Surf Forecasts:
Playa Santa Catalina surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 17s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, SSW swell with 620 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 19s period with SW 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 Sunday (Aug 23) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 19s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 13s is also forecast. 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 1.1m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 2s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 19s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Playa Santa Catalina over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Playa Santa Catalina.
The first couple of days are a bit of a tease. We’ve got a tiny, tiny south swell showing up from Sunday, August 23rd, but it’s just not enough to get excited about. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no wetsuit surprises there.
The real story starts to build towards the end of next week. The standout window is going to be the morning of Saturday, August 29th. We’re looking at a clean 3ft swell from the SSW, with a period of 16 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell, and the wind is going to be glassy with a light NE breeze. The combined energy is solid at 542 (moderate energy), and it’s going to be clean. This is a point break, so that long period will wrap in nicely. Just a heads up: crowds are possible here sometimes.
Then, Sunday morning, August 30th, is even better in terms of size. The swell pushes up to 3ft from the SSW, and the wind is dead calm – totally glassy. The energy is strong at 507 (moderate energy), and the waves are going to be super clean. For a point break, this is about as good as it gets for a small-wave session.
Looking further out, the morning of Friday, September 4th looks promising. The swell is 3ft from the SSW with a very long period of 18 seconds, and the wind is glassy. The energy is strong at 720 (moderate energy). That’s a long-range call, so keep an eye on it, but it has the makings of something special.
And the morning of Saturday, September 5th, is the biggest we see. The swell hits 4ft from the SSW, with a period of 16 seconds and a light offshore wind from the NNE. The energy is cranking at 984 (moderate to strong). That’s an advanced session, but it’s a clean, offshore day at a point break. It’s going to be a proper one.
So, to wrap it up: the first week is a bit slow, but the second half of the forecast has some real gems. The mornings of the 29th and 30th of August are your best bet for a clean, fun, glassy surf. The 5th of September looks like the big one for the more experienced crew.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 36mm), heaviest during Mon afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Mon morning, min 26°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 38mm), heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 29°C on Fri morning, min 25°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 17 | SW 19 | SSW 16 | SW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 96 | 139 | 128 | 126 | 120 | 184 | 103 | 100 | 137 | 85 | 54 | 79 | 63 | 81 | 119 | 99 | 171 | 316 | 469 | 532 | 480 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 12:02PM2.54m | 00:59AM2.44m | 1:08PM2.63m | 1:56AM2.60m | 2:01PM2.77m | 2:40AM2.81m | 2:46PM2.94m | 3:17AM3.01m | 3:25PM3.09m | 3:52AM3.20m | 4:02PM3.21m | 4:25AM3.36m | 4:37PM3.29m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:46AM1.31m | 6:36PM1.05m | 6:57AM1.24m | 7:35PM0.92m | 7:54AM1.10m | 8:21PM0.77m | 8:40AM0.93m | 9:01PM0.61m | 9:20AM0.75m | 9:37PM0.48m | 9:57AM0.59m | 10:11PM0.38m | 10:33AM0.45m | 10:44PM0.33m | |||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | | | |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — |
 | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:36 | — | — | 6:36 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:34 | — | — | 6:34 | — |
mm | 2 | — | — | — | 6 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 1 | 7 | 4 | — | — | 7 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 11 |
Temp °C | 27 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 26 |
Feels °C | 30 | 29 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 33 | 32 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 33 | 31 | 31 | 33 | 31 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | SSW 9 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | S 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 |
| kJ | 83 | 65 | 40 | 29 | 20 | 184 | 103 | 28 | 31 | 41 | 40 | 28 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 44 | 469 | 532 | 480 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 18 | SSW 6 | S 10 | SSW 6 |
| kJ | 70 | 68 | 128 | 126 | 120 | 20 | 12 | 100 | 137 | 85 | 54 | 79 | 35 | 81 | 119 | 99 | 171 | 316 | 51 | 8 | 49 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | SW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 8 | SSW 10 |
| kJ | 96 | 139 | 65 | 57 | 37 | 35 | 34 | 12 | 12 | 23 | 11 | 10 | 63 | 81 | 29 | 94 | 146 | 24 | 22 | 7 | 20 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 2 | — | — | SSW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 6 | — |
| kJ | — | 1 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 59 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 131 | 0 | 0 | 209 | 0 | 0 | 209 | 0 | 0 | 69 | 0 | 0 | 209 | 0 | 0 | 166 | 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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