Surf Forecasts:
Galveston surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 14 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period, SSE swell with 48 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Galveston this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Galveston in the next 16 days are 0.9m 5s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 14) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (CDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Fri 14th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Galveston over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s just be straight with you right off the bat. Over the next 16 days, starting from August 12th through August 27th, there is not a single standout session on offer for Galveston. The best we can say is that the overall pattern is one of very small, weak, and mostly choppy surf. You’re looking at a long stretch of poor conditions, with a gap of no real recommendations from the start all the way through.
We kick off with a few small pulses, but honestly, it’s a rough start. Wednesday the 12th through Friday the 14th brings tiny swell coming in from the SSE, a mere 2 ft to 3 ft, with a short period of only 4 to 5 seconds. That’s weak, wind-driven stuff, and the combined energy is sitting at a low 16 to 30 (weak energy). Winds are onshore or cross-onshore from the south at 12 to 16 mph, so the surface is choppy and messy. Not a wave you want to paddle out for.
Saturday the 15th to Sunday the 16th, the swell drops even more, down to 1 ft to 2 ft, still short period, and the energy levels are feeble (12 to 28). Winds ease a little, but it’s still cross-onshore or onshore, so the surf remains poor.
Now, Monday the 17th and Tuesday the 18th, things get a bit cleaner. The wind swings around to a light cross-offshore from the WNW on Monday morning, and from the west on Tuesday morning. The water is clean, but the swell is tiny – only 1 ft from the SSE/SE, with a period of just 5 seconds. Combined energy is a pathetic 7 to 10. You might get a knee-high ripple, but it’s barely surfable.
From Wednesday the 19th all the way through to the end of the forecast on August 27th, the trend is downhill. Swell heights drop to 0.7 ft to 2 ft, periods stay short (3 to 6 seconds), and the combined energy is mostly a one-digit number (3 to 16). Winds are mostly onshore or cross-onshore, keeping the surface messy. The only slight relief is a couple of mornings with light winds, but the swell is just too small to bother with.
If you’re desperate for a paddle, the cleanest windows are on the mornings of the 17th and 18th, but even then, it’s a flat spell. This setup is honestly more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer, given the persistent onshore flow and small, choppy waves. For a wave-starved area like this, a blank run of this length is not unusual, but it doesn’t make it any easier. Forecasts can change, but as it stands, leave your board at home for a while.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 30°C on Fri afternoon, min 28°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Fri night, min 27°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SSE 4 | S 4 | S 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | S 4 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 13 | 13 | 20 | 25 | 23 | 30 | 30 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 16 | 25 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 6 | 8 | 9 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 6:17AM0.46m | 3:08PM0.45m | 6:34AM0.43m | 4:28PM0.43m | 6:51AM0.41m | 5:45PM0.41m | 7:06AM0.39m | 7:05PM0.39m | 7:19AM0.38m | 8:33PM0.37m | 7:27AM0.37m | 10:17PM0.37m | 7:19AM0.38m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:49AM0.38m | 10:58PM-0.11m | 11:25AM0.31m | 11:43PM-0.03m | 12:08PM0.24m | 00:25AM0.06m | 12:54PM0.17m | 1:04AM0.16m | 1:42PM0.11m | 1:39AM0.26m | 2:32PM0.07m | 2:04AM0.34m | 3:27PM0.04m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:45 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — |
 | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 32 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 33 | 31 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | S 9 | ESE 5 | SE 8 | SE 7 | — | SSE 5 | — | — | SSE 5 | SSE 7 | — | SSE 6 | S 8 | SE 6 | SE 5 | S 11 | SE 10 | SSE 4 | SE 10 | SE 9 |
| kJ | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | — | 30 | — | — | 25 | 5 | — | 12 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 3 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 7 | SE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 5 | SSW 5 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 11 | — | SE 10 | SE 7 | SE 6 |
| kJ | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | 4 | 2 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 9 | SE 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 9 |
| kJ | — | 3 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 4 | S 4 | S 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | — | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | — | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | — | SSE 6 | SSE 3 | — | SE 5 | SSE 4 | — | SSE 5 | S 4 |
| kJ | 13 | 13 | 20 | 25 | 23 | 30 | — | 26 | 27 | — | 16 | 25 | — | 12 | 4 | — | 7 | 11 | — | 8 | 9 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1335 | 1435 | 1330 | 1335 | 1469 | 1330 | 1335 | 1435 | 1330 | 1335 | 1296 | 1311 | 1335 | 1295 | 1330 | 1335 | 1311 | 1307 | 1335 | 1295 | 1295 |
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Information about the Galveston Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Galveston provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Galveston can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Galveston 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) 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 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 is 3 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.
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