Surf Forecasts:
South Padre Island surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 5s period, ESE swell with 31 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 0.8m 5s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 1AM. 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 | 1AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 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 – we’ve got a long, dry spell ahead for South Padre Island. The forecast is bleak for the next couple of weeks, and I’m not just being dramatic.
South Padre Island is a beach and jetty setup, exposed to the ESE swell, but it’s inconsistent. For the first two weeks, there’s just nothing to get excited about. From Monday the 24th of August all the way through to Saturday the 5th of September, the conditions are a constant "poor surf" with tiny, weak waves. We’re talking everything from a flat 0.3 ft to a meagre 2 ft, with combined energies barely reaching a measly 35 (weak energy). Add to that a constant cross to cross-onshore wind, mostly from the SE and ESE, kicking up a chop or a lump, and you’ve got a recipe for a glassy pond that’s not worth paddling out for. The water temp is about average for this time of year.
The only glimmer of hope, and I mean a tiny glimmer, shows up on the tail end of the period. On Sunday, the 6th of September, we’ll see a slight bump as the swell climbs to 3 ft to 4 ft from the SE, with the wind staying cross-on. The wave energy starts to climb into the moderate range, hitting 88 (moderate energy) on the morning of the 6th and 109 (moderate energy) on the morning of the 7th. But even then, the swell period is a short 5 to 6 seconds, and the wind is a fresh 19 to 22 mph, making it lumpy and messy. It’s not a clean, rideable wave for a paddle surfer. With that strong, lumpy cross-on wind, this setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than someone with a paddle.
The real standout, if you can call it that, is the morning of Monday the 7th of September. It’s the only day where the combined energy hits a moderate three-digit figure (109), with a 4 ft swell from the ESE and a cross wind. But it’s still a short-period swell (6 seconds), and the wind is a fresh 22 mph. It’s not pretty. For a beginner, that 4 ft swell is borderline, but the wind and chop make it a tough paddle. Honestly, for the next 16 days, there’s not a single session I’d be excited about. We’ve got a 13-day gap of rubbish from the 24th of August right through to the 5th of September, and the small bump on the 6th-8th of September is still far from clean. It’s a tough run for a spot that’s already inconsistent. Stay tuned, it can’t stay this poor for long.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sun night, min 27°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Sat morning, min 27°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 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) | E 9 | ESE 9 | SE 4 | SSE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | ESE 3 | SE 4 | SE 5 | ESE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | ESE 4 | SE 4 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 4 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 2 | 8 | 15 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 11 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 9 | 15 | 19 | 31 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | 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 | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 4:47AM0.59m | 4:57AM0.57m | 5:06AM0.56m | 5:12AM0.54m | 2:08PM0.50m | 5:15AM0.52m | 3:17PM0.50m | 5:16AM0.50m | 4:24PM0.50m | 5:15AM0.48m | 5:36PM0.50m | ||||||||||
Low Tide | 7:59PM0.13m | 8:37PM0.14m | 10:09AM0.49m | 9:13PM0.15m | 10:07AM0.46m | 9:48PM0.18m | 10:21AM0.41m | 10:23PM0.22m | 10:44AM0.36m | 10:59PM0.28m | 11:14AM0.31m | 11:35PM0.34m | |||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — |
 | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 29 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 | SE 5 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ESE 9 | E 9 |
| kJ | 2 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 1 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 8 | — | — | — | SE 7 | — | E 10 | SE 7 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 3 | SE 3 | SE 4 | SSE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | ESE 3 | SE 4 | — | ESE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | ESE 4 | SE 4 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 4 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 |
| kJ | 2 | 5 | 15 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 6 | 7 | 8 | — | 13 | 15 | 11 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 9 | 15 | 19 | 31 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 974 | 1063 | 971 | 974 | 1051 | 971 | 974 | 1059 | 971 | 974 | 1059 | 971 | 974 | 1062 | 971 | 971 | 1059 | 971 | 974 | 1059 | 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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