Charleston County Area Beaches: rip current risk and surf forecast

South CarolinaNear Isle of Palms, Charleston CountyNWS zone SCZ150NWS 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 2 to 3 feet, water in the mid 80s. Buoy 41065, 5.3 mi out, measured 83 °F water and 1.6 ft waves. Sunset 7:15 PM.

Rip current risk: LowToday
Surf: 2 to 3 feetForecast
Water: In the mid 80sForecast
Sunset: 7:15 PMEDT

Rip current risk on the map

Today’s rip current risk in every surf zone the National Weather Service forecasts for over Charleston 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 Charleston 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 230 AM EDT, 9/22/2026.

Today Tuesday

Low rip current risk

Rip current risk: Low
Surf: 2 to 3 feet
Water temperature: In the mid 80s
UV index: Very High
High temperature: In the lower 80s
Weather: Partly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms
Wind: Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph

UV index 8 to 10. Unprotected skin burns quickly; minimize sun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tomorrow Wednesday

Low rip current risk

Rip current risk: Low
Surf: 2 to 3 feet
High temperature: In the lower 80s
Weather: Partly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms
Wind: Northeast winds around 15 mph

The surf zone forecast, period by period

Charleston. Issued 2:30 AM EDT on Tue, Sep 22 by the National Weather Service in Charleston.

Tuesday

Rip Current Risk: Low
Surf Height: 2 to 3 feet
UV Index: Very High
Water Temperature: In the mid 80s
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

Wednesday

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 around 15 mph
Tides, Isle of Palms: Low at 11:31 AM EDT

The days after

Thursday. Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Partly sunny. A 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 upper 70s. North winds around 15 mph.

Saturday. Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s. North winds around 10 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 220630
SRFCHS

Surf Zone Forecast
National Weather Service Charleston SC
230 AM EDT Tue Sep 22 2026

SCZ150-222000-
Charleston-
Including the beaches of Cape Romain, Isle of Palms, 
Sullivans Island, Folly Beach, and Kiawah Island
230 AM EDT Tue Sep 22 2026

.TUESDAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low. 
Surf Height.................2 to 3 feet. 
UV Index**..................Very High. 
Water Temperature...........In the mid 80s. 
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.

.WEDNESDAY...
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 around 15 mph. 
Tides...
   Isle of Palms............Low at 11:31 AM EDT.

.EXTENDED...
.THURSDAY...Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Partly sunny. A 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 upper 70s.
North winds around 15 mph. 
.SATURDAY...Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s.
North winds around 10 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

$$

SCZ148-149-151-222000-
Beaufort-Coastal Colleton-Coastal Jasper-
Including the beaches of Hunting Island, Fripp Island, 
Hilton Head Island, Daufuskie Island, and Edisto Beach
230 AM EDT Tue Sep 22 2026

.TUESDAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low. 
Surf Height.................Around 1 foot. 
UV Index**..................Very High. 
Water Temperature...........In the mid 80s. 
Weather.....................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.

.WEDNESDAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low. 
Surf Height.................Around 1 foot. 
Weather.....................Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and 
                            thunderstorms. 
High Temperature............In the mid 80s. 
Winds.......................Northeast winds around 15 mph.
Tides...
   Hilton Head Island.......High at 06:03 AM EDT.
                            Low at 12:05 PM EDT.

.EXTENDED...
.THURSDAY...Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Partly sunny. Highs around 80.
North winds around 20 mph. 
.FRIDAY...Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s.
North winds around 15 mph. 
.SATURDAY...Surf height 1 to 2 feet. Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s.
North winds around 10 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

$$

GAZ217-219-239-241-222000-
Coastal Bryan-Coastal Chatham-Coastal Liberty-Coastal McIntosh-
Including the beaches of Tybee Island, Ossabaw Island, Wassaw Island, 
St. Catherines Island, and Sapelo Island
230 AM EDT Tue Sep 22 2026

.TUESDAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low. 
Surf Height.................2 to 3 feet. 
UV Index**..................Very High. 
Water Temperature...........In the mid 80s. 
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.

.WEDNESDAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low. 
Surf Height.................2 to 3 feet. 
Weather.....................Mostly sunny. Showers likely and a 
                            chance of thunderstorms. 
High Temperature............In the mid 80s. 
Winds.......................Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph. 
Tides...
   Tybee Island.............Low at 12:21 PM EDT.

.EXTENDED...
.THURSDAY...Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Partly sunny. Highs in the lower
80s. North winds around 20 mph. 
.FRIDAY...Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Mostly sunny. Highs around 80.
North winds around 15 mph. 
.SATURDAY...Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Sunny. Highs around 80.
Northeast winds around 10 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 41065, Capers Nearshore Waves (CAP2WAVE), 5.3 mi away, reported 5:34 AM.

Waves: 1.6 ft at 8 seconds from the ESE
Water temperature: 83 °F

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

South Dewees Island, Dewees Inlet, 2.3 mi away. Feet above mean lower low water.

High tide5:02 AM4.7 ft
Low tide10:50 AM1.1 ft
High tide5:43 PM5.4 ft
Low tide11:39 PM1.1 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 South Dewees Island, Dewees Inlet.

Sun and daylight

Sunrise today: 7:07 AM
Sunset today: 7:15 PM
Sunrise tomorrow: 7:08 AM
Sunset tomorrow: 7:14 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

Cape Romain
Isle of Palms
Sullivans Island
Folly Beach
Kiawah 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 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 230 AM EDT, 9/22/2026. 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 SCZ150.