Surf Forecasts:
Galveston surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 4s period, S swell with 30 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 4AM. 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 | 4AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 4s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Galveston over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Well, folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – the outlook for the next 16 days out of Galveston is a tough one. We’re looking at a long stretch of mostly flat, choppy, and uninspiring conditions. There’s a gap of poor surf from now all the way through, with no real standout sessions to get excited about.
The water is sitting at a warm 87° on the morning of the 20th, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. The swell energy is weak, barely reaching double digits on the combined energy scale, and the waves are small and wind-battered.
Let’s break it down. From Thursday the 20th right through the end of the month, we’ve got tiny swell – 1ft to 2ft at best – coming from the SSW or S with a short, weak period of 4 to 5 seconds. The winds are mostly cross-on or onshore from the S or SW, with speeds around 9 to 15 mph, making for choppy, messy conditions. The combined energy of all swells stays low, between 3 and 38. It’s a real struggle to find anything rideable.
There’s a brief moment on the morning of Thursday the 3rd of September where the wind swings light and cross-offshore from the W at 6 mph, giving us clean conditions. But the swell is only 1.0ft with a 4-second period from the SSE, and the combined energy is a paltry 4. It’s flat, just clean flat. The following morning, Friday the 4th, the swell nudges up to 2ft from the ESE with a 4-second period, but the wind is onshore from the SSE at 15 mph, making it a choppy mess.
The only break on the cards is Galveston itself, a breakwater setup that’s inconsistent and rarely breaks. It’s exposed to the SE swell, but with the tiny, weak waves we’ve got, it’s just not happening. The optimum swell direction is SE, and we do get a bit of that towards the end of the period, but the size and wind are all wrong. For a beginner, anything over 5ft is too big, but we’re so far below that it’s not an issue – the problem is there’s almost nothing to ride.
Honestly, this run looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, given the persistent onshore winds and tiny, weak swell. For a surfer, it’s a blank run. But it’s a bit more normal for this area during this time of year – it tends not to stay poor for long, and forecasts can change.
Keep an eye on it, but for now, I’d say save your energy and wait for a better window.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Thu morning, min 27°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Fri morning, fresh winds from the SSW by Sat night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Sun morning, min 27°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 4 | S 4 | S 4 | SSW 4 | S 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | S 4 | SSW 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | SSW 4 | S 3 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | SSW 5 | S 5 | S 4 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 5 | 7 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 17 | 22 | 15 | 21 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 4:51AM0.47m | 5:16AM0.48m | 5:33AM0.48m | 5:33AM0.47m | 5:30AM0.46m | 1:15PM0.43m | 5:35AM0.46m | 2:23PM0.43m | |||||||||||||
Low Tide | 5:36PM0.02m | 6:41PM0.01m | 7:37PM0.00m | 8:24PM-0.00m | 9:02PM-0.00m | 10:36AM0.42m | 9:34PM0.01m | 10:20AM0.40m | 10:05PM0.02m | ||||||||||||
 | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — |
 | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
Feels °C | 32 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 29 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 5 | SE 5 | S 8 | SSW 4 | SE 5 | SE 6 | SSW 4 | — | — | S 4 | — | S 7 | SE 5 | — | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 4 | SE 8 | — |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 6 | — | — | 6 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 2 | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 8 | SE 8 | SE 5 | S 7 | — | — | SE 5 | — | — | S 5 | S 6 | — | S 9 | S 10 | S 9 | — | — | SE 8 | — | — |
| kJ | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | — | — | S 7 | — | — | SE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 3 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | S 4 | S 4 | — | S 4 | SSW 4 | — | S 4 | SSW 4 | — | S 4 | S 4 | SSW 4 | S 3 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | SSW 5 | S 5 | S 4 |
| kJ | 5 | 7 | 14 | — | 6 | 13 | — | 6 | 13 | — | 6 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 17 | 22 | 15 | 21 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1335 | 1439 | 1330 | 1335 | 1473 | 1330 | 1295 | 1296 | 1330 | 1311 | 1295 | 1330 | 1335 | 1307 | 1296 | 1330 | 1307 | 1330 | 1335 | 1311 | 1330 |
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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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