Surf Forecasts:
South Padre Island surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period, SSE swell with 45 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 0.9m 5s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 2s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for South Padre Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let me tell you, it's a tough stretch ahead for South Padre Island. We're looking at a long, dry spell with barely a ripple to get excited about for the better part of two weeks.
The water's sitting at a warm 85°F with the anomaly being just 1°F, so that's about what you'd expect for this time of year. Feels like a warm bath, but that's about the only thing going for us.
Honestly, from Saturday the 22nd of August right through to Saturday the 5th of September, it's a grim run. The combined energy of all swells is mostly in the single digits and low teens, with a few readings barely cracking 20. That's weak, weak energy. The swell heights are tiny, mostly 1ft to 2ft, with short periods of 3 to 6 seconds – that's just wind chop, not proper surf. And the wind is almost always a cross or cross-onshore breeze, making it even messier. Every single report says "poor surf conditions." There's nothing to recommend here for a surfer.
The only tiny flicker of hope comes right at the very end of the forecast. On Sunday the 6th of September, we finally see a pulse. The swell bumps up to 4ft in the morning from the ESE, with a period of 7 seconds and the combined energy climbs to 138, which is finally moderate. It's still a cross-onshore wind at 16 mph, though, so it'll be choppy and not clean. The afternoon drops slightly to 4ft from the SE. It's still poor surf conditions, but it's the first sign of life we've seen. For a beginner spot like South Padre Island, anything over 5ft is getting too big anyway, so maybe this is a glimmer for the absolute die-hards.
But for the next 15 days, don't bother. It's a blank run. Hang up the board, check the kite gear if that's your thing, because the wind is blowing, or just wait for the forecasts to change. They usually do.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sat morning, min 26°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Wed morning, min 27°C on Tue morning). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 5 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 3 | SE 3 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 4 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | SE 4 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 9 | 10 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 22 | 16 | 12 | 22 | 31 | 18 | 23 | 16 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 4:35AM0.59m | 4:47AM0.59m | 4:57AM0.57m | 5:06AM0.56m | 5:12AM0.54m | 2:08PM0.50m | 5:15AM0.52m | 3:17PM0.50m | |||||||||||||
Low Tide | 6:31PM0.15m | 7:17PM0.14m | 7:59PM0.13m | 8:37PM0.14m | 10:09AM0.49m | 9:13PM0.15m | 10:07AM0.46m | 9:48PM0.18m | 10:21AM0.41m | 10:23PM0.22m | |||||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | | |
 | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — |
 | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
Feels °C | 29 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 28 | 29 | 32 | 29 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 8 | SE 6 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ESE 5 | E 8 | E 8 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 1 | 1 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 7 | — | E 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 8 | — | — | E 8 | SE 7 | — | E 9 | — | — |
| kJ | — | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 5 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 3 | SE 3 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 4 | — | ESE 5 | SE 4 |
| kJ | 9 | 10 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 22 | 16 | 12 | 22 | 31 | — | 23 | 16 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 974 | 992 | 971 | 974 | 1073 | 971 | 974 | 1063 | 971 | 1000 | 1062 | 971 | 974 | 1059 | 971 | 385 | 1063 | 971 | 974 | 1062 | 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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