Galveston Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be honest with each other right off the bat. Looking at the whole 16-day window for Galveston, it’s a tough one. The swell is tiny, the wind is rarely working in our favour, and the wave comment for every single forecast period is "poor surf conditions." There’s nothing here that’s going to get a surfer out of bed before dawn. We’re looking at a long stretch of knee-high slop and chop.

The first sliver of anything worth mentioning isn't even really surfable. On Wednesday, July 22nd, we’ve got a 1.0ft swell from the SSW, but it’s a horrible short-period windswell of only 4 seconds. The combined energy is a measly 6, which is weak. The morning has a WNW wind blowing cross-offshore, which keeps the surface clean, but there’s just no power. The water temp is a warm 86°F, which is about average for this time of year, so at least you won't be cold standing on the beach wondering why you brought a board.

We move into Thursday, July 23rd. The morning is the best it’s going to get. We have a 2ft swell from the S, still a short period of 6 seconds, but the combined energy bumps up to 27 (still weak). The wind is from the N at 19 mph, blowing cross-offshore, which is the only time we’ll see clean conditions. If you’re desperate for a paddle on a foamie, this is your window. It’s inconsistent and beginner-friendly, so you won’t be fighting for the scraps. But don’t expect anything more than a dribbly shorebreak.

The afternoon of that same day is a write-off. A near gale from the SSW at 34 mph blows it straight onshore, turning the 3ft swell into a complete washing machine. The wave energy is only 97, which is still weak, but the wind will make it unrideable. This setup, with onshore wind and a small, weak swell at a beach-and-breakwater setup, honestly looks more like a kite session than a paddle surf session.

The rest of the month and into the first week of August is a painful repetition. Swell heights bounce between 1ft and 3ft, all from the S or SSE, with periods stuck between 3 and 6 seconds. The combined energy rarely gets above 45. The wind is almost always cross-on, onshore, or choppy. There’s a stretch from Friday, July 25th, right through to the end of the 16 days that is just blank. No standout days, no clean windows, no decent swell. For the area, this blank run is a bit more normal than we’d like, but it doesn’t make it any easier to swallow.

The only other faint glimmer is on the morning of Sunday, August 2nd, where we have a 3ft SSW swell with a 5-second period. The wind is from the WSW at 9 mph, blowing cross-shore, leaving a gentle cross-chop on the surface. The combined energy is 38. It’s still poor, but it’s the only other time we see a cross-off or cross-shore wind.

Honestly, if you have to paddle out, go for the morning of Thursday, July 23rd. It’s the only time the wind is clean, and the swell is at least a little rideable. Otherwise, leave the boards in the car and check the forecast in a few days. Things can change, but right now, it’s looking grim.

Keep your chin up,
Rusty

Read more