Surf Forecasts:
South Padre Island surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 3 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 5s period, SE swell with 33 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for South Padre Island this week:
The most powerful waves expected at South Padre Island in the next 16 days are 0.8m 5s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 03) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (CDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for South Padre Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get real about the next couple weeks down here.
Honestly, it’s a tough stretch on offer. The surf is looking pretty gutless for the foreseeable future. We’re staring down a run of days where you’ll be doing more paddling than riding if you even bother to get wet. For the first week, through about the 7th of September, there’s just nothing doing. Wave heights are hovering in that knee-to-waist high range, mostly around 0.7ft to 2ft, and the wind is a constant problem, blowing cross-onshore and chopping up what little bumps there are. It’s the kind of conditions that make you want to just sit on the beach with a cold one instead.
There’s a small window around the 9th and 10th of September where the swell tries to push a little higher, getting up to 3.6ft in the afternoon on the 9th. The energy picks up too, climbing into the moderate range (127). But the wind is gonna blow strong and messy, so it’s going to be a clean-up job at best. Not something I’d get too excited about.
Now, there is one little glimmer of hope. Sunday morning, the 13th of September. We finally see a break in the wind with a light, glassy morning and a clean-looking 2.6ft of ESE swell. That’s your best chance to get a few fun ones on the longboard. It’s a long way out, so don't book the day off work yet, but it’s the one to keep an eye on.
The bottom line is, we’re in a pretty flat spell. It’s one of those times where the setup looks better for a kite than a paddle. The swell direction is coming from the ESE, coming straight onshore. The forecasts can change, and with South Padre’s inconsistent nature, it tends not to stay this poor for long. But as it stands, the 13th looks like our one real chance for a surf. Keep your standards low and your hopes up.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Sun morning, min 27°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Fri morning. Warm (max 29°C on Wed morning, min 28°C on Wed morning). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 9 | ESE 9 | SE 4 | E 9 | ESE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | ESE 5 | SE 4 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 4 | ESE 5 | E 5 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 5 | ESE 3 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 6 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 7 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 19 | 20 | 14 | 18 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 4 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:36PM0.50m | 5:10AM0.48m | 7:00PM0.50m | 5:01AM0.49m | 8:53PM0.51m | 4:40AM0.51m | 00:18AM0.55m | 2:06AM0.60m | 2:45AM0.63m | 3:20AM0.65m | |||||||||||
Low Tide | 11:14AM0.31m | 11:35PM0.34m | 11:50AM0.25m | 00:12AM0.41m | 12:34PM0.20m | 00:51AM0.48m | 1:27PM0.16m | 1:42AM0.55m | 2:31PM0.12m | 3:46PM0.10m | 5:04PM0.07m | ||||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | |
 | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — |
 | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 |
Feels °C | 31 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 30 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 9 | ESE 9 | E 8 | E 6 | ENE 5 | E 5 | ENE 5 | E 8 | E 8 | ESE 5 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 6 | ESE 4 | — | SE 5 |
| kJ | 6 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | — | 1 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 8 | SE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 5 | — | E 8 | — | — | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | SE 6 | — | SE 6 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 6 | — | — | E 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 4 | ESE 3 | SE 4 | SE 4 | ESE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | ESE 5 | SE 4 | — | ESE 5 | ESE 4 | ESE 5 | E 5 | ESE 4 | — | ESE 5 | ESE 3 |
| kJ | 4 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 7 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 19 | 20 | — | 18 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 7 | — | 8 | 4 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 974 | 1062 | 971 | 971 | 1059 | 971 | 974 | 1062 | 971 | 974 | 1073 | 971 | 974 | 1059 | 971 | 974 | 1059 | 971 | 974 | 1059 | 971 |
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Information about the South Padre Island Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for South Padre Island provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at South Padre Island can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our South Padre Island 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 (South Padre Island) 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 South Padre Island 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.
South Padre Island is 66 km (41 miles) from Harlingen. If you plan a vacation in Texas, look for hotels and other accommodation in Harlingen. Harlingen has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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