Surf Forecasts:
South Padre Island surf forecast from 22 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 4PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 5s period, SE swell with 66 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 1.2m 5s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 4PM. 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 | 4PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for South Padre Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s happening at South Padre Island.
So, looking out over the next couple of weeks, I’ve got to be honest – it’s a real rough patch. The water’s sitting around 83°, pretty normal for late July, but the surf just isn’t cooperating. The combined swell energy in the water is really weak, mostly single-digit or low hundreds (14 to 89), and the wave periods are short and weak – mostly around 4 to 6 seconds. That’s not going to give us any proper push.
From Wednesday the 22nd right through to Thursday the 6th of August, every single report calls it "poor surf conditions." That’s a solid 16-day stretch of cross-shore and cross-onshore winds, mostly from the S, SSE, or SE, blowing anywhere from 12 mph to 25 mph. That constant onshore chop is going to mess everything up. The biggest wave height we see is about 4 feet on Friday afternoon the 24th (from the SE at a short 5 seconds), but that comes with a 22 mph cross-onshore wind. It’s not surfable in any nice sense.
Even on the bigger days later, like Sunday the 4th of August with swell heights around 4 to 4 feet from the SE, and combined energy getting up near 89, the wind stays fresh and cross-onshore. That’s going to be lumpy, bumpy, and frustrating.
For a beach/jetty setup like South Padre, this is mostly just messy and choppy. If you’re a kiter, some of those stronger wind afternoons with the 4-foot lumps might look interesting, but for a surfer on a paddle board? No way. The break is inconsistent by nature, and this kind of blank run is more normal for the area when the wind pattern is stuck.
For a standout? There really isn’t one in this window. Nothing lines up – the swell direction is mostly SE or ESE, which is okay for the break’s optimum, but the wind is never clean. No glass, no offshore, no quality. I’d say leave the board in the car and wait for a change. Things can turn around quick, but this stretch… it’s a rough one.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Warm (max 28°C on Wed morning, min 26°C on Thu afternoon). Mainly strong winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sat morning, min 27°C on Sat morning). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the SSE on Sat night, strong winds from the SE by Mon afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 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) | ESE 9 | SE 3 | SSE 4 | SE 4 | SE 3 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 8 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 3 | 10 | 19 | 66 | 42 | 38 | 46 | 35 | 31 | 34 | 28 | 31 | 49 | 49 | 40 | 49 | 51 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:01AM0.57m | 5:04AM0.60m | 5:20AM0.61m | 5:39AM0.61m | 5:58AM0.61m | 6:17AM0.60m | |||||||||||||||
Low Tide | 5:26PM0.16m | 6:15PM0.14m | 7:00PM0.12m | 7:42PM0.11m | 8:22PM0.09m | 9:00PM0.09m | 9:36PM0.10m | ||||||||||||||
 | |  |  |  |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — |
 | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:19 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 2 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
Feels °C | 30 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 23 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | E 6 | E 7 | E 7 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | ESE 9 | E 8 |
| kJ | 8 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 1 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | E 6 | E 9 | E 9 | E 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 8 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | E 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 4 | SE 3 | SSE 4 | SE 4 | SE 3 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 |
| kJ | 4 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 3 | 10 | 19 | 66 | 42 | 38 | 46 | 35 | 31 | 34 | 28 | 31 | 49 | 49 | 40 | 49 | 51 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 974 | 1059 | 320 | 214 | 1062 | 971 | 974 | 971 | 971 | 974 | 1073 | 971 | 974 | 1055 | 971 | 974 | 1059 | 971 | 974 | 1055 | 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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