
Surf Forecasts:
Galveston surf forecast from 10 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 15 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 6s period, SE swell with 32 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Galveston this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Galveston in the next 16 days are 0.7m 6s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 4PM. 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 | 4PM (Tue 15th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Galveston over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: the Gulf is flat-lining. We’ve got a solid 16-day window staring us down, and to be honest, there’s not a single day in there worth getting wet for. The data is clear, and I’ve been watching this long enough to know when to save the gas money.
We start today, the 10th of September, with tiny, weak SE-ESE swell. We’re talking a pathetic 0.7 ft to 1 ft at best, with a period so short it’s barely a ripple (4 seconds). The combined energy is laughable, barely registering. This isn’t surf; it’s wind chop. And the wind? Early morning glass, but then it’s onshore or cross-onshore from the SSE for days. It’s not clean, it’s not big, it’s just... poor. This pattern sticks through the weekend and into next week. By the 12th and 13th, we see a slight bump to maybe 2.3 ft from the S, but with onshore winds of 9–12 mph, it’s a messy, choppy mess. The combined energy creeps up to a still-weak 22–24, but there’s nothing to ride with any joy.
The situation barely changes. A few days around the 15th and 16th see the swell direction swing to the SSE/SE, but it’s still struggling to hit 2.6 ft with that same short period and onshore flow. Total dud. The best you could hope for is a clean moment on the 17th morning with light NE cross-offshore wind, but the swell is only 1.3 ft. It’s a lake.
We then hit a solid lull from the 18th through the 24th. Waves drop below 1.6 ft, often below 0.7 ft. The 19th has glassy conditions in the afternoon, but the swell is a pathetic 1 ft. There’s just no energy. The combined energy values plummet to single digits for days. This is a dead zone. Even the pick of the dates – like the clean, glassy afternoons on the 18th and 19th – can't save it because there's zero wave height to work with.
The very end of the run, the 25th of September, shows a slight nudge back to 2.3 ft from the E with a light onshore breeze, but that’s still a far cry from anything surfable. The combined energy is only 24.
So, what’s the call? Galveston is a breakwater, it’s inconsistent at the best of times, and for this entire forecast, it’s offering nothing. Don’t hold your breath. For a spot this exposed to the SE, and with its optimum swell direction being SE, we’re just not getting the juice. The water temp feels average for this time of year. But right now, it’s not about the temperature; it’s about the total lack of a wave.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Fri morning. Warm (max 30°C on Fri night, min 28°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Sat night, min 28°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 5 | S 3 | SSW 3 | S 4 | S 4 | S 5 | S 4 | S 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | SE 6 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 20 | 18 | 9 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 19 | 31 | 32 | 17 | 11 | 12 | 7 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 5:05AM0.47m | 3:54PM0.49m | 5:18AM0.45m | 5:05PM0.49m | 5:29AM0.44m | 6:15PM0.48m | 5:39AM0.43m | 7:27PM0.48m | 5:43AM0.44m | 8:46PM0.48m | 5:29AM0.45m | 10:24PM0.48m | 4:15AM0.47m | 3:36AM0.50m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:19AM0.31m | 10:44PM0.11m | 10:54AM0.23m | 11:26PM0.19m | 11:31AM0.17m | 00:04AM0.27m | 12:10PM0.12m | 00:40AM0.35m | 12:51PM0.09m | 1:11AM0.42m | 1:35PM0.08m | 1:22AM0.47m | 2:27PM0.08m | ||||||||
7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | |
— | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | |
mm | 6 | — | 1 | 7 | 6 | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 |
Feels °C | 33 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 33 | 31 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 5 | — | S 5 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 10 | SE 7 | S 9 | — | S 5 | SSE 5 | — | SSE 5 | — | SE 9 | SE 5 | S 6 | S 5 |
3 | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | — | 8 | 22 | — | 31 | — | 3 | 11 | 1 | 2 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | S 4 | S 7 | S 6 | — | — | — | S 11 | SE 8 | SE 9 | — | — | SE 8 | S 6 | — | S 10 | — | — | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 8 |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 3 | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | 3 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | S 7 | — | SE 7 | S 7 | — | — | S 11 | SE 8 | — | — | — | — | SE 8 | — | — | — | — | S 7 | SE 7 | — |
1 | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 2 | S 3 | SSW 3 | S 4 | S 4 | S 5 | S 4 | S 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | — | SSE 4 | — | SE 6 | SE 4 | — | SE 5 | SE 5 |
— | — | 1 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 20 | 18 | 9 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 21 | — | 19 | — | 32 | 17 | — | 12 | 7 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1335 | 1296 | 1330 | 1330 | 1296 | 1307 | 1335 | 1295 | 1296 | 1330 | 1295 | 1295 | 1295 | 1307 | 1330 | 1335 | 1435 | 1330 | 1330 | 1307 | 1330 |
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.










