86°
Sunny
2%
72
Charleston County, SC · Atlantic Ocean
Folly Beach
101 E Ashley Ave, Folly Beach, SC 29439
Charleston's beach — 15 minutes from downtown, scrappy-surfer character, the 1,049-foot Edwin S. Taylor Folly Beach Fishing Pier (rebuilt 2022), and the Washout, one of Charleston's premier surf breaks. Eclectic shops and seafood shacks on Center Street.
Today's Conditions
Great day for a beach walk.
NWS alert active · 87°F water · 86°F air
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Sunny, with a high near 86. South wind around 20 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 83. Southwest wind around 21 mph.
Weather
- 86°F air — ideal beach weather
- 20 mph wind — breezy — anchor everything
- Sunny skies — clear conditions
Water
- 87°F water — warm — full-day swim weather
Safety
- UV 11 (extreme) — spf 50+ mandatory, limit mid-day exposure
- NWS alert active — small craft advisory issued july 18 at 2:08pm edt until july 19 at 8:00pm edt by nws charleston sc
50 /100
ok
32 Swim
61 Sunbathe
79 Walk
44 Fish
74 Photo
Best for walking today
Water level 0.6 ft above predicted
Observed water level is running higher than the astronomical tide prediction. Expect a narrower beach, faster-rising water, and stronger near-shore currents than the tide chart suggests.
Small Craft Small Craft Advisory
Small Craft Advisory issued July 18 at 2:08PM EDT until July 19 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Charleston SC
Full NWS statement
* WHAT...Southwest winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt and seas 3 to 5 ft expected. * WHERE...South Santee River to Edisto Beach out 20 NM. * WHEN...From 8 PM this evening to 8 PM EDT Sunday. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
Atmosphere
Air Temp
86°F
Clear
Wind
20 mph
S
Rain
2%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
11 Extreme
High 11 AM–04 PM · burn in ~18m
Burn-free before 09 AM & after 06 PM
Tomorrow
86°F
Sunny
Water
Water Temp
87°F
Swimming weather
Wave Height
3.3 ft
S swell
Barometer
30.01 inHg
1016 hPa
Water Quality
Clean
10 MPN/100mL · Enterococcus
USGS · sampled 5mo ago
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
6:24 AM
Sunset
8:27 PM
Moon · 18%
Waxing Crescent
Neap tides — smaller range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:50 AM | Low | -0.3 ft |
| 12:13 PM | High | 5.4 ft |
| 6:07 PM | Low | 0.1 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:21 AM | High | 5.6 ft |
| 6:37 AM | Low | -0.1 ft |
| 1:06 PM | High | 5.4 ft |
| 7:03 PM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:08 AM | High | 5.2 ft |
| 7:25 AM | Low | 0.1 ft |
| 1:58 PM | High | 5.4 ft |
| 8:01 PM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:55 AM | High | 4.9 ft |
| 8:12 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 2:48 PM | High | 5.3 ft |
| 8:59 PM | Low | 0.9 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:43 AM | High | 4.6 ft |
| 9:00 AM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 3:38 PM | High | 5.3 ft |
| 9:54 PM | Low | 1.0 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:32 AM | High | 4.4 ft |
| 9:47 AM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| 4:28 PM | High | 5.4 ft |
| 10:48 PM | Low | 1.0 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:24 AM | High | 4.3 ft |
| 10:36 AM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| 5:19 PM | High | 5.4 ft |
| 11:40 PM | Low | 0.9 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8665530, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
86°
Sunny
5%
70
86°
Sunny
9%
74
85°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
44%
18
87°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
43%
16
86°
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
70%
13
85°
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
59%
21
What to Bring Today
- critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 11 — very high
- recommended Beach shelter or anchored canopy 20 mph wind — umbrellas will flip
- optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 87°F
Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).
Best Fishing Times Today
Solunar theory: fish activity peaks at moon transits (major) and moonrise/moonset (minor). All times local.
Minor
10:30 PM - 11:30 PM
Major
3:50 AM - 5:50 AM
Minor
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Major
4:10 PM - 6:10 PM
Beach Info
Parking
Paid public lots and metered street parking. Pier lot is the most popular.
Dogs
Dogs prohibited on the beach 10 AM – 6 PM, May 1 – September 30. On-leash only at all permitted times (no off-leash voice-control provision per Folly ordinance). Pier is always off-limits to dogs.
Entry Fee
Free
Address
101 E Ashley Ave, Folly Beach, SC 29439
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Folly Beach today?
Folly Beach shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. Seasonal lifeguards patrol the swim area in summer — follow their flags. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.
Is Folly Beach dog-friendly?
Dogs prohibited on the beach 10 AM – 6 PM, May 1 – September 30. On-leash only at all permitted times (no off-leash voice-control provision per Folly ordinance). Pier is always off-limits to dogs.
Is there an entry fee at Folly Beach?
Entry to Folly Beach is free.
Are there lifeguards at Folly Beach?
Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Folly Beach during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.
What amenities are at Folly Beach?
Amenities at Folly Beach include lifeguards, pier, restaurants, shops, restrooms, surf school.
When is the water warmest at Folly Beach?
Atlantic water temperatures peak in August. Northern beaches (ME, NH, MA) run cool — typically 60-68°F at the summer peak. Mid-Atlantic (NJ, DE, MD, VA) hits 74-76°F. The Carolinas and Florida Atlantic warm into the 80s and stay swimmable from May through October.
Where is Folly Beach located?
Folly Beach is in Charleston County, SC, at 101 E Ashley Ave, Folly Beach, SC 29439.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS