Galveston Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about what's in store for the Galveston area over the next couple of weeks.

Look, I'm gonna be straight with you – it's a tough stretch for surf. We're looking at a solid run of tiny, wind-affected conditions for the next two weeks. The first real glimmer of anything to even talk about doesn't show up until Sunday the 6th of September, a full 16 days from now. That's a long wait with a whole lot of nothing in between.

Before that, it's a saga of poor surf. From the 22nd of August right through the first week of September, the swell is almost non-existent, usually around 0.3m to 0.6m, which is about 1ft to 2ft, with periods of only 4 to 5 seconds – that's pure windslop. The winds are mostly cross-on or directly onshore, making things choppy and messy. The combined swell energy stays weak, mostly in the single digits or low teens. There's no point sugar-coating it; it's a washout for paddle surfing. Honestly, with the persistent onshore breeze, a kite might be a better bet than a surfboard for anyone itching to get on the water.

Now, let's talk about that Sunday the 6th of September. It’s the only half-decent blip on the radar, but it comes with a big asterisk. We see a jump in the swell to 1.4m to 1.5m, which is about 5ft to 5ft, coming from the SSE, with a period of 6 seconds (still short-period stuff). The combined energy also jumps into moderate territory, around (155) on Sunday morning. The water temp will be around 31°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. However, the wave comment is still "poor surf conditions," and the winds are forecast to be onshore or cross-onshore, so it'll be choppy. At 5ft with short period and onshore wind, it won't be good quality. This swell is more noteworthy for its size than for being any kind of classic surfer's day. It's less than ideal for beginners and won't be pretty for the more experienced crew either. Given the breakwater setup, short-period swell like this doesn't usually shape up well.

Overall, it's a grim outlook for a long time. For a spot that's already inconsistent and exposed, a blank run like this isn't unusual, but it sure doesn't make it any easier to swallow.

Rusty.

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