Surf Forecasts:
South Padre Island surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period, SE swell with 35 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 Wednesday (Aug 26) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Wed 26th 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's be straight with you. This is a tough one for South Padre Island. The whole 16-day outlook is a bit of a heartbreaker, to be honest.
We're looking at a stretch that starts now and runs through to the 6th of September. The problem is, there's just no swell to speak of. The energy is weak, under 100 (like 10 to 30), and the surf is just small, wind-blown slop for the entire run. You'll see a few little pulses, but they won't be enough to get excited about. The wind is mostly cross or cross-on, and it's often fresh, so the surface is going to be lumpy, choppy, and just plain messy.
Forget about any standout sessions. The best you can hope for is a few knee-high crumbles on a gentler morning with a light cross-shore. South Padre is a beach/jetty setup, and with the weak, short-period swell and wind, this is honestly looking more like a kitesurfing forecast than a paddle surfing one. The water temp is about average for the time of year, no big anomalies to report.
So, the short version: don't bother. The surf is poor across the board. It's one of those blank runs that happen here. Leave the board in the car and go for a walk on the beach. Forecasts can change, but right now, I've got nothing good to say.
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 28°C on Mon night, min 27°C on Mon night). 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 | SSE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 5 | ESE 5 | SE 4 | SE 5 | ESE 5 | SE 4 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 9 | 13 | 15 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 15 | 23 | 26 | 22 | 25 | 16 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 15 | 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 | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 4:21AM0.59m | 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 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
Feels °C | 29 | 28 | 27 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 28 | 29 | 32 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 29 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 8 | SE 6 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | SE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 8 | SE 8 | E 8 | SE 5 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 5 | SE 8 | E 8 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 1 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 9 | — | — | SE 8 | — | — | E 8 | — | — | E 8 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 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 | SSE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 4 | — | ESE 5 | SE 4 | — | ESE 5 | SE 4 |
| kJ | 9 | 13 | 15 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 15 | 23 | 26 | 22 | 25 | 16 | — | 12 | 10 | — | 15 | 15 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 974 | 1051 | 971 | 974 | 1073 | 971 | 974 | 1059 | 971 | 974 | 992 | 971 | 974 | 1059 | 971 | 974 | 1063 | 971 | 383 | 1328 | 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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