears here and on the alerts page for this area.
Today and tomorrow
From the National Weather Service beach forecast, issued 220 AM EDT, 9/21/2026.
Today Monday
Low rip current risk
- Rip current risk
- Low
- Surf
- Around 1 foot
- Water temperature
- In the mid 80s
- UV index
- Very High
- High temperature
- In the mid 80s
- Weather
- Partly sunny. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms
- Wind
- North winds around 5 mph, becoming east in the afternoon
UV index 8 to 10. Unprotected skin burns quickly; minimize sun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tomorrow Tuesday
Low rip current risk
- Rip current risk
- Low
- Surf
- 2 to 3 feet
- High temperature
- In the mid 80s
- Weather
- Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms
- Wind
- Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph
The surf zone forecast, period by period
Coastal Bryan, Coastal Chatham, Coastal Liberty, Coastal McIntosh. Issued 2:20 AM EDT on Mon, Sep 21 by the National Weather Service in Charleston.
Monday
- Rip Current Risk
- Low
- Surf Height
- Around 1 foot
- UV Index
- Very High
- Water Temperature
- In the mid 80s
- Weather
- Partly sunny. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms
- High Temperature
- In the mid 80s
- Winds
- North winds around 5 mph, becoming east in the afternoon
- Tides, Tybee Island
- Low at 10:34 AM EDT. High at 04:48 PM EDT
Tuesday
- Rip Current Risk
- Low
- Surf Height
- 2 to 3 feet
- Weather
- Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms
- High Temperature
- In the mid 80s
- Winds
- Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph
- Tides, Tybee Island
- Low at 11:30 AM EDT. High at 05:40 PM EDT
The days after
Wednesday. Surf height 1 to 2 feet. Mostly sunny. Showers likely and a chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s. Northeast winds around 10 mph.
Thursday. Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Mostly sunny. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s. Northeast winds around 20 mph.
Friday. Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 70s. North winds around 15 mph.
The office's notes on this forecast
Rip Current Risk Category * Low Risk - The risk for rip currents is low, however, life-threatening rip currents often occur in the vicinity of groins, jetties, reefs, and piers. * Moderate Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are possible in the surf zone. * High Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are likely in the surf zone.
** For UV definitions see: https://www.weather.gov/beach/chs
The product as issued
FZUS52 KCHS 210620
SRFCHS
Surf Zone Forecast
National Weather Service Charleston SC
220 AM EDT Mon Sep 21 2026
SCZ150-212000-
Charleston-
Including the beaches of Cape Romain, Isle of Palms,
Sullivans Island, Folly Beach, and Kiawah Island
220 AM EDT Mon Sep 21 2026
.MONDAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low.
Surf Height.................2 to 3 feet.
UV Index**..................Very High.
Water Temperature...........In the mid 80s.
Weather.....................Mostly sunny. A slight chance of
showers.
High Temperature............In the mid 80s.
Winds.......................Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.
Tides...
Isle of Palms............Low at 09:44 AM EDT.
High at 04:29 PM EDT.
.TUESDAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low.
Surf Height.................2 to 3 feet.
Weather.....................Partly sunny. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
High Temperature............In the lower 80s.
Winds.......................Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.
Tides...
Isle of Palms............Low at 10:39 AM EDT.
High at 05:19 PM EDT.
.EXTENDED...
.WEDNESDAY...Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Mostly sunny. Showers likely
and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s.
Northeast winds around 15 mph.
.THURSDAY...Surf height 1 to 2 feet. Partly sunny. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70s. North winds around
20 mph.
.FRIDAY...Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. North
winds around 15 mph.
&&
Rip Current Risk Category
* Low Risk - The risk for rip currents is low, however,
life-threatening rip currents often occur in the vicinity of groins,
jetties, reefs, and piers.
* Moderate Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are possible in the
surf zone.
* High Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are likely in the surf
zone.
** For UV definitions see:
https://www.weather.gov/beach/chs
$$
SCZ148-149-151-212000-
Beaufort-Coastal Colleton-Coastal Jasper-
Including the beaches of Hunting Island, Fripp Island,
Hilton Head Island, Daufuskie Island, and Edisto Beach
220 AM EDT Mon Sep 21 2026
.MONDAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low.
Surf Height.................2 to 3 feet.
UV Index**..................Very High.
Water Temperature...........In the mid 80s.
Weather.....................Mostly sunny. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
High Temperature............In the mid 80s.
Winds.......................Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.
Tides...
Hilton Head Island.......Low at 10:18 AM EDT.
High at 04:58 PM EDT.
.TUESDAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low.
Surf Height.................Around 1 foot.
Weather.....................Mostly cloudy until 9 AM, then mostly
sunny. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
High Temperature............In the mid 80s.
Winds.......................Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.
Tides...
Hilton Head Island.......Low at 11:14 AM EDT.
High at 05:50 PM EDT.
.EXTENDED...
.WEDNESDAY...Surf height around 1 foot. Mostly sunny. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s. Northeast winds
around 10 mph.
.THURSDAY...Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Mostly sunny. Highs around 80.
North winds around 20 mph.
.FRIDAY...Surf height 1 to 2 feet. Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper
70s. North winds around 15 mph.
&&
Rip Current Risk Category
* Low Risk - The risk for rip currents is low, however,
life-threatening rip currents often occur in the vicinity of groins,
jetties, reefs, and piers.
* Moderate Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are possible in the
surf zone.
* High Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are likely in the surf
zone.
** For UV definitions see:
https://www.weather.gov/beach/chs
$$
GAZ217-219-239-241-212000-
Coastal Bryan-Coastal Chatham-Coastal Liberty-Coastal McIntosh-
Including the beaches of Tybee Island, Ossabaw Island, Wassaw Island,
St. Catherines Island, and Sapelo Island
220 AM EDT Mon Sep 21 2026
.MONDAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low.
Surf Height.................Around 1 foot.
UV Index**..................Very High.
Water Temperature...........In the mid 80s.
Weather.....................Partly sunny. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
High Temperature............In the mid 80s.
Winds.......................North winds around 5 mph, becoming east
in the afternoon.
Tides...
Tybee Island.............Low at 10:34 AM EDT.
High at 04:48 PM EDT.
.TUESDAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low.
Surf Height.................2 to 3 feet.
Weather.....................Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
High Temperature............In the mid 80s.
Winds.......................Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.
Tides...
Tybee Island.............Low at 11:30 AM EDT.
High at 05:40 PM EDT.
.EXTENDED...
.WEDNESDAY...Surf height 1 to 2 feet. Mostly sunny. Showers likely
and a chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s. Northeast winds
around 10 mph.
.THURSDAY...Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Mostly sunny. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s. Northeast winds
around 20 mph.
.FRIDAY...Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper
70s. North winds around 15 mph.
&&
Rip Current Risk Category
* Low Risk - The risk for rip currents is low, however,
life-threatening rip currents often occur in the vicinity of groins,
jetties, reefs, and piers.
* Moderate Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are possible in the
surf zone.
* High Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are likely in the surf
zone.
** For UV definitions see:
https://www.weather.gov/beach/chs
$$The water now, measured
Buoy FPKG1, 8670870 - Fort Pulaski, GA, 12 mi away, reported 2:30 AM.
- Water temperature
- 84 °F
- Air temperature
- 79 °F
- Wind
- 4 kt from the N
From NOAA's National Data Buoy Center. Wave height is the significant height, the average of the highest third; the largest waves run half again as high. Offshore buoys read bigger than the surf at the beach.
Tides today
Romerly Marsh Creek, 5.8 mi away. Feet above mean lower low water.
- High tide4:26 AM6.6 ft
- Low tide10:26 AM1.8 ft
- High tide5:05 PM7.4 ft
- Low tide11:20 PM1.9 ft
Low tide often exposes the sandbars and channels that shape rip currents, and the risk can run higher for an hour or two either side of it. Full tide table for Romerly Marsh Creek.
Sun and daylight
- Sunrise today
- 7:11 AM
- Sunset today
- 7:22 PM
- Sunrise tomorrow
- 7:12 AM
- Sunset tomorrow
- 7:20 PM
Times are Eastern Daylight Time. Lifeguards are off duty outside posted hours, and the rip current risk does not fall with the light.
Beaches in this forecast
The office forecasts these beaches together with the neighboring zones.
- Tybee Island
- Ossabaw Island
- Wassaw Island
- St. Catherines Island
- Sapelo Island
As the National Weather Service lists them in its surf zone forecast.
What this means
The three levels the National Weather Service issues, and what to do at each.
| High | Life-threatening rip currents are likely. The surf zone is dangerous for swimmers of every level. Stay out of the water. |
|---|---|
| Moderate | Life-threatening rip currents are possible. Swim near a lifeguard, and follow the beach patrol and its flags. |
| Low | Life-threatening rip currents are not expected, but they can still form near groins, jetties, reefs and piers. Swim near a lifeguard. |
If a rip current carries you out
- Do not fight the current. It pulls you away from the beach, not under the water.
- Stay calm and keep your head above water. Float or tread water until the pull eases.
- Swim parallel to the beach, along the shore, until you are out of the current, then angle in toward the beach.
- If you cannot escape, face the shore, wave your arms and call for help.
- If someone else is caught, do not go in after them. Get a lifeguard, call 911, and throw them something that floats.
Thunderstorms and lightning
Today's forecast mentions thunderstorms: Partly sunny. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Water and open sand leave you the tallest thing around. When thunder roars, go indoors: leave the water and the beach for a building or a hard-topped vehicle, and wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back.
A rip current is a narrow stream of water flowing away from the beach, through the surf and past the breakers. It pulls swimmers out, not under. Rip current and lightning safety guidance from the National Weather Service.
Nearby
The stretches of shore the National Weather Service forecasts on either side of this one.
More for this place
Sources
Rip current risk, surf, water temperature and UV from the National Weather Service surf zone forecast and beach forecast, office CHS, issued 220 AM EDT, 9/21/2026. Original at NWS. Waves and water temperature measured by NOAA's National Data Buoy Center. Tides from NOAA CO-OPS. Alerts from the National Weather Service for zone GAZ219.