Surf Forecasts:
South Padre Island surf forecast from 8 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 14 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period, ESE swell with 67 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 6s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 14) 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 (Mon 14th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for South Padre Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – the next 16 days look like a tough stretch for a proper surf at South Padre Island. The forecast is basically a long run of small, weak, onshore-slanted junk. The water temp is sitting at 84°, which is about average for the time of year, so at least you won't be needing a hood.
We start with nothing on the table for the first day. The first real chance comes in on Monday morning, September 7th, but it’s flat. We’re looking at a tiny 1 ft from the SE with a period of just 4 seconds – that’s absolute wind chop. The wind is a cross-shore SSE breeze at 9 mph, and the combined energy is a measly 5. It’s poor.
The whole first week is a slog. Monday the 7th through to the following Sunday the 13th is just a parade of onshore and cross-onshore winds from the SE and ESE, blowing between 9 and 22 mph. The swell never gets above 4 ft, and the period is stuck between 3 and 6 seconds. The combined energy barely cracks 60. It’s all choppy, lumpy, and messy. There’s no standout session here at all.
We get a bit of a change in the wind on Thursday morning, September 17th, with a light cross-offshore from the NNW at 6 mph. That’s the cleanest wind we’ll see. But the swell is still anemic at 2 ft from the E with a 5-second period. The energy is only 19. For a more experienced surfer, that might be a chance to catch a few clean little crumbly ones, but it’s not what anyone would call a good day.
The final days from the 18th to the 22nd just fade back into the same pattern: small, weak, onshore windswell. The best swell height we see in that last week is 2 ft on the 22nd, but it’s still cross-onshore and choppy.
Honestly, there are no true standouts in this 16-day window. The whole period is a washout. For a spot like South Padre, which is a beach/jetty setup that’s inconsistent at the best of times, a blank run like this isn’t totally abnormal. The forecasts can change, so keep your eyes peeled, but for now, I’d say leave the boards at home. If you’re desperate for a paddle, the Thursday morning on the 17th is your only real window, and even then it’s a long shot for a wave.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Mon afternoon, min 28°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Warm (max 29°C on Thu afternoon, min 28°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | ||||||||||||||
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 3 | SE 4 | SE 4 | ESE 3 | SE 4 | ESE 5 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | SE 5 | ESE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 6 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 6 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 21 | 14 | 45 | 47 | 36 | 49 | 42 | 30 | 36 | 44 |
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 | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 4:23AM0.46m | 6:41PM0.54m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 11:06AM0.21m | 00:14AM0.44m | |||||||
 |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | |  | | | |
 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — |
 | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 31 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 8 | E 8 | E 6 | E 5 | E 8 | E 6 | E 5 | ESE 9 | E 9 | SE 9 | E 9 |
| kJ | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | — | — | — | — | E 8 | — | — | SE 8 | — | — | E 8 | E 8 | E 5 | E 8 | E 5 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 3 | SE 4 | SE 4 | ESE 3 | SE 4 | ESE 5 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | SE 5 | ESE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 6 |
| kJ | 6 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 21 | 14 | 45 | 47 | 36 | 49 | 42 | 30 | 36 | 44 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1059 | 971 | 974 | 1062 | 971 | 971 | 992 | 971 | 971 | 1062 | 971 | 974 | 1059 | 971 | 974 | 1059 | 971 | 974 | 999 | 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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