Surf Forecasts:
Galveston - Flagship Pier surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 4s period, S swell with 28 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Galveston - Flagship Pier this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Galveston - Flagship Pier in the next 16 days are 0.9m 4s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 4s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Galveston - Flagship Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's break down what we've got in the water for the next couple weeks.
I'll be honest with you, it's a tough stretch. We're looking at a full 16 days, but there's not a single red-letter day in the mix. The first chance to even think about paddling out is starting on the morning of August 19th, but it's weak, short-period swell from the South at only 2ft with a period of just 4 seconds. That's barely a bump, and the combined energy is a low 9. The water is about 88°, which is a touch warmer than normal. But with a moderate cross-onshore breeze, it's just choppy and flat.
The whole first week is the same story. Tiny swell, never getting above 2ft, and the period is stuck on 4 to 5 seconds. That's pure windswell, no power. We get a few clean windows with cross-off winds in the mornings, like August 21st, 22nd, and 23rd, and again on the morning of August 28th, but the swell is so small you'll be sitting on your board doing nothing. The combined energy finally cracks 30 late on the 27th, hitting 30, so still very weak. It's going to be a lot of waiting.
Now, there is a little something on the morning of August 28th. The swell bumps up to 3ft from the SSW with a 5-second period, and that combined energy jumps to 67. It's still short-period, but with a gentle cross-off wind WSW at 15 mph, conditions will be clean. But don't get too excited – it's the only slightly interesting moment in a long, flat spell. For Galveston – Flagship Pier (beach/pier), that's just how it goes sometimes. It can be fairly consistent, but when it's poor, it drags on.
The second week offers no hope. From August 29th all the way to September 3rd, we're back to tiny 1ft to 2ft junk with periods of 4 to 6 seconds. The energy stays in the low double digits, and the winds are mostly onshore or cross-onshore. There is one clean moment on the morning of September 3rd with a light offshore from the NNW at 5 mph, but with a 1ft SE swell of 5 seconds, it's barely a ripple.
So, the bottom line is: if you're itching for a paddle, the cleanest window with the most juice is the morning of August 28th, but don't expect any push. For the rest, leave the board in the truck. The setup actually looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing with the constant onshore wind and weak swell. Don't lose all hope, though – forecasts can always change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Wed afternoon, min 28°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Fri afternoon, light winds from the W by Sat morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Sat afternoon, min 28°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Sun morning, fresh winds from the S by Mon night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | SSW 4 | S 4 | S 4 | SSW 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
7 | 21 | 9 | 8 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 14 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 4:30AM0.45m | 4:51AM0.47m | 5:16AM0.48m | 5:33AM0.48m | 5:33AM0.47m | 5:30AM0.46m | 1:15PM0.43m | |||||||||||||
Low Tide | 4:29PM0.03m | 5:36PM0.02m | 6:41PM0.01m | 7:37PM0.00m | 8:24PM-0.00m | 9:02PM-0.00m | 10:36AM0.42m | 9:34PM0.01m | ||||||||||||
— | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | |
7:54 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:49 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 |
Feels °C | 30 | 28 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 33 | 31 | 30 | 33 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 5 | SE 5 | S 8 | SSW 4 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SSW 4 | S 7 | S 6 | S 4 | SE 6 | — | — | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 10 | — | S 8 | S 8 | SE 5 | — | S 6 | SE 6 | SE 8 | SE 7 | — | — | — | — | SE 5 | — | — | SE 8 | — |
— | 4 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 3 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SE 9 | — | SE 6 | S 7 | — | — | — | S 6 | — | SE 8 | — | — | — | SE 9 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | 3 | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | — | S 4 | S 4 | SSW 4 | S 4 | S 4 | WSW 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 |
7 | 21 | 9 | 8 | 14 | — | 6 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 14 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1436 | 875 | 1337 | 1436 | 1332 | 1337 | 1296 | 1332 | 1303 | 1310 | 1332 | 1337 | 1295 | 1332 | 1294 | 1295 | 1310 | 1337 | 1295 | 1332 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Texas | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Galveston - Flagship Pier Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Galveston - Flagship Pier provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Galveston - Flagship Pier can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Galveston - Flagship Pier surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Galveston - Flagship Pier) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Galveston - Flagship Pier may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Galveston - FlagshipPier is 4 km (2 miles) from Galveston. If you plan a vacation in Texas, look for hotels and other accommodation in Galveston. Galveston has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











