Surf Forecasts:
Playa Santa Catalina surf forecast from 4 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 5 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 5 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 16s period, SSW swell with 674 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Playa Santa Catalina this week:
The surf forecast for Playa Santa Catalina over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 05) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Playa Santa Catalina in the next 16 days are 1.2m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 05) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (EST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Playa Santa Catalina over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks.
We’ve got a solid run of cleaner mornings ahead, so while the afternoons get chopped up by onshore breezes, the early sessions are where it’s at. The standout is definitely Playa Santa Catalina – a super consistent point that loves a solid SSW swell. And we’ve got that in spades. Water temp is sitting at 85°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, so the boardies are staying on.
The best of the best kicks off Friday, September 4th in the morning. We’re looking at 3ft of SSW groundswell, with a long 17-second period, and a light cross-offshore breeze from the NE. The combined energy is pumping at 654 (moderate), and the waves are gonna be clean. That’s a cracking start.
Saturday, September 5th morning, get on it. Swell bumps up to 4ft, still from the SSW at a solid 16 seconds, and the wind is glassy – dead flat from the NNE at 6 mph. Combined energy is up to 743. That’s the pick of the whole run. It’s a little more size, glassy, and that point will be reeling. Keep an eye on the afternoon thunderstorms though.
Sunday, September 6th morning is another good shout. 3ft SSW, 15-second period, glassy NE wind at 3 mph. Combined energy is 496. Clean, fun, and you’ll be able to find your own little peak.
Monday, September 7th morning: 3ft, 14-second SSW, glassy N wind. 409 energy. Still those clean conditions.
Tuesday, September 8th morning: dropping a touch to 2ft, but the period stretches out to 18 seconds, and it’s dead calm – 0 mph with glassy conditions. Combined energy is 498. That long period will make the point run nicely, but the sets will be more spaced.
After that, the mornings hold together through the first week and into the second week, but the size drops. Wednesday, September 9th morning is 2ft, 16 seconds, glassy calm. Thursday, September 10th morning is 2ft from the SW at 18 seconds, glassy NNW wind. Friday, September 11th morning: 3ft, 16 seconds, glassy NNE wind. Consistent, clean, but smaller.
Into the second week, the swell backs off a bit more but the clean windows keep coming. Saturday, September 12th morning: 2ft SW, 14 seconds, glassy. Sunday, September 13th morning: 2ft, 13 seconds, glassy and calm. Monday, September 14th morning: tiny at 1ft, but a very long 19-second period, glassy NNE wind. Tuesday, September 15th morning: 2ft, 18 seconds, cross-offshore NE wind. Wednesday, September 16th morning: 2ft, 15 seconds, cross-off NE wind. Thursday, September 17th morning: 2ft, 14 seconds, cross-off NE wind. Friday, September 18th morning: 1ft, 21-second swell, glassy NNE wind. Long period, so the point will still have shape, but the power is low. Combined energy is 235. Saturday, September 19th morning: 1ft, 19 seconds, glassy N wind.
The afternoons? Forget 'em. The wind swings onshore from the S or SSW, cross-on or straight on, and it gets messy. Not worth paddling out.
So, the real standout is Saturday, September 5th morning. 4ft, 16 seconds, glassy, and that point will be handling it beautifully. Next best is Friday, September 4th morning and Sunday, September 6th morning. The rest of the clean mornings are good, but those are the top shelf.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 44mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Fri morning, min 24°C on Sun afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Wed morning. Warm (max 29°C on Tue morning, min 26°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | |||||||||||||||
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 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 528 | 622 | 539 | 674 | 666 | 487 | 443 | 437 | 321 | 312 | 236 | 222 | 273 | 181 | 226 | 217 | 215 | 469 | 312 | 430 | 525 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | on | glassy | glassy | on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | off | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:59PM2.78m | 9:23AM2.96m | 10:13PM2.68m | 10:40AM2.86m | 11:37PM2.71m | 12:02PM2.89m | 00:54AM2.88m | 1:15PM3.03m | 1:56AM3.13m | 2:15PM3.21m | 2:48AM3.37m | 3:06PM3.37m | 3:33AM3.56m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:46PM0.65m | 3:03AM0.90m | 3:54PM0.77m | 4:20AM1.01m | 5:14PM0.80m | 5:46AM1.00m | 6:31PM0.70m | 7:03AM0.85m | 7:36PM0.53m | 8:05AM0.63m | 8:29PM0.36m | 8:58AM0.41m | 9:17PM0.22m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | |  | |  |  | | |  | | | | | | |  | | |
 | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — |
 | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:29 | — | — | 6:29 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:27 | — |
mm | — | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 15 | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 3 |
Temp °C | 30 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 28 |
Feels °C | 34 | 31 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 33 | 28 | 27 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 33 | 32 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 528 | 622 | 539 | 674 | 666 | 487 | 443 | 437 | 321 | 312 | 236 | 222 | 219 | 149 | 226 | 217 | 215 | 469 | 312 | 430 | 525 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 6 | SSW 14 | S 10 | SW 6 |
| kJ | 105 | 95 | 91 | 64 | 54 | 12 | 47 | 51 | 35 | 22 | 21 | 126 | 273 | 181 | 103 | 94 | 103 | 6 | 180 | 2 | 16 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 12 | W 8 | W 8 | SSW 9 | W 9 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SW 19 | S 8 | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | W 10 |
| kJ | 21 | 21 | 26 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 18 | 18 | 75 | 148 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 95 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 83 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 69 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 166 | 0 | 0 | 131 | 40 | 0 | 85 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Veraguas | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Panama | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Playa Santa Catalina Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Playa Santa Catalina provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Playa Santa Catalina can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Playa Santa Catalina 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 (Playa Santa Catalina) 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 Playa Santa Catalina 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Veraguas? If you are looking for accommodation near Playa Santa Catalina, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Veraguas, consider staying in Manzanillo which is 17 km (11 miles) away. Other places in and around Veraguas where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Las Minas which is 57 km (35 miles) away, Santiago de Veraguas and Chitre.
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