Surf Forecasts:
South Padre Island surf forecast from 31 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 5 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 5s period, SE swell with 25 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 0.7m 5s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 05) at 10AM. 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 | 10AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for South Padre Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again, and I've got the same story in feet and miles per hour. For South Padre Island over these 16 days, we're looking at a real flat spell. There's just no quality surf to speak of. It's one long gap with nothing to recommend.
Starting Monday, August 31st, we've got a tiny 0.7ft east swell with a 9-second period, but the wind is already messing it up. Morning has a cross-shore breeze, quickly turning into a moderate onshore chop by the afternoon. The water's a warm 84°, right where it should be for this time of year.
Through the first week of September, the story doesn't change. Swell heights hover between 1ft and 2ft most days, with weak wave energy in the teens and thirties. The wind is a constant problem, always blowing cross-onshore from the SSE or SE, keeping the ocean lumpy and choppy. The period is short, between 3 and 7 seconds, meaning weak, disorganized waves with no power.
By the weekend of September 5th and 6th, it's just messy, onshore slop. The only hint of something happens around the 11th of September. The swell nudges up to 4ft on Friday, but the wind is screaming from the southeast at 22 mph, turning the surface into a lumpy, blown-out disaster. The energy climbs to 94, but it's all wind and chop. This setup, with a beach/jetty break in a strong onshore wind, is looking a lot more like a day for the kite surfers than for a paddle surfer.
On the 12th of September, we finally get a real bump in energy, hitting 201, with the swell up to 4ft and period stretching to 7 seconds. That's the best-looking number of the whole forecast. But again, a fresh 22 mph cross-onshore wind kills it. It's going to be a bumpy, wind-blown 4ft wave. From there, it all falls away into tiny, messy conditions for the rest of the period into mid-September.
Bottom line for South Padre: the board stays on the rack. This is a normal dry spell for the area, so don't sweat it too much. Forecasts can always change, but right now, the only thing consistent is the wind blowing onshore.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Mon morning, min 27°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Thu morning, min 28°C on Thu morning). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | |||||||||||||||
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 3 | ESE 8 | SE 3 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 4 | ESE 5 | SE 4 | SE 4 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | ESE 6 | ESE 5 | E 5 | ESE 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 6 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 19 | 12 | 18 | 16 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 20 | 24 | 11 | 13 | 15 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | 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 | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 7:00PM0.50m | 5:01AM0.49m | 8:53PM0.51m | 4:40AM0.51m | 00:18AM0.55m | 2:06AM0.60m | 2:45AM0.63m | 3:20AM0.65m | 3:50AM0.63m | ||||||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 6:17PM0.06m | |||||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — |
 | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 31 | 30 | 29 | 32 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 4 | ESE 9 | E 8 | E 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | SE 8 | E 8 | ESE 5 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | — | SE 5 | SE 5 | E 9 | ESE 5 | E 8 | E 8 |
| kJ | 4 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 25 | 20 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 1 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | — | E 6 | E 8 | SE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 5 | — | S 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 8 | E 8 | — |
| kJ | 6 | — | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | ESE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | E 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 3 | SE 3 | SE 4 | SE 3 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 4 | — | SE 4 | SE 4 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 6 | — | E 5 | ESE 5 |
| kJ | — | 5 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 14 | — | 12 | 18 | 16 | 21 | 23 | 14 | 14 | 24 | — | 13 | 15 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 974 | 1062 | 971 | 974 | 1062 | 971 | 974 | 1062 | 971 | 974 | 1062 | 971 | 974 | 1059 | 971 | 974 | 1063 | 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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