
Surf Forecasts:
Playa Santa Catalina surf forecast from 5 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 8 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, SSW swell with 561 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 6 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 13s 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 Thursday (Aug 06) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 8s. 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 08) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 2s period and expected on Monday (Aug 10) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Sat 8th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Sat 8th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Playa Santa Catalina over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, this is Rusty. Let’s look at what’s shaping up for Playa Santa Catalina. This is a point break, very consistent, and exposed to the SSW swell. The water is running a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 86°, so it’s a bit more tropical than usual.
We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but it’s worth being patient. The first real glimmer comes on Wednesday the 5th. The morning session offers a small 2ft SSW swell, but the wind is a light cross-offshore from the NNE, keeping things clean. It’s nothing special, but it’s surfable. The afternoon gets messy with onshore wind, so that morning window is the one. The combined energy is weak (138).
Thursday the 6th is a write-off with poor conditions and cross-shore wind. Friday the 7th morning picks up a bit with that same 2ft SSW swell and a cleaner cross-off breeze from the NE. The energy is starting to build (318).
Now, the standout so far is Saturday the 8th. The morning session is glassy, with a light N wind, and the swell has bumped up to a clean 3ft from the SSW (516 energy). It’s looking very good. The afternoon stays clean with a cross-off breeze and a 3ft swell (468 energy). This is a solid day for a point break.
Sunday the 9th morning is also a good call. The wind is a moderate offshore from the NNE at 12 mph, blowing clean over a 3ft SSW swell (439 energy). The afternoon turns to rain and cross-shore wind, so hit it early.
From Monday the 10th through to the end of the first week, the pattern holds with small, clean conditions in the mornings. The swell hovers around 2ft to 3ft, with light offshore or cross-off winds. The energy fluctuates between 230 and 416. Afternoons are generally a gamble with onshore or cross-onshore breezes rolling in.
Looking at the second week, the best bet is Saturday the 15th. The morning looks very good, with a light offshore N wind, glassy conditions, and a 3ft SSW swell (599 energy). That’s a strong contender for the best session of the whole forecast. The following Monday the 17th and Tuesday the 18th also have glassy morning windows with 3ft to 3ft swells, though the energy is a bit lower.
Keep in mind that this is a point break, and the longer period swells (12-18 seconds) we see in the forecast will bring in proper groundswell energy. That means better shaped waves and longer lulls between sets, making it easier to get out the back. The occasional afternoon storm risk is the main thing to dodge.
Overall, the best on offer is the 8th of August, with the 15th of August running a close second. Get out there for the glassy mornings.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 25mm), heaviest during Wed afternoon. Warm (max 31°C on Fri afternoon, min 25°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Sat morning, min 26°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 19 | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
68 | 118 | 96 | 81 | 120 | 134 | 151 | 267 | 291 | 288 | 439 | 400 | 325 | 312 | 219 | 147 | 136 | 214 | 175 | 276 | 168 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross | off | off | cross | off | off | cross | cross-off | off | glassy | off | cross-off | on | glassy |
High Tide | 8:21PM2.87m | 8:43AM3.14m | 9:18PM2.75m | 9:42AM3.04m | 10:26PM2.67m | 10:51AM2.98m | 11:44PM2.70m | 12:07PM3.01m | 1:00AM2.84m | 1:19PM3.13m | 2:06AM3.07m | 2:22PM3.29m | 3:03AM3.32m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:15PM0.64m | 2:23AM0.75m | 3:09PM0.70m | 3:20AM0.87m | 4:13PM0.75m | 4:29AM0.95m | 5:27PM0.74m | 5:48AM0.95m | 6:40PM0.63m | 7:04AM0.83m | 7:46PM0.45m | 8:10AM0.65m | 8:43PM0.26m | ||||||||
6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | |
— | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:42 | — | — | 6:42 | — | — | 6:42 | — | — | 6:42 | — | |
mm | 6 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | 6 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
Temp °C | 28 | 26 | 25 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 30 | 31 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 31 | 32 | 28 |
Feels °C | 32 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 33 | 31 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 29 | 32 | 32 | 34 | 32 | 34 | 35 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 8 | SSW 7 | SSW 8 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 17 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | SSW 13 |
68 | 41 | 47 | 42 | 36 | 119 | 151 | 267 | 164 | 288 | 439 | 400 | 325 | 312 | 219 | 147 | 136 | 126 | 175 | 276 | 118 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 9 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 9 | S 24 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | S 9 | SSW 16 | SSE 6 | SSW 19 | SSW 6 | SSW 14 | SSW 17 |
61 | 118 | 96 | 81 | 120 | 99 | 40 | 136 | 291 | 164 | 29 | 11 | 13 | 31 | 14 | 102 | 10 | 214 | 12 | 178 | 168 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 21 | S 22 | SSW 20 | SW 15 | SSW 12 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | S 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 11 | — | S 24 | SSW 18 | SW 22 | SW 22 | S 9 | SSW 21 | SSW 12 | SSW 18 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 |
9 | 9 | 37 | 54 | 77 | 134 | 123 | 43 | 47 | 64 | — | 11 | 32 | 18 | 18 | 25 | 83 | 56 | 127 | 11 | 11 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 2 | NE 2 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 83 | 83 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 40 | 69 | 0 | 0 | 85 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 85 | 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.











