Surf Forecasts:
South Padre Island surf forecast from 24 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 27 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 Monday (Jul 27) 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 (Mon 27th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for South Padre Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you about the South Padre Island stretch. Looking at the next 16 days, I gotta say, it's a tough pill to swallow. We’re staring down a long, stubborn run of poor conditions with hardly a window for a decent paddle.
From Friday the 24th of July all the way through to the end of the first week of August, it's a grim picture. The wind is locked in from the southeast or south-southeast, blowing mostly cross-onshore at a solid clip—anywhere from 12 mph up to 25 mph. That means choppy, lumpy, messy water. The swell is tiny, rarely even hitting 3 ft, and the period is short (4 to 6 seconds), so there’s no power behind it. The combined swell energy is mostly weak, staying in the double digits or low triple digits (18 to 120). This isn't surf; this is just wind-chop.
The first highlight, and really the only one worth any kind of hope, pops up way down the line. Come Thursday the 6th of August, there’s a tiny uptick. The morning brings a 4 ft swell from the SE with a 7-second period, and the combined energy climbs to 100. By the afternoon, it’s still 4 ft from the SE but the period stays at 7 seconds, and the energy nudges up to 118. That’s the most interesting reading in the whole window. But, and it's a big but, the wind is still a fresh cross-onshore breeze at 22 mph. It'll be lumpy, but that’s the best we’ll get. If you’re desperate for a paddle, the morning of the 6th might be the flattest and least messy of the two.
The crowd situation at South Padre Island can be *sometimes* busy, but with conditions this poor, I doubt many will be out. The water temp is sitting right on 83 °F, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no weirdness there.
The swell direction (SE to ESE) matches the optimum direction for the break (ESE) fairly well, but the short period and relentless onshore wind just kill any quality.
Honestly, for the entire first week and into the second, the setup is more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer. If you’re stuck on a surfboard, you’re better off waiting for a forecast change. It ain't looking good.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Fri morning, min 27°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Mon morning, min 27°C on Mon night). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | |||||||||||||||
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 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SSE 5 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 4 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 27 | 51 | 41 | 32 | 29 | 30 | 17 | 32 | 25 | 27 | 66 | 41 | 33 | 66 | 19 | 22 | 24 | 30 | 22 | 16 | 20 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | 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 | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:20AM0.61m | 5:39AM0.61m | 5:58AM0.61m | 6:17AM0.60m | 6:33AM0.59m | 6:43AM0.57m | 2:05PM0.51m | ||||||||||||||
Low Tide | 7:00PM0.12m | 7:42PM0.11m | 8:22PM0.09m | 9:00PM0.09m | 9:36PM0.10m | 10:11PM0.11m | 11:50AM0.50m | 10:42PM0.15m | |||||||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — |
 | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:17 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
Feels °C | 31 | 27 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | NE 5 | E 9 | — | SE 8 | SE 8 | E 8 | SE 7 | — | — | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 9 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 8 | E 8 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | NE 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 8 | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SSE 5 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 4 |
| kJ | 27 | 51 | 41 | 32 | 29 | 30 | 17 | 32 | 25 | 27 | 66 | 41 | 33 | 66 | 19 | 22 | 24 | 30 | 22 | 16 | 20 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 992 | 971 | 971 | 974 | 1073 | 971 | 992 | 1055 | 971 | 974 | 1085 | 971 | 974 | 1108 | 971 | 974 | 1063 | 971 | 974 | 1063 | 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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