Galveston - Flagship Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab a coffee. This is a tough stretch for the Texas coast.

Right off the bat, things are flat and messy. For the first couple of weeks, it’s a grind. We’re looking at tiny windswell, mostly 1 to 2 ft, coming from the south and southeast, but the wind is just all wrong. For days on end, we’ve got onshore and cross-onshore breezes making a mess of what little bump there is. The combined energy is laughably low, barely cracking double digits, often sitting between 7 and 35 (weak energy). It’s just not surfable.

There is a long, bleak stretch from the 4th of August all the way through the 15th. Day after day of poor surf conditions. It’s the kind of run where you don't even bother waxing up. You'd be better off kiting if the wind's your thing.

Finally, we see a tiny glimmer of hope. On the morning of the 16th of August, we get a shift. At Galveston - Flagship Pier (United States), the wind swings around to the west at 6 mph, giving us a clean, cross-offshore breeze. The swell is still tiny, only 2 ft from the SSE with a short period of 4 seconds, so the energy is weak (17). But for the first time in weeks, the water will look smooth. The water temp is sitting at 87°, which is about a degree above normal, so it’s a warm, sticky bath.

The next morning, the 17th, looks similar again with light west winds and clean conditions, but the swell drops even more to 2 ft. Then on the 18th of August, we get a proper offshore wind from the NW at 9 mph. The swell is pathetic at 1 ft, but that offshore wind will make it look like glass. The period jumps to 7 seconds, which is a bit better for that tiny size. It’s not going to be a world-class wave, but if you’re desperate for a clean little peel on a longboard or a foamy, that Tuesday morning is the standout of the whole forecast.

Don’t hold your breath for the rest of the second week. There's a morning on the 19th with clean conditions again, but the swell is still just 2 ft and the period is short. It’s a long run of small, clean mornings that are more about getting wet than getting barreled.

Honestly, if you can wait, the best bet is that Tuesday morning, the 18th of August. It’s the cleanest we’ll see, but you’ll need a log.

Rusty.

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