Surf Forecasts:
South Padre Island surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 3 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period, ESE swell with 36 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 6s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 03) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (CDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for South Padre Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, looking at the South Padre outlook. I’ll level with you, it’s a grim picture. We’re talking a long stretch of small, wind-chopped surf that just won’t give us a break. Don’t get your hopes up early—there’s nothing worth paddling out for until well into the second week.
The entire 16-day window is ruled by weak, short-period swell and a stubborn cross-onshore breeze that’s ruining any chance of clean surf. From now through early September, waves are just ankle-high, going from 1ft to 3ft, with periods mostly under 6 seconds. That’s wind slop, not groundswell. The wave energy is weak, sitting between 4 and 72. Water temp is around 84°F, which is about normal for the season, so at least the water’s warm.
The one tiny standout is the morning of Saturday, September 5th. Early that morning, we get a light cross-offshore wind from the southwest at just 3 mph, and the report says "clean." The swell is still tiny, about 2ft from the east, with a 6-second period and low energy (30). It won’t be powerful, but for a few hours the surface should be glassy, and you might snag a few soft, rideable waves on a longboard. That’s your only real window. After that, the wind goes back onshore and ruins it.
To be honest, this setup is way more interesting for kite surfers than paddle surfers—the onshore wind and small, lumpy conditions are ideal for them. For the rest of us, it’s a tough watch. But blank runs like this happen here when there’s no tropical activity in the Gulf. The forecast can always change, and it usually won’t stay this poor for long.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sun morning. Warm (max 29°C on Sun morning, min 27°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SE on Thu afternoon, light winds from the SSE by Fri night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Mon afternoon, min 27°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 3 | SSE 4 | SE 4 | ESE 3 | SE 3 | E 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 3 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 20 | 25 | 28 | 17 | 28 | 32 | 31 | 21 | 27 | 28 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:15AM0.52m | 3:17PM0.50m | 5:16AM0.50m | 4:24PM0.50m | 5:15AM0.48m | 5:36PM0.50m | 5:10AM0.48m | 7:00PM0.50m | 5:01AM0.49m | 8:53PM0.51m | 4:40AM0.51m | 00:18AM0.55m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:48PM0.18m | 10:21AM0.41m | 10:23PM0.22m | 10:44AM0.36m | 10:59PM0.28m | 11:14AM0.31m | 11:35PM0.34m | 11:50AM0.25m | 00:12AM0.41m | 12:34PM0.20m | 00:51AM0.48m | 1:27PM0.16m | 1:42AM0.55m | |||||||
 |  | |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — |
 | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
Feels °C | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 8 | SE 4 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 9 | ESE 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | — | E 8 | E 8 | — |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 8 | — | — | — | — | S 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 8 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 3 | SSE 4 | — | ESE 3 | SE 3 | SE 4 | ESE 3 | SE 3 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 |
| kJ | 3 | 11 | — | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 20 | 25 | 28 | 17 | 28 | 32 | 31 | 21 | 27 | 28 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1062 | 971 | 974 | 1059 | 971 | 974 | 1059 | 971 | 974 | 1059 | 971 | 974 | 1062 | 971 | 974 | 1062 | 971 | 974 | 1051 | 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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