Galveston Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking in the surf department.

Well, I gotta be straight with you – this 16-day stretch is looking pretty flat and lifeless. There are no solid swell windows. The whole period is marked by weak, short-period wind slop and onshore breezes that’ll keep things messy. We’ve got a long, quiet run ahead.

Starting from Wednesday July 29th, right through the first few days, it's all small. We’re talking swell heights of just 1ft to 2ft, with periods hanging around 4 to 5 seconds. That’s barely enough to roll over, and the wind’s mostly cross-on or onshore, kicking up chop. Thursday July 30th has a tiny bump to 3ft in the morning, but with a weak cross breeze and only 5-second period, it’s still poor. By Friday and into the weekend, we’re stuck in the same rut – tiny swell and moderate winds ruining any chance of a clean face. The combined swell energy is weak, with readings mostly between 9 and 49.

There’s a brief moment on Monday August 3rd morning at Galveston where the wind goes glassy from the northwest. The swell is pathetically small though – just 1ft – and the combined energy is only 20. It’s clean but there’s nothing to ride.

The second week doesn’t get any better. From Tuesday August 5th onward, it’s the same story: tiny 1ft to 2ft wind slop, periods maxing out at 6 seconds, and combined energy values staying under 35. A few mornings like Sunday August 9th show a clean look with light offshore or cross-off wind, but the swell is pitiful. There is no stand-out day, no wave worth paddling for.

Water temperature at Galveston is running about 87°, which is a touch warmer than normal for the season.

Honestly, this whole 16-day stretch looks more interesting for kite surfing with the persistent onshore flow than for paddle surfing. I wouldn’t even bother checking the cam. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a bust.

Rusty.

Read more