Surf Forecasts:
South Padre Island surf forecast from 9 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 6s period, SE swell with 109 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 6s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) 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 (Thu 13th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for South Padre Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let's be real: the next couple weeks down here on South Padre are looking pretty grim. We're staring down a long, flat, and blown-out stretch, and there's just no sugar-coating it.
The whole pattern is set: weak, short-period swell from the southeast and a persistent cross-onshore wind. The result is a bumpy, messy ocean with almost no energy. The wave energy numbers are mostly pitiful, from single digits up to maybe a hundred, and that's about the most excitement we'll see.
We kick off this Saturday morning (August 8th) with a chance of thunderstorms and a tiny 1ft swell. That’s not surfable, that’s just chop. The wind is light from the northeast, but it's already cross-onshore. The next several days, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, are all repeats of the same sorry story. We're looking at waves under 3ft, with a lumpy, choppy surface from a moderate to fresh cross-onshore breeze.
The water is a warm 84°, which is normal for this time of year. So if you want a swim, it's fine. But for actual surfing? Don't waste your time.
Things pick up a little on Wednesday afternoon (August 12th) when the energy gets into a moderate range. We might see a wave push to 4ft, but that comes with a 25 mph cross-onshore wind. That's a recipe for a total mess. The period is still only 5 seconds, so it's weak and gutless. This is looking more like a day for the kiteboarