Beaufort County Area Beaches: rip current risk and surf forecast

South CarolinaNear Hilton Head Island, Beaufort CountyNWS zone SCZ148NWS Charleston

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 2 feet, water in the upper 70s. Buoy 41067, 10 mi out, measured 84 °F water and 1.6 ft waves. Sunset 7:06 PM.

Rip current risk: LowToday
Surf: Around 2 feetForecast
Water: In the upper 70sForecast
Sunset: 7:06 PMEDT

Rip current risk on the map

Today’s rip current risk in every surf zone the National Weather Service forecasts for over Beaufort 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 Beaufort 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 251 PM EDT, 10/2/2026.

Today Rest of today

Low rip current risk

Rip current risk: Low
Surf: Around 2 feet
Water temperature: In the upper 70s
High temperature: In the mid 80s
Weather: Mostly sunny. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms
Wind: Southeast winds around 5 mph

Tomorrow Saturday

Low rip current risk

Rip current risk: Low
Surf: 1 to 2 feet
High temperature: In the lower 80s
Weather: Mostly cloudy. Showers likely and a chance of thunderstorms
Wind: Southeast winds around 5 mph

The surf zone forecast, period by period

Beaufort, Coastal Colleton, Coastal Jasper. Issued 2:51 PM EDT on Fri, Oct 2 by the National Weather Service in Charleston.

Rest of today

Rip Current Risk: Low
Surf Height: Around 2 feet
Water Temperature: In the upper 70s
Weather: Mostly sunny. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms
High Temperature: In the mid 80s
Winds: Southeast winds around 5 mph
Tides, Hilton Head Island: High at 01:14 PM EDT

Saturday

Rip Current Risk: Low
Surf Height: 1 to 2 feet
Weather: Mostly cloudy. Showers likely and a chance of thunderstorms
High Temperature: In the lower 80s
Winds: Southeast winds around 5 mph
Tides, Hilton Head Island: Low at 07:49 AM EDT. High at 02:22 PM EDT

The days after

Sunday. Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Mostly cloudy. Showers and a chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s. South winds around 5 mph.

Monday. Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Mostly cloudy. Showers and a chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70s. Northeast winds around 10 mph.

Tuesday. Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 70s. Breezy. Northeast winds around 25 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 021851
SRFCHS

Surf Zone Forecast
National Weather Service Charleston SC
251 PM EDT Fri Oct 2 2026

SCZ150-030800-
Charleston-
Including the beaches of Cape Romain, Isle of Palms, 
Sullivans Island, Folly Beach, and Kiawah Island
251 PM EDT Fri Oct 2 2026

.REST OF TODAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low. 
Surf Height.................Around 2 feet. 
Water Temperature...........In the upper 70s. 
Weather.....................Sunny. 
High Temperature............In the mid 80s. 
Winds.......................Southeast winds around 10 mph. 
Tides...
   Isle of Palms............High at 12:38 PM EDT.

.SATURDAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low. 
Surf Height.................1 to 2 feet. 
Weather.....................Partly sunny. A chance of showers and 
                            thunderstorms. 
High Temperature............In the lower 80s. 
Winds.......................North winds around 5 mph, becoming 
                            southeast in the afternoon.
Tides...
   Isle of Palms............Low at 07:11 AM EDT.
                            High at 01:48 PM EDT.

.EXTENDED...
.SUNDAY...Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Mostly cloudy. Showers and a
chance of thunderstorms. Highs around 80. South winds around 5 mph. 
.MONDAY...Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Mostly cloudy. Showers and a
slight chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 70s. North winds
around 10 mph. 
.TUESDAY...Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Mostly cloudy. A chance of
showers. Highs in the lower 70s. Breezy. Northeast winds around
25 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

$$

SCZ148-149-151-030800-
Beaufort-Coastal Colleton-Coastal Jasper-
Including the beaches of Hunting Island, Fripp Island, 
Hilton Head Island, Daufuskie Island, and Edisto Beach
251 PM EDT Fri Oct 2 2026

.REST OF TODAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low. 
Surf Height.................Around 2 feet. 
Water Temperature...........In the upper 70s. 
Weather.....................Mostly sunny. A slight chance of 
                            showers and thunderstorms. 
High Temperature............In the mid 80s. 
Winds.......................Southeast winds around 5 mph. 
Tides...
   Hilton Head Island.......High at 01:14 PM EDT.

.SATURDAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low. 
Surf Height.................1 to 2 feet. 
Weather.....................Mostly cloudy. Showers likely and a 
                            chance of thunderstorms. 
High Temperature............In the lower 80s. 
Winds.......................Southeast winds around 5 mph.
Tides...
   Hilton Head Island.......Low at 07:49 AM EDT.
                            High at 02:22 PM EDT.

