
Surf Forecasts:
Galveston surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 5s period, SSE swell with 21 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Galveston this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Galveston in the next 16 days are 0.6m 5s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 1AM. 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 | 1AM (Sat 18th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Galveston over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, this is Rusty. Let's talk about what's happening in the water.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – we're looking at a pretty grim stretch here. The next week and a half is basically a write-off for Galveston. The swell is tiny, the wind is mostly on or cross-onshore, and the forecast is just a long list of "poor surf conditions." We're looking at a solid 14-day gap of nothing worth paddling out for. The water temp is sitting at a warm 86°, which is about average for this time of year, but that's the only nice thing I can say.
The first real glimmer of hope, and I mean a tiny one, shows up on the morning of Friday, the 31st of July. We'll see a bump in swell, with waves coming in around 4 ft from the S. The energy is still weak though, only hitting about 85 (combined energy), with a short, choppy period of 6 seconds. The wind is going to be a problem, blowing cross-on at 15 mph, so it'll be lumpy and messy.
Then, heading into Saturday, the 1st of August, the swell holds at 4 ft from the SSE. The energy nudges up a touch to 104 (moderate energy), but again, the wind is a letdown – onshore at 18 mph. It's still a messy, poor surf situation.
Honestly, for the whole 16-day window, there isn't a single standout or a true highlight. The setup is so poor that if you're looking at a beach break, it's more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. Sometimes it just goes flat, and this is one of those normal, blank runs for the area. Keep your board in the car just in case, but don't hold your breath.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Fri afternoon, min 26°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Mon afternoon, min 26°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SE 6 | SE 6 | S 5 | SE 6 | SE 5 | SSW 3 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SSW 3 | SE 9 | S 11 | SSW 3 | SSW 4 | SE 9 | SSW 3 | SSW 4 | S 4 | SSW 4 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
23 | 24 | 21 | 11 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross | cross-off | on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 6:33PM0.34m | 8:45AM0.37m | 8:11PM0.31m | 9:01AM0.35m | 10:02PM0.29m | 9:13AM0.34m | 00:16AM0.31m | 9:13AM0.34m | 4:35AM0.36m | 4:57AM0.41m | |||||||||||
Low Tide | 1:47PM0.26m | 1:32AM-0.00m | 2:43PM0.18m | 2:14AM0.11m | 3:40PM0.11m | 2:55AM0.21m | 4:37PM0.05m | 3:31AM0.30m | 5:31PM0.00m | 6:24PM-0.04m | 7:14PM-0.06m | ||||||||||
6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | |
— | 8:19 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:16 | — | — | 8:16 | — | — | 8:15 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 |
Feels °C | 32 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 33 | 30 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 27 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 34 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 7 | S 10 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | S 4 | S 4 | SE 6 | SSW 4 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SSW 4 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SSW 4 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SSW 4 | S 7 | SE 8 |
— | 12 | 2 | 11 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | — | — | SE 8 | S 11 | S 10 | SE 6 | SE 5 | SE 10 | SE 5 | SSW 4 | — | SE 9 | — | — | SE 9 | — | — | SE 9 | — | — |
2 | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 | — | 3 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 3 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | S 11 | — | SE 7 | S 11 | — | SE 9 | — | — | — | S 11 | — | SE 9 | — | — | S 9 | SE 8 | — |
— | — | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | — | 3 | — | — | — | 2 | — | 3 | — | — | 2 | 3 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSW 4 | S 5 | S 5 | — | — | SSW 3 | — | — | SSW 3 | — | S 4 | SSW 3 | — | S 3 | SSW 3 | — | S 4 | SSW 4 |
23 | 24 | 21 | 7 | 4 | 7 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 4 | — | 1 | 4 | — | 1 | 3 | — | 2 | 7 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1335 | 1433 | 1330 | 1311 | 1295 | 1330 | 1311 | 1295 | 1330 | 1330 | 1296 | 1298 | 1307 | 1296 | 1296 | 1335 | 1295 | 1296 | 1304 | 1296 | 1296 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Texas | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










