Folly Beach – The Washout
Folly Beach, South Carolina (Charleston County), United States
Sports: Surfing, SUP
Best time to go: January–March, September–December
Folly Beach is a barrier island just south of Charleston, South Carolina. Its best-known break, the Washout, lies on the east end of the island, where a storm once washed away the dunes and left a straight sandy beach that picks up more swell than most of the coast. The pier area is another option. Autumn hurricane swells and winter storms bring the best waves, with north-westerly winds blowing offshore.
The surf is usually small, so it suits beginners and longboarders, while hurricane swells can bring powerful, crowded sessions for experienced surfers. Rip currents form near the pier and groynes. The water is warm in summer and cool in winter. Parking along the Washout is limited on good days.
Month by month at Folly Beach – The Washout
- January: 7 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 12°C, air 14°C (nights 6°C), 23 sunny days, 8 rainy days
- February: 7 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.2 m, water 13°C, air 16°C (nights 9°C), 22 sunny days, 8 rainy days
- March: 7 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 16°C, air 20°C (nights 12°C), 26 sunny days, 9 rainy days
- April: 5 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.1 m, water 20°C, air 23°C (nights 16°C), 28 sunny days, 7 rainy days
- May: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1 m, water 24°C, air 26°C (nights 20°C), 28 sunny days, 13 rainy days
- June: 5 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1 m, water 27°C, air 29°C (nights 23°C), 29 sunny days, 15 rainy days
- July: 3 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 1 m, water 30°C, air 31°C (nights 26°C), 30 sunny days, 22 rainy days
- August: 4 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 1 m, water 30°C, air 30°C (nights 24°C), 28 sunny days, 21 rainy days
- September: 7 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.2 m, water 27°C, air 28°C (nights 22°C), 27 sunny days, 13 rainy days
- October: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.2 m, water 23°C, air 23°C (nights 16°C), 27 sunny days, 6 rainy days
- November: 7 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.2 m, water 19°C, air 20°C (nights 13°C), 25 sunny days, 8 rainy days
- December: 8 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 14°C, air 15°C (nights 8°C), 22 sunny days, 8 rainy days
When is the best time to go surfing at Folly Beach – The Washout?
January–March, September–December, when the waves are biggest.
How warm is the water at Folly Beach – The Washout?
12°C to 30°C over the year: boardshorts, no wetsuit needed in the warmest month, a 5/4 with hood, boots and gloves in the coolest.
How windy is Folly Beach – The Washout?
About 71 days a year with at least 2 hours of 15+ knots in the daytime, most in December.
Figures from 5 years of weather data (Open-Meteo).
Spots near Folly Beach – The Washout
- Wrightsville Beach (264 km)
More: All spots in United States · Surfing in United States · SUP in United States
Compare with: Cape Hatteras – Canadian Hole vs Folly Beach – The Washout · Cocoa Beach vs Folly Beach – The Washout · Folly Beach – The Washout vs Wrightsville Beach