96°
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
37%
21
Beaufort County, SC · Atlantic Ocean
Hilton Head Island
Coligny Beach Park, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
Twelve miles of hard-packed Atlantic sand on a wooded barrier island — golf-cart-and-bike-path infrastructure, master-planned-resort character (Sea Pines, Palmetto Dunes, Forest Beach), the iconic red-and-white Harbour Town Lighthouse. Warm summer water and gentle surf make it one of the South's top family beach destinations.
Today's Conditions
Skip the beach today.
Thunderstorms · NWS alert active · 96°F air
Full NWS forecast for Today
A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Heat index values as high as 110. Southwest wind 7 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 77. Heat index values as high as 105. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Weather
- 96°F air — heat risk — serious hydration required
- 37% rain — pop-up showers possible
Water
- 86°F water — warm — full-day swim weather
Safety
- Thunderstorms — stay off the water when storms approach
- UV 11 (extreme) — spf 50+ mandatory, limit mid-day exposure
- NWS alert active — heat advisory issued july 12 at 2:28am edt until july 12 at 7:00pm edt by nws charleston sc
11 /100
skip
0 Swim
30 Sunbathe
11 Walk
0 Fish
23 Photo
Best for sunbathing today
Weather alert in effect
Heat Advisory issued July 12 at 2:28AM EDT until July 12 at 7:00PM EDT by NWS Charleston SC
Atmosphere
Air Temp
96°F
Clear
Wind
7 to 10 mph
SW
Rain
37%
Today
UV Peak
11 Extreme
High 11 AM–02 PM · burn in ~18m
Burn-free before 09 AM & after 04 PM
Tomorrow
91°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Water
Water Temp
86°F
Swimming weather
Next High Tide
8:17 PM
8.7 ft · in 5.1h
Wave Height
2.0 ft
E swell
Barometer
30.11 inHg
1020 hPa
Water Quality
Clean
10 MPN/100mL · Enterococcus
USGS · sampled 7mo ago
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
6:25 AM
Sunset
8:31 PM
Moon · 5%
Waning Crescent
Spring tides — bigger range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:31 AM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| 7:38 AM | High | 7.1 ft |
| 1:45 PM | Low | -0.2 ft |
| 8:17 PM | High | 8.7 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:27 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 8:36 AM | High | 7.3 ft |
| 2:40 PM | Low | -0.4 ft |
| 9:12 PM | High | 8.8 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:20 AM | Low | 0.1 ft |
| 9:31 AM | High | 7.5 ft |
| 3:34 PM | Low | -0.5 ft |
| 10:05 PM | High | 8.9 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:13 AM | Low | 0.0 ft |
| 10:24 AM | High | 7.7 ft |
| 4:28 PM | Low | -0.5 ft |
| 10:57 PM | High | 8.8 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:04 AM | Low | -0.0 ft |
| 11:17 AM | High | 7.8 ft |
| 5:20 PM | Low | -0.4 ft |
| 11:46 PM | High | 8.6 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:53 AM | Low | -0.0 ft |
| 12:09 PM | High | 7.8 ft |
| 6:11 PM | Low | -0.1 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:35 AM | High | 8.2 ft |
| 6:40 AM | Low | 0.1 ft |
| 1:00 PM | High | 7.7 ft |
| 7:00 PM | Low | 0.2 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8667999, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
91°
Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
52%
22
90°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
66%
17
92°
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
24%
36
93°
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
15%
39
95°
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
15%
35
94°
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
17%
36
What to Bring Today
- critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 11 — very high
- recommended Umbrella or shade warm day, light wind
- optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 86°F
- optional Light cover-up, watch for pop-ups 37% rain chance
- critical Extra water / electrolytes 96°F - heat risk
- recommended Cooling towel or hat sustained heat
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.
Major
10:10 PM - 12:10 AM
Minor
3:40 AM - 4:40 AM
Major
10:50 AM - 12:50 PM
Minor
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Beach Info
Parking
Public beach accesses with paid lots: Coligny Beach, Driessen Beach, Folly Field, Burke's Beach, Alder Lane. Resort/private accesses for guests of those resorts.
Dogs
Dogs prohibited on the beach 10 AM – 5 PM, April 1 – September 30. Leashed access otherwise.
Entry Fee
Free
Address
Coligny Beach Park, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Hilton Head Island today?
Hilton Head Island 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 Hilton Head Island dog-friendly?
Dogs prohibited on the beach 10 AM – 5 PM, April 1 – September 30. Leashed access otherwise.
Is there an entry fee at Hilton Head Island?
Entry to Hilton Head Island is free.
Are there lifeguards at Hilton Head Island?
Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Hilton Head Island during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.
What amenities are at Hilton Head Island?
Amenities at Hilton Head Island include lifeguards at staffed accesses, restrooms, showers, restaurants nearby, bike paths.
When is the water warmest at Hilton Head Island?
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 Hilton Head Island located?
Hilton Head Island is in Beaufort County, SC, at Coligny Beach Park, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS