Surf Forecasts:
Galveston surf forecast from 25 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 4s period, SSW swell with 33 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 4s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (CDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 4s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Galveston over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey, Rusty here. Let’s not sugarcoat it – the next 16 days for the Galveston area are a real bummer. The surf forecast is a total wasteland, with no solid options to speak of until the very end. The first real recommendation doesn’t show up until the closing days of the window, and it’s a messy one.
From August 25th all the way through to the end of the month, it’s a dry spell. Tiny, weak swell with periods as short as 4 seconds – that’s just wind chop, not something you paddle out for. The combined energy is pathetic, barely cracking double digits (8-17). Winds are mostly onshore or cross-onshore, making a mess of the already small waves. Even the Saturday morning of the 29th has a brief glassy moment, but with a 1.0ft swell from the south and a 4-second period, it’s barely a ripple. You’d be better off with a flat day.
Heading into September, the pattern holds. From the 1st to the 8th, it’s more of the same: tiny 1.0ft to 1ft swells, short periods, and onshore winds. The combined energy stays low (3-78). The water is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year at 88°, but that’s about the only thing worth noting.
Then, finally, on September 9th, we see a pulse. The Wednesday morning shows a 5ft swell from the SSE with a 7-second period and a combined energy of 206 (moderate). The winds are still onshore from the SSE at 16 mph, which will make it a choppy, lumpy mess. It’s the first real pulse of energy. Even then, the call is still poor surf conditions. By Wednesday afternoon, the swell jumps to 5ft from the S, with a 7-second period and the combined energy hits 404 (strong). That’s a serious amount of water, but it’s all onshore, making it a heavy, blown-out mess. For a breakwater like Galveston, that’s rough and only for the most experienced. Beginners, stay clear – at 5ft it’s too big for you, and with that wind, it’s just plain ugly.
So, the only glimmer is that final Wednesday, September 9th, but it’s far from clean. The rest is a total write-off. This kind of blank run is pretty normal for the area when the summer patterns stall. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 30°C on Tue afternoon, min 28°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Wed morning, fresh winds from the SSW by Thu afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 29°C on Fri morning, min 28°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | SSW 4 | S 4 | S 4 | SSW 4 | S 4 | SSW 4 | S 5 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | SSE 6 | SSE 4 | S 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
5 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 14 | 6 | 9 | 29 | 11 | 14 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 5 | 7 | 9 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on |
High Tide | 1:15PM0.43m | 5:35AM0.46m | 2:23PM0.43m | 5:44AM0.45m | 3:24PM0.43m | 5:55AM0.45m | 4:25PM0.43m | 6:06AM0.44m | 5:30PM0.43m | 6:15AM0.43m | 6:42PM0.43m | 6:17AM0.42m | 8:05PM0.43m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:36AM0.42m | 9:34PM0.01m | 10:20AM0.40m | 10:05PM0.02m | 10:35AM0.36m | 10:35PM0.06m | 11:00AM0.31m | 11:06PM0.10m | 11:31AM0.25m | 11:38PM0.17m | 12:07PM0.19m | 00:13AM0.24m | 12:47PM0.13m | 00:47AM0.32m | |||||||
6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | |
— | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:42 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 |
Feels °C | 33 | 31 | 29 | 33 | 30 | 29 | 32 | 30 | 29 | 32 | 29 | 29 | 33 | 31 | 28 | 33 | 30 | 29 | 32 | 30 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 4 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SSW 4 | S 7 | — | S 5 | — | — | S 4 | SE 5 | SE 9 | S 4 | S 4 | — | S 4 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
5 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 1 | — | 11 | — | — | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | 5 | 2 | 3 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | SE 8 | — | SE 8 | SE 8 | — | S 7 | — | — | — | — | S 7 | SE 6 | — | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 9 | — | SE 4 | SE 8 | — |
2 | 3 | — | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | 3 | — | 4 | 2 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 8 | — | — | S 9 | — | — | SE 8 | E 5 | — |
1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 4 | S 4 | — | S 4 | S 4 | — | S 4 | SSW 4 | — | S 4 | S 4 | — | S 4 | S 4 | — | SSE 6 | SSE 4 | SSW 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 |
— | 3 | 10 | — | 5 | 14 | — | 9 | 29 | — | 14 | 12 | — | 3 | 6 | — | 3 | 12 | 5 | 7 | 9 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1311 | 1433 | 1311 | 1296 | 1435 | 1296 | 1335 | 1435 | 1295 | 1311 | 1437 | 1307 | 1335 | 1480 | 1364 | 1335 | 1435 | 1330 | 1335 | 1437 | 1330 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Texas | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











