Surf Forecasts:
Playa Santa Catalina surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 11 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 11 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with 397 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 11 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 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 Friday (Sep 11) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Playa Santa Catalina in the next 16 days are 0.9m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 11) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (EST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Fri 11th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Fri 11th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Fri 11th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Playa Santa Catalina over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright crew, Rusty here. Let’s chew the fat on Playa Santa Catalina.
This is a proper point break that lights up on a SSW swell and it’s very consistent. It needs that north wind to clean it up. The water’s about 86°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year.
The first few days take a minute to get going. Skip Thursday the 10th – there’s rain on it. Friday the 11th morning is where the fun starts. We’ve got clean 3ft SSW groundswell with a long 16-second period and a light offshore breeze. The combined energy is moderate at 432. It’s small but it’ll be tidy on the point. Saturday the 12th morning is even cleaner – glassy with 2ft SSW swell, though the energy drops to 233. That's a good early paddle.
The swell eases through Sunday and Monday, but the mornings are still clean with that NE offshore flow. The energy is down in the 240 and 181 range, but with those long periods on a point, you’ll still get some long rides.
Now, for the real highlight. Look at Thursday the 17th. Morning has clean 3ft SSW swell with a 14-second period and a solid offshore wind. Then the afternoon goes flat calm and glassy, with the energy jumping to 441. That’s the session to circle – clean, lined-up point waves with a bit more grunt.
The second week gets stormy with a lot of risk of thunderstorms and onshore winds. Friday the 18th morning is still glassy with 2ft SSW swell, but after that, it’s cross and onshore breezes blowing it out. By the 21st and 22nd, the wind is hitting 19 mph, making it a proper mess. For most of the run from the 19th onward, it’s ordinary to poor for a paddle board. The energy on the 21st afternoon hits 454, but with that fresh onshore wind, it looks better for kite surfing than surfing.
So, to wrap it up: get busy on the morning of Friday the 11th, and don’t miss that glassy Thursday the 17th. That’s your window.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 45mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 29°C on Sun morning, min 25°C on Thu afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 65mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 29°C on Sun afternoon, min 26°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 8 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 11 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 392 | 397 | 397 | 302 | 214 | 183 | 183 | 120 | 116 | 73 | 146 | 71 | 79 | 214 | 126 | 270 | 229 | 326 | 318 | 242 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | off | cross-off | on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | off | cross-off | on | glassy | cross-on | on | off |
High Tide | 3:33AM3.56m | 3:52PM3.48m | 4:14AM3.67m | 4:34PM3.52m | 4:53AM3.68m | 5:14PM3.48m | 5:30AM3.60m | 5:53PM3.36m | 6:07AM3.46m | 6:31PM3.19m | 6:44AM3.26m | 7:10PM2.99m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:17PM0.22m | 9:44AM0.24m | 9:59PM0.15m | 10:26AM0.14m | 10:40PM0.15m | 11:05AM0.12m | 11:18PM0.23m | 11:44AM0.18m | 11:56PM0.36m | 12:21PM0.31m | 00:33AM0.54m | 1:00PM0.49m | 1:11AM0.74m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — |
 | 6:27 | — | — | 6:27 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:23 | — |
mm | 11 | 3 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 8 | 20 | — | 5 | 11 | — | 6 | 10 | 1 | 10 | 14 | 8 | 10 | 6 |
Temp °C | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 26 |
Feels °C | 30 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 33 | 31 | 29 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 31 | 30 | 33 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 7 | SSW 11 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 |
| kJ | 392 | 397 | 397 | 302 | 214 | 183 | 183 | 62 | 80 | 73 | 59 | 53 | 44 | 37 | 126 | 270 | 229 | 326 | 318 | 242 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 7 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 7 | SSW 6 | SSW 10 |
| kJ | 35 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 23 | 37 | 54 | 120 | 116 | 68 | 65 | 57 | 79 | 214 | 123 | 62 | 62 | 34 | 33 | 75 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | W 10 | W 9 | SSW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 21 | SSW 21 | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | S 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 23 |
| kJ | 110 | 2 | 2 | 37 | 15 | 13 | 31 | 45 | 44 | 37 | 146 | 71 | 37 | 54 | 24 | 24 | 12 | 9 | 20 | 54 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 69 | 0 | 0 | 83 | 40 | 0 | 85 | 0 | 0 | 69 | 0 | 0 | 85 | 0 | 0 | 69 | 0 | 40 | 83 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Veraguas | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Panama | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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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