Surf Forecasts:
Galveston - Flagship Pier surf forecast from 31 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 4s period, SSE swell with 18 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 0.8m 4s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 2s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 4s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Galveston - Flagship Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s cookin’ for the Galveston – Flagship Pier stretch.
Right now, we’re in a flat spell. The first record we get is for a Sunday afternoon, the 30th of August, and it’s a real bummer. The water’s a touch warmer than normal at 87°, but with a weak 0.3ft southeasterly windswell and an onshore breeze, the combined wave energy is a measly 5 (5). It’s just poor surf conditions. Honestly, for the first week, from the 30th of August right through to the 11th of September, the swell barely tickles the knee. You’re looking at 0.3ft to 2ft with short periods – mostly 4 to 7 seconds – and the wind is almost always onshore or cross-onshore. The energy never gets above 20 (20). It’s a long, drawn-out gap of nothing worth paddling for. There are a few cleaner mornings, like the 31st of August morning with a light northerly and the 7th of September morning with a light cross-offshore, but the swell is just too tiny to do anything with.
Things start to get a bit more interesting around the 11th of September. That Friday morning, the 11th, sees a pulse of 4ft from the SSE with a period of 7 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 163 (163) – that’s moderate energy – and the wind is cross-offshore out of the WSW, making it clean. Still, the wave comment says "poor surf conditions," so it’s likely a bit raw and lumpy under the surface. The afternoon gets messy with a 19 mph onshore, so the morning is the only window.
The real standout, and the only one I’d call a true highlight, is the morning of the 12th of September. That Saturday morning, the swell is 4ft from the SSE with an 8-second period, with a combined energy of 145 (145). The wind is a gentle 9 mph cross-offshore from the west. The wave comment says "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions," but for this stretch, that’s the best we’re gonna get. It’s a clean, rideable morning. The waves will be small and weak, but it’s the only time in the whole 16-day window where the conditions line up for a proper session. The break is a beach/pier, and with the crowds listed as "often", expect plenty of company. The swell direction is SSE, which is from the SE to SSE optimum for this spot, so it’s hitting the beach right. The short period (8 seconds) means it’s windswell, so it’ll be a bit crumbly, but it’s the only game in town.
After that, the 13th of September sees a bigger 6ft swell, but it’s ruined by a moderate cross-shore and then a fresh cross-onshore. The energy is high at 355 (355), but the wind shreds it. The rest of the second week, from the 14th of September onward, is back to poor conditions with onshore winds and lumpy seas.
So, bottom line: the first week is a total washout. The second week flickers to life for that one morning. If you’re itching to get wet, be at Flagship Pier on the morning of the 12th of September. Bring a log and expect small, clean waves with a crowd. It’s not epic, but it’s the only chance we’ve got.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 30°C on Sun afternoon, min 27°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Warm (max 29°C on Wed afternoon, min 28°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | ||||||||||||||
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 9 | S 3 | SE 8 | SE 7 | ESE 5 | E 5 | S 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | SE 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 3 | SSE 4 | S 4 | SSE 3 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 18 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-off | on | glassy | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 6:42PM0.43m | 6:17AM0.42m | 8:05PM0.43m | 6:10AM0.43m | 9:45PM0.45m | 5:50AM0.46m | 00:00AM0.48m | 5:21AM0.49m | 4:56AM0.53m | 4:28AM0.56m | ||||||||||
Low Tide | 00:13AM0.24m | 12:47PM0.13m | 00:47AM0.32m | 1:33PM0.07m | 1:19AM0.40m | 2:28PM0.02m | 1:33AM0.47m | 3:33PM-0.02m | 4:47PM-0.05m | 6:04PM-0.07m | ||||||||||
— | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | |
7:43 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — | |
mm | — | 1 | 2 | — | 15 | 4 | 1 | — | 3 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 |
Feels °C | 32 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 33 | 31 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 33 | 31 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | SE 8 | S 3 | — | ESE 5 | E 5 | ESE 5 | — | SSE 4 | SSW 4 | SE 7 | SSE 4 | — | S 7 | SSE 4 | S 4 | — | SE 4 | SE 4 | S 6 |
2 | 3 | 1 | — | 5 | 4 | 2 | — | 8 | 2 | 2 | 5 | — | 1 | 3 | 3 | — | 4 | 5 | 1 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | — | SE 8 | SE 7 | — | SSW 3 | — | — | — | S 7 | — | S 6 | S 7 | — | S 6 | SSE 5 | — | — | SW 4 | — |
2 | — | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | S 8 | — | — | — | SE 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 3 | S 3 | — | — | — | W 2 | S 4 | SSE 4 | SW 4 | SE 4 | SSE 4 | — | SSE 4 | SSE 3 | — | — | SSE 3 | — | — | SE 4 |
1 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 6 | 18 | 4 | 4 | 7 | — | 3 | 4 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 4 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1436 | 1332 | 1337 | 1437 | 1332 | 1336 | 1437 | 1318 | 1337 | 1303 | 1294 | 1336 | 1294 | 1294 | 1337 | 1294 | 1332 | 1337 | 1440 | 1332 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Texas | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











