Galveston - Flagship Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for the local waters around Galveston - Flagship Pier. Right out of the gate, I gotta be straight with you – the start of this outlook is a bit of a dud. We’re looking at a long, quiet stretch with no real surf to speak of for the first several days. The energy is just not there, and the swell is tiny. It’s a real flat spell, so don’t rush to wax up. Mother Nature is taking a nap.

We’re talking about a stretch from Sunday the 19th through to maybe the end of the first week where the waves are just pathetic. The combined energy is barely registering, with values down in the single digits and teens (12), which is as weak as it gets. Sizes are hovering around 0.7 ft to 2 ft, mostly from the S or SE, but with periods all over the shop – some short, choppy 4-second stuff, and a weird 11-second one that’s too small to do anything with. The wind is a constant problem too, mainly cross-on from the S or SSW, keeping things choppy and messy. A few mornings clean up with a cross-off W or WNW breeze, but there’s just no push in the water to make it worthwhile. The 1 ft on Monday morning the 20th with a clean W wind is a tease, but it’s ankle-slappers.

The water is sitting at a warm 85°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so you won’t need a spring suit if you’re just floating around.

The second week shows a little more life, but it’s still a struggle. Around the 28th of July, we start to see the combined energy creeping up a bit. The morning of Tuesday the 28th has a 2 ft swell from the SE with a 6-second period, and a clean cross-off WSW wind at 12 mph. The energy is 39, which is still weak, but it’s the best we’ve seen. The morning of the 29th is similar, with 2 ft from the S, a 7-second period, and a clean WSW wind (energy 33). Then Saturday the 1st of August morning has a clean WSW breeze and 3 ft swell from the SSW (energy 37). These are the closest we get to a surfable wave, but honestly, it’s still small and weak. The swell direction is coming from the S and SSW, which is not the optimum SE direction for this spot, so it’s going to be a bit gutless. The crowds at Flagship can be “often” busy, so if you’re desperate for a paddle, you’ll have company.

There is no standout period in this 16-day window. It’s a flat, quiet run. For a spot that’s usually fairly consistent, this is a bummer. I’d say hang up the board for a bit and maybe go for a beach run. Forecasts can change though, so keep an eye out.

Later, Rusty.

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