
Surf Forecasts:
Galveston surf forecast from 1 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 1 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 5s period, SSW swell with 67 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Galveston this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Galveston in the next 16 days are 1.2m 5s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 01) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 02) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Sat 1st Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Galveston over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this outlook for our local stretch is a tough one. We’re looking at a 16-day window that’s almost entirely flat, and the bits that aren’t flat are messy. The honest truth is, there’s nothing to get excited about, and I’d be wasting your time pretending otherwise.
Right off the bat, the first record we have is for Friday, July 31st, and straight away it’s a poor surf situation. The wave height is a measly 1 ft from the south, with a period of only 5 seconds – that’s pure wind chop, not a wave you can ride. The wind is a cross-onshore breeze at 12 mph, making it choppy and messy. The combined energy of all swells is a weak 9. The water temp is a balmy 87°F, which is about a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s the only highlight.
The whole first week is a write-off. On Saturday, August 1st, we get a bit more height at 3 ft, but the wind swings to a fresh cross-onshore at 22 mph, making it lumpy and ugly. The period is still a pathetic 4 seconds. There’s a brief moment on Sunday morning, August 2nd, where the wind turns cross-offshore at 12 mph, offering a clean surface, but with only 2 ft of weak, short-period swell (5 seconds), it’s still not worth the paddle out. The energy is low to moderate, hitting 33 on the 4th, but it’s all windswell.
This pattern just repeats. Monday the 3rd through to the end of the first week is the same story: small, weak swell from the south, between 1 ft and 2 ft, with periods of 4 to 6 seconds. The wind is either onshore, cross-onshore, or straight on, making conditions poor. The combined energy barely breaks 20 most of the time. This is a full seven days of nothing.
Moving into the second week, it doesn’t improve. From Monday, August 10th, all the way through to Saturday, August 15th, it’s the same flat, wind-affected mess. Swell heights are stuck between 1 ft and 2 ft, periods are 4 to 5 seconds, and the wind is relentless from the south and southeast, 9 to 15 mph, blowing onshore or cross-onshore. The combined energy values are weak, sitting in the teens and low twenties.
The only break we have on the menu is Galveston, a breakwater setup. It’s rated as beginner, but it’s inconsistent, and with the swell this small and weak, it’s not breaking with any quality. The optimum swell direction is from the southeast, and while the swell is coming from the south, it’s not enough to do anything with. The crowds are "sometimes" an issue, but honestly, with no surf, there won’t be anyone out.
There are no standouts. There is nothing to recommend. The entire 16-day forecast is a gap. It’s a blank run of poor surf conditions. For an area like this, it’s not unusual to have stretches like this. Forecasts can change, but right now, for the next two weeks, leave your board in the car. If you’re desperate, the cleanest you’ll see is that Sunday morning, August 2nd, with a clean surface, but it’s still barely a ripple. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer, given the consistent onshore wind, but even then, the swell is tiny.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 30°C on Sat morning, min 28°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Sat afternoon, light winds from the SSW by Sun morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Warm (max 30°C on Mon afternoon, min 28°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Mon afternoon, light winds from the S by Wed morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 5 | S 4 | S 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | S 5 | S 5 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | S 4 | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | S 4 | S 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SE 6 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
7 | 22 | 15 | 31 | 58 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 34 | 17 | 16 | 22 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 17 | 33 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 4:38PM0.36m | 7:42AM0.40m | 5:52PM0.34m | 7:52AM0.38m | 7:20PM0.32m | 7:57AM0.37m | 9:06PM0.31m | 7:50AM0.37m | 11:12PM0.34m | 7:28AM0.39m | 6:54AM0.43m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 00:01AM0.01m | 12:57PM0.27m | 00:32AM0.07m | 1:35PM0.20m | 1:05AM0.15m | 2:18PM0.14m | 1:37AM0.23m | 3:07PM0.06m | 2:07AM0.32m | 4:03PM-0.01m | 5:07PM-0.07m | |||||||||
— | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | |
8:12 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 |
Feels °C | 30 | 29 | 32 | 30 | 28 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 33 | 30 | 28 | 33 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 29 | 33 | 29 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 4 | SE 7 | — | S 5 | S 5 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SSE 5 | SE 8 | — | S 5 | S 8 | — | SSE 5 | SSE 7 | — |
— | — | 15 | 2 | — | 20 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 3 | — | 11 | 1 | — | 14 | 5 | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | — | S 7 | — | — | — | — | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 5 | — | SE 9 | — | — | SE 6 | SE 8 | — | S 9 | — | — |
2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | 3 | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 8 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | S 4 | W 3 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | WNW 3 | — | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | S 4 | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | S 4 | — | SSE 5 | SSE 4 | — | SSE 5 | SE 6 |
7 | 22 | 1 | 31 | 58 | 2 | — | 13 | 12 | 12 | 34 | 17 | 16 | 22 | — | 13 | 12 | — | 17 | 33 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1435 | 1330 | 1335 | 1460 | 1330 | 65 | 1311 | 687 | 772 | 1295 | 1296 | 1311 | 1296 | 1295 | 1335 | 1304 | 1330 | 1335 | 1435 | 1330 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Texas | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Latest Updates
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.











