Surf Forecasts:
South Padre Island surf forecast from 6 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 5s period, SE swell with 90 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 1.3m 5s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 7PM. 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 | 7PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for South Padre Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for South Padre Island over the next couple of weeks. Gotta be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch ahead. We’re looking at a long, quiet run with hardly anything to get excited about.
The whole 16-day window is pretty much a bust for decent waves. From now, starting Sunday the 6th of September, right through to Monday the 21st of September, the surf stays small, weak and messy. There’s a big gap with no real recommendations at all – just day after day of poor surf conditions. The combined swell energy is weak, mostly sitting below 100, and only creeping into the low triple digits (around 128 on Sunday the 13th afternoon) but even then, it’s accompanied by rough onshore winds. That Sunday afternoon the 13th sees swell bumping up to 4ft from the ESE with period at 6 seconds, but it’s cross-onshore with a fresh breeze and lumpy – not what any of us want.
For the break itself, South Padre Island is a beach and jetty setup, exposed to the ESE. It’s inconsistent here, and this run proves it. With the best direction being ESE, we do get a little pulse mid-month, but the wind just ruins it. Most days it’s cross-on or onshore from the SSE, SE or ESE, with speeds picking up to 25 mph at times, making things choppy and messy. For beginners, the swell stays under 5ft so it’s not too big, but the quality is so poor it’s barely worth paddling out. If you’re a kiter, some of those stronger wind days might look more interesting than paddle surfing.
Water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual to report there.
Honestly, this is one of those blank runs that’s more normal for the area – forecasts can always change, but right now it’s a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Sun morning, min 27°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Warm (max 30°C on Wed morning, min 27°C on Wed afternoon). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 4 | ESE 3 | SE 4 | SE 5 | ESE 3 | SE 4 | SE 5 | ESE 4 | ESE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 6 | SE 5 | SE 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 5 | 7 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 19 | 30 | 25 | 28 | 21 | 15 | 15 | 22 | 55 | 71 | 58 | 87 | 80 |
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 | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 3:50AM0.63m | 4:13AM0.60m | 4:28AM0.56m | 1:27PM0.55m | 4:36AM0.51m | 2:52PM0.56m | 4:37AM0.47m | 4:09PM0.56m | 4:33AM0.45m | 5:23PM0.55m | |||||||||||
Low Tide | 6:17PM0.06m | 7:22PM0.06m | 9:21AM0.53m | 8:21PM0.09m | 9:05AM0.48m | 9:15PM0.14m | 9:22AM0.41m | 10:05PM0.21m | 9:52AM0.33m | 10:52PM0.28m | 10:27AM0.27m | 11:35PM0.36m | |||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:09 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — |
 | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 |
Feels °C | 31 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 32 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 8 | — | — | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 5 | SE 8 | — | — | — | — | E 8 | SE 8 | SE 9 | E 9 | — | E 10 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 30 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | 2 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 5 | E 7 | E 8 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 4 | ESE 3 | SE 4 | SE 5 | ESE 3 | SE 4 | SE 5 | ESE 4 | ESE 5 | — | SE 5 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 6 | SE 5 | SE 6 |
| kJ | 5 | 7 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 19 | — | 25 | 28 | 21 | 15 | 15 | 22 | 55 | 71 | 58 | 87 | 80 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 974 | 1062 | 971 | 974 | 1062 | 971 | 974 | 1062 | 971 | 974 | 981 | 971 | 974 | 1073 | 971 | 974 | 1062 | 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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