.EXTENDED...
.SUNDAY...Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Mostly cloudy. Showers and a
chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s. South winds around
5 mph. 
.MONDAY...Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Mostly cloudy. Showers and a
chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70s. Northeast winds
around 10 mph. 
.TUESDAY...Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Mostly cloudy. A chance of
showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 70s.
Breezy. Northeast winds around 25 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

$$

GAZ217-219-239-241-030800-
Coastal Bryan-Coastal Chatham-Coastal Liberty-Coastal McIntosh-
Including the beaches of Tybee Island, Ossabaw Island, Wassaw Island, 
St. Catherines Island, and Sapelo Island
251 PM EDT Fri Oct 2 2026

.REST OF TODAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low. 
Surf Height.................Around 2 feet. 
Water Temperature...........Around 80. 
Weather.....................Partly sunny. A chance of showers and 
                            thunderstorms. 
High Temperature............In the mid 80s. 
Winds.......................Southeast winds around 5 mph. 
Tides...
   Tybee Island.............High at 01:04 PM EDT.

.SATURDAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low. 
Surf Height.................1 to 2 feet. 
Weather.....................Cloudy until 9 AM, then mostly cloudy. 
                            A chance of showers and thunderstorms. 
High Temperature............In the lower 80s. 
Winds.......................East winds around 5 mph.
Tides...
   Tybee Island.............Low at 08:05 AM EDT.
                            High at 02:12 PM EDT.

.EXTENDED...
.SUNDAY...Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Mostly cloudy. Showers and a
chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s. Southeast winds
around 5 mph. 
.MONDAY...Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Cloudy. Showers and a chance of
thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70s. East winds around 10 mph. 
.TUESDAY...Surf height 3 to 4 feet. Mostly cloudy. Showers likely and
a chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 70s. Breezy. Northeast
winds around 25 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 41067, FRP2WAVE, 10 mi away, reported 1:40 PM.

Waves: 1.6 ft at 11 seconds
Dominant period: 11 s
Average period: 5.0 s
Mean wave direction: ESE (118°)
Water temperature: 84 °F

From NOAA's National Data Buoy Center; swell and wind waves from the buoy's wave spectrum, 2:40 PM. Wave height is the significant height, the average of the highest third; the largest waves run half again as high. The dominant period is the period of the most energetic waves, the average period that of all of them. Offshore buoys read bigger than the surf at the beach.

Swell forecast

The Copernicus Marine Service's global wave model, at these beaches, every 3 hours through Sun, Oct 11.

Waves 0.9 ft to 1.1 ft today, the main swell 0.7 ft at 6 s from the southeast. Biggest in the next 7 days: 3.8 ft on Tue, Oct 6.

Waves (significant height)
Primary swell
Secondary swell
Wind waves

Day	Waves	Main swell at midday	Wind waves	Longest period
Fri, Oct 2	0.9 to 1.1 ft	0.7 ft at 6 s from the southeast	0.3 ft	11 s
Sat, Oct 3	1.1 to 1.4 ft	1.0 ft at 4 s from the southeast	0.7 ft	7 s
Sun, Oct 4	1.4 to 1.5 ft	1.3 ft at 4 s from the southeast	0.5 ft	9 s
Mon, Oct 5	1.2 to 2.4 ft	1.1 ft at 4 s from the southeast	1.9 ft	6 s
Tue, Oct 6	2.7 to 3.8 ft	1.4 ft at 5 s from the east	3.4 ft	8 s
Wed, Oct 7	2.2 to 3.3 ft	2.0 ft at 6 s from the east-northeast	2.5 ft	8 s
Thu, Oct 8	1.3 to 2.1 ft	1.4 ft at 5 s from the east-northeast	1.0 ft	8 s

