Galveston Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – the next 16 days for Galveston are a tough one to call. We’re looking at a long stretch of flat, choppy, and generally frustrating conditions. The first real surf recommendation doesn't appear until the very end of the period, so there’s a big gap of nothing much to write home about for the first two weeks.

From Wednesday, September 2nd right through to Tuesday, September 15th, it’s a quiet, messy story. The swell is tiny, mostly under 2ft, and coming from the south and southeast. The period is short (4 to 6 seconds), which means no power, no shape. The wind is all over the place – onshore, cross-onshore, sometimes hitting 19 mph with those afternoon storms. The combined wave energy is weak, barely cracking 25 at the best of times, and usually just a measly 1-14. It’s a real bust. The water temp is sitting at 88°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s little comfort when there’s nothing to ride.

The first glimmer of hope, and I mean a tiny glimmer, comes on Wednesday, September 16th. The morning sees a bit of swell from the southeast at 1ft, but the wind is cranking from the south at 19 mph, making it a fresh cross-onshore chop. The energy is still weak at 10. The afternoon is a bit better wind-wise, but the swell is still just 1ft. Nothing to get excited about.

Thursday, September 17th, offers the best of a seriously poor bunch. The morning has a 0.7ft SSE swell and a 6-second period, but the wind is still a fresh 19 mph onshore. The energy is a paltry 6. That afternoon, same story with a bit less wind.

The Standout (and it’s a sad one): If you absolutely have to get wet, and I mean *have to*, the best you’re looking at is Galveston itself. It’s a breakwater spot, so it’s exposed to the tiny south and southeast swell, but it’s inconsistent and rarely breaks. The optimum swell direction is from the SE, and the tiny 0.7ft to 1ft we get on the 17th is from the SSE, so it’s close. The crowds here are “sometimes,” so you might find a few other desperate souls. Honestly, for a beginner, it’s flat, and for anyone else, it’s a waste of a paddle. The wind is onshore, the waves are weak, and the whole setup is more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer. The absolute best call is to wait for a different forecast.

This is a blank run, plain and simple. For Galveston, this kind of extended flat spell is more normal than we’d like. Forecasts can change, but right now, there’s nothing to ride.

Rusty.

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