South Padre Island Surf Break

Lat Long: 26.67° N 97.29° W

South Padre Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 12 am 21 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's South Padre Island sea temperature is
29.4° C
0.6° 

South Padre Island surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


South Padre Island surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 5s period, SE swell with 51 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 1.0m 5s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (CDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful 7AM (Fri 28th Aug)3.5ft (1.0m) 5s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for South Padre Island over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Right, I’ve had a proper look at the charts for South Padre Island, and I’ve got to be straight with you—it’s a tough stretch for anyone looking to get a decent wave. The whole 16-day run from Friday, August 21st, right through to Saturday, September 5th, is looking pretty flat and messy. There’s no standout day, no real window of quality surf. The swell is tiny, the wind is a constant problem, and the wave energy is bottom of the barrel. Let’s break it down.

The first few days, starting Friday morning, we’ve got weak swell coming from the SE at just 2 ft and a period of 5 seconds. That’s barely a ripple. The wind is a cross-onshore breeze at 12 mph, and it’s already choppy. The combined energy is a paltry 18 (weak). This pattern locks in for the whole weekend and into the start of the week. Saturday morning offers a slight reprieve with a gentler cross-shore wind, but the swell is even smaller at 2 ft and the period is still a short 5 seconds. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing wild to report there.

This flat spell carries on all the way through to the end of August. The swell height never really gets above 3 ft, and the period stays stuck around 4 to 5 seconds—that’s pure wind chop, no groundswell energy. The wind is a relentless cross-onshore, mostly from the SE or SSE, gusting up to 22 mph in the afternoons. That means every session is going to be a battle with lumpy, choppy, blown-out conditions. The wave energy values are all in the double digits, mostly between 12 and 52, which is weak to the very low end of moderate. This is not surf for the paddle; it’s more of a kite-surfing setup if you’re into that.

There’s a tiny flicker of hope around September 1st and 2nd, where the swell period stretches to 6 seconds and the energy bumps up to 46 and 62 (still weak to low moderate). But the wind is still a fresh cross-onshore, and the wave comment is consistently “poor surf conditions.” The swell direction shifts slightly to the ESE, which is the optimum direction for the break, but the size at 3 ft and the short period mean it’s just not going to shape up.

The whole run is a write-off for a decent surf. South Padre Island (beach/jetty) is a beginner-friendly spot, but it’s inconsistent at the best of times, and this forecast is a classic example of why. The combined energy of all swells directed here rarely breaks 50, and the longest period we see is 6 seconds. For a beach break, that lack of period means the waves will be fat and close out quickly. There are no standouts. Not one morning or afternoon in the 16 days scores above a zero in my book. We’ve got a long gap of 16 days here with no real action. Sometimes it just goes quiet like this, and the forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a flat, windy mess.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Thu night, min 27°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Wed morning, min 27°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds.

Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SE
5
0.9
SE
4
0.7
SE
4
0.5
SE
5
0.8
SE
4
0.7
SE
4
0.4
SE
4
0.5
SE
3
0.4
SE
3
0.4
SSE
4
0.7
SE
4
0.9
SE
4
0.6
SE
5
0.9
SE
4
0.9
SE
4
0.6
SE
5
0.8
SE
4
0.7
SE
4
0.6
SE
5
0.7
SE
4
1
SE
5
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
16
28
16
11
17
16
5
5
4
6
14
26
21
22
27
22
18
17
15
13
41
Wind (km/h)
20
SSE
35
SE
25
SSE
15
SSE
30
SE
20
SSE
15
SSE
25
SE
20
SSE
15
SSE
30
SE
30
SSE
20
SSE
30
SE
30
SSE
20
SSE
30
SE
30
SSE
15
SSE
30
SE
25
SSE
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
4:10AM0.58m
4:21AM0.59m
4:35AM0.59m
4:47AM0.59m
4:57AM0.57m
5:06AM0.56m
5:12AM0.54m
2:08PM0.50m
Low Tide
5:37PM0.16m
6:31PM0.15m
7:17PM0.14m
7:59PM0.13m
8:37PM0.14m
10:09AM0.49m
9:13PM0.15m
10:07AM0.46m
9:48PM0.18m
clear
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:03
7:03
7:03
7:05
7:05
7:05
7:05
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:00
7:59
7:58
7:57
7:55
7:54
7:53
 mm
Temp °C
28
28
27
28
28
27
28
28
28
28
28
28
28
28
28
29
29
28
28
28
28
Feels °C
31
28
28
29
28
28
29
29
30
29
28
29
31
28
29
30
29
29
31
28
29
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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