Galveston Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright crew, Rusty here. Let's get into it.

Straight up, the outlook for our stretch of coast over the next 16 days is a tough one to write. I'm looking at a long, flat spell with barely a ripple on offer. The first recommendation doesn't even show up until the 21st of August, and even then, we're in a bit of a dry spell. Honestly, for the first week, you're better off taking up another hobby.

Galveston is our only spot on the radar, and it's a breakwater setup that's inconsistent at the best of times. The first few days are a write-off. On Friday the 21st of August, you're looking at tiny 1ft swell from the SSW with a period of just 4 seconds – that's pure wind chop, not surf. The cross-shore wind won't help, and the combined swell energy is next to nothing at (5). It's a pass.

Saturday the 22nd is a little better on paper with 2ft from the SW, but the onshore wind kicks up and the energy is still a pitiful (15). This pattern of small, weak, wind-affected surf holds into the following week. We get a touch more energy around the 27th of August, with the combined energy climbing to (32), but the swell height is still only 2ft with a short 5-second period and a cross-onshore breeze. It’s not really surfable.

Moving into the end of August and the start of September, the waves try to push a bit harder. By the 4th of September, we see the swell height edging towards 3ft from the SSE with a period stretching to 6 seconds. The combined energy hits a high of (39) on the afternoon of the 4th, which is still weak. The problem is the wind is mostly onshore, and the break is exposed, so it’s going to be a messy, choppy mess. The southeast swell direction doesn't match Galveston's optimum either.

There is no standout period here. If you are absolutely desperate, the best you could hope for is the mornings around the 2nd to 5th of September when the swell is at its highest (3ft) and the wind might be lighter, but it's still a long shot for a wave you'd want to write home about. The water is sitting at about 87°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for the time of year, so at least it's not cold while you're floating around doing nothing.

In short, there are no good surf options on offer in this 16-day window. It's a flat, wind-affected run for Galveston, which is pretty normal for this area during a stagnant summer pattern. Don't hold your breath on the long-range stuff; it's too far out and the pattern looks locked in. Keep an eye on it, forecasts can change, but this one looks bleak.

Rusty.

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