
Surf Forecasts:
South Padre Island surf forecast from 25 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 28 Jul, 4PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 5s period, SE swell with 71 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 Tuesday (Jul 28) 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 (Tue 28th 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. We’re looking at the next 16 days for South Padre Island, and I gotta be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch. The wind is locked in from the southeast, blowing cross-onshore, and that just kills the quality for paddle surfing. The water temp is sitting at 83°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so at least you won't freeze.
The first week is a write-off for any decent surf. From Saturday the 25th of July all the way through to the end of the month, it’s a painful run of small, weak, wind-chopped slop. Swell heights are mostly under 3 ft, with periods of just 4 to 6 seconds, so it’s short-period, weak windswell. The combined energy is tiny – mostly in the 20s and 30s, barely a pulse. The wind is a constant 12 to 25 mph from the SE, making it cross-onshore and messy. You’re looking at a solid 8-day gap with no real surf on offer.
Heading into the first week of August, the pattern doesn’t really change. The wind stays stubbornly from the SE, and the swell remains small and weak. The mornings on the 4th and 5th of August show a little more energy – swell heights of 4 ft and 4 ft with periods of 5 to 6 seconds, and the combined energy finally climbs into the low 100s (101 on the 5th morning). But it’s still cross-onshore and choppy. It’s just not clean enough to get excited about. The setup here is a beach/jetty, so with this persistent onshore wind, it’s honestly looking more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer.
The only potential standout is way out there on Sunday the 9th of August. The morning shows a jump in swell to 6 ft from the ESE, with a period of 8 seconds and a combined energy of 368 – that’s a solid push of moderate-to-strong energy. The afternoon has 5 ft swell with 296 energy. But – and it’s a big but – the wind is still cross-onshore from the SE, blowing 15 mph in the morning and 22 mph in the afternoon. That’s going to make it bumpy, lumpy, and pretty messy. It’s a long-range call, so don’t bank on it, but it’s the only window where the ocean actually has some power behind it. It’s not a beginner wave at that size, and with the chop, it’ll be a challenge for everyone.
Honestly, for the next two weeks, the paddle surfing is grim. The wind just won’t cooperate. The surf tends not to stay this poor forever, but this is a blank run that feels normal for the area when the summer trade winds set in.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sat morning, min 27°C on Sat morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSE on Sat night, strong winds from the SE by Mon afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Thu morning, min 27°C on Tue morning). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | |||||||||||||||
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 6 | SE 6 | ESE 4 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 6 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
46 | 47 | 16 | 23 | 26 | 22 | 25 | 47 | 42 | 43 | 71 | 34 | 34 | 36 | 25 | 21 | 17 | 13 | 27 | 38 | 38 | |
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 | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:39AM0.61m | 5:58AM0.61m | 6:17AM0.60m | 6:33AM0.59m | 6:43AM0.57m | 2:05PM0.51m | 6:50AM0.55m | 3:22PM0.49m | |||||||||||||
Low Tide | 7:42PM0.11m | 8:22PM0.09m | 9:00PM0.09m | 9:36PM0.10m | 10:11PM0.11m | 11:50AM0.50m | 10:42PM0.15m | 12:02PM0.46m | 11:12PM0.19m | ||||||||||||
6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | |
— | 8:20 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:16 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
Feels °C | 30 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 27 | 30 | 31 | 28 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 8 | ESE 5 | — | — | E 8 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | — | — | — |
46 | 47 | 2 | 23 | — | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | E 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 4 | — | ESE 5 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 6 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 6 |
28 | 29 | 16 | — | 26 | 22 | 25 | 47 | 42 | 43 | 71 | 34 | 34 | 36 | 25 | 21 | 17 | 13 | 27 | 38 | 38 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 974 | 1062 | 971 | 974 | 1062 | 971 | 974 | 1059 | 971 | 974 | 1093 | 971 | 971 | 1059 | 971 | 974 | 1062 | 971 | 974 | 1062 | 971 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Texas | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










