Surf Forecasts:
Galveston surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 3 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 5s period, SE swell with 23 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 Thursday (Sep 03) at 7PM. 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 | 7PM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Galveston over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab a coffee and settle in, because I'm lookin' down the barrel here at the next 16 days for Galveston, and I gotta be straight with you – it's a tough stretch. Every single record in the forecast is marked as "poor surf conditions," and the scores are a flat zero across the board. That means there's no standout session, no hidden gem, nothing to get excited about. We're in a proper dry spell.
The first real sniff of anything that even looks like a wave doesn't come 'til Tuesday, September 8th. That morning, we see a little bump in energy with a combined energy reading of 318 (moderate), pushing a 4ft swell from the SSE. But the period is short at 7 seconds, and the wind is cross-onshore from the SE at 9 mph, making it choppy and messy. By the afternoon, the energy drops to 141 (still moderate), but the same cross-onshore breeze picks up to 12 mph, making it even more of a chop-fest. For a breakwater spot like Galveston, this isn't doing us any favors. This setup, with the significant swell but poor quality and strong onshore wind on a beach break, honestly looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
The week prior, from August 28th through September 7th, is a total write-off. We're looking at tiny, weak swells – mostly 0.3ft to 2ft – with periods often as low as 4 seconds and winds that are either onshore, cross-onshore, or just plain messy. There's a solid gap of nothing. On the 5th of September, we even get a near gale from the east at 37 mph, which is just dangerous.
The second week doesn't offer any redemption. The swells stay small and weak, with periods of 5 to 6 seconds, and the onshore and cross-onshore winds stick around. On the 11th of September, we get a Friday morning with a clean, cross-offshore breeze from the NNE at 9 mph, but the swell is only 2ft with a 5-second period and a combined energy of 23 (weak). It might be clean, but there's just no power in the water to push a proper wave.
So, here's the bottom line: there's nothing to recommend in this 16-day window. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, but that doesn't matter much when the surf is flat and gutless. It's a tough run, but it's part of the deal here. Forecasts can change, so don't lose hope, but for now, the boards are staying in the car.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Thu night. Warm (max 30°C on Thu night, min 28°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Sun night, min 28°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | |||||||||||||||
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 | SSW 3 | SE 8 | S 9 | SSW 3 | S 9 | S 9 | S 3 | S 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 3 | S 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 13 | 21 | 22 | 21 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | on | cross | off | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on |
High Tide | 5:55AM0.45m | 4:25PM0.43m | 6:06AM0.44m | 5:30PM0.43m | 6:15AM0.43m | 6:42PM0.43m | 6:17AM0.42m | 8:05PM0.43m | 6:10AM0.43m | 9:45PM0.45m | 5:50AM0.46m | 00:00AM0.48m | 5:21AM0.49m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:00AM0.31m | 11:06PM0.10m | 11:31AM0.25m | 11:38PM0.17m | 12:07PM0.19m | 00:13AM0.24m | 12:47PM0.13m | 00:47AM0.32m | 1:33PM0.07m | 1:19AM0.40m | 2:28PM0.02m | 1:33AM0.47m | 3:33PM-0.02m | ||||||||
6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | |
— | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:38 | — | |
mm | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 |
Feels °C | 34 | 32 | 31 | 33 | 31 | 29 | 34 | 31 | 29 | 33 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 3 | S 4 | — | S 3 | — | SE 8 | S 3 | S 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | — | — | — | SSE 5 | — | — | SE 5 | — | — |
1 | 2 | — | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | 17 | — | — | 21 | — | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | — | SE 8 | SE 7 | — | SE 7 | SE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
2 | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | S 9 | — | S 9 | S 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | — | SSW 3 | — | — | SSW 3 | — | S 3 | S 3 | S 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 3 | S 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | — | SE 5 | SE 4 | — | SE 5 | SE 5 |
4 | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 14 | — | 20 | 13 | — | 22 | 21 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1335 | 1311 | 1304 | 1335 | 1302 | 1330 | 1335 | 1435 | 1330 | 1335 | 1437 | 1330 | 1335 | 1408 | 1330 | 1335 | 1295 | 1330 | 1335 | 1295 | 1295 |
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.