Every 6 hours

Heights in feet, periods in seconds, directions the waves come from. Times are local.
Time	Waves	Peak period	Primary swell	Secondary swell	Wind waves
Fri, Oct 2
2:00 PM	0.9 ft	11 s SE	0.7 ft 6 s SE	0.6 ft 4 s SE	None
8:00 PM	1.1 ft	7 s SE	0.9 ft 3 s SSE	0.7 ft 8 s ESE	None
Sat, Oct 3
2:00 AM	1.1 ft	5 s SE	0.9 ft 4 s SSE	0.6 ft 8 s ESE	0.2 ft 1 s SSW
8:00 AM	1.1 ft	5 s SE	0.9 ft 3 s SSE	0.6 ft 7 s SE	None
2:00 PM	1.1 ft	7 s SE	1.0 ft 4 s SE	0.5 ft 9 s ESE	0.2 ft 2 s SE
8:00 PM	1.3 ft	7 s SE	0.9 ft 5 s SE	0.5 ft 9 s ESE	0.5 ft 2 s SE
Sun, Oct 4
2:00 AM	1.4 ft	9 s SE	1.0 ft 4 s SE	0.6 ft 9 s ESE	0.5 ft 2 s ESE
8:00 AM	1.5 ft	4 s SE	1.1 ft 3 s SE	0.6 ft 7 s ESE	0.3 ft 1 s SSE
2:00 PM	1.5 ft	5 s SE	1.3 ft 4 s SE	0.6 ft 9 s ESE	0.2 ft 1 s SW
8:00 PM	1.4 ft	5 s SE	1.3 ft 4 s SE	0.5 ft 9 s ESE	None
Mon, Oct 5
2:00 AM	1.4 ft	5 s SE	1.3 ft 4 s SE	0.6 ft 8 s ESE	None
8:00 AM	1.3 ft	5 s SE	1.2 ft 4 s SE	0.5 ft 8 s ESE	None
2:00 PM	1.4 ft	6 s ESE	1.0 ft 4 s SE	0.5 ft 8 s ESE	0.8 ft 2 s ENE
8:00 PM	2.1 ft	4 s ENE	0.9 ft 3 s E	0.8 ft 5 s ESE	1.6 ft 3 s NE
Tue, Oct 6
2:00 AM	2.7 ft	5 s ENE	1.3 ft 5 s E	None	2.3 ft 3 s NE
8:00 AM	3.3 ft	6 s ENE	1.6 ft 5 s E	None	2.9 ft 4 s NE
2:00 PM	3.7 ft	7 s ENE	1.8 ft 6 s ENE	None	3.1 ft 4 s NE
8:00 PM	3.5 ft	7 s ENE	2.1 ft 6 s ENE	None	2.8 ft 4 s NE
Wed, Oct 7
2:00 AM	3.3 ft	8 s NE	2.2 ft 6 s ENE	None	2.5 ft 3 s NNE
8:00 AM	3.0 ft	8 s NE	2.0 ft 6 s E	None	2.1 ft 3 s NNE
2:00 PM	2.8 ft	8 s ENE	2.1 ft 6 s ENE	None	1.8 ft 3 s NE
8:00 PM	2.4 ft	8 s ENE	2.1 ft 5 s ENE	None	1.1 ft 2 s NNE
Thu, Oct 8
2:00 AM	2.1 ft	8 s ENE	1.8 ft 5 s E	None	1.0 ft 2 s NNE
8:00 AM	1.9 ft	8 s ENE	1.6 ft 5 s ENE	0.2 ft 9 s NE	1.0 ft 2 s N
2:00 PM	1.5 ft	7 s ENE	1.4 ft 5 s ENE	None	0.3 ft 1 s NNE
8:00 PM	1.3 ft	7 s E	1.3 ft 5 s E	None	0.3 ft 1 s NNE
Fri, Oct 9
2:00 AM	1.5 ft	7 s E	1.4 ft 4 s E	None	0.5 ft 2 s NE
8:00 AM	1.8 ft	6 s E	1.6 ft 4 s E	0.4 ft 9 s ESE	0.8 ft 2 s NNE
2:00 PM	2.4 ft	6 s E	1.6 ft 5 s E	None	1.7 ft 3 s ENE
8:00 PM	2.6 ft	6 s E	1.8 ft 5 s E	None	1.9 ft 3 s ENE
Sat, Oct 10
2:00 AM	2.9 ft	6 s E	1.9 ft 5 s E	None	2.1 ft 3 s ENE
8:00 AM	2.9 ft	6 s E	2.0 ft 5 s E	None	2.0 ft 3 s NE
2:00 PM	3.0 ft	6 s ENE	2.0 ft 5 s E	0.2 ft 12 s ESE	2.1 ft 3 s NE
8:00 PM	3.2 ft	6 s ENE	1.7 ft 5 s E	None	2.7 ft 4 s NE
Sun, Oct 11
2:00 AM	2.2 ft	6 s E	2.0 ft 4 s E	0.4 ft 7 s ESE	0.9 ft 2 s ENE
8:00 AM	1.8 ft	5 s SE	1.1 ft 4 s ESE	0.6 ft 5 s ESE	0.9 ft 2 s SSW
2:00 PM	1.8 ft	4 s S	0.7 ft 4 s SSE	0.6 ft 3 s SE	1.3 ft 2 s SSW
8:00 PM	1.5 ft	5 s SSE	1.1 ft 3 s SSE	0.5 ft 5 s SE	None

Wave height is the significant height, the average of the highest third of the waves. Swell is the long-period energy raised by distant storms; wind waves are the short chop raised by the local wind. A longer period carries more energy and breaks bigger on the sand. Offshore model heights read larger than the surf at a sheltered beach.

Tides today

Capers Island, Trenchards Inlet, 1.8 mi away. Feet above mean lower low water.

High tide12:40 AM6.4 ft
Low tide6:39 AM0.6 ft
High tide1:12 PM7.5 ft
Low tide7:29 PM1.3 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 Capers Island, Trenchards Inlet.

Sun and daylight

Sunrise today: 7:17 AM
Sunset today: 7:06 PM
Sunrise tomorrow: 7:18 AM
Sunset tomorrow: 7:04 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.

Hunting Island
Fripp Island
Hilton Head Island
Daufuskie Island
Edisto Beach

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: Mostly 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 251 PM EDT, 10/2/2026. Original at NWS. Waves and water temperature measured by NOAA's National Data Buoy Center. Swell forecast: E.U. Copernicus Marine Service Information (global wave analysis and forecast, Météo-France MFWAM). Tides from NOAA CO-OPS. Alerts from the National Weather Service for zone SCZ148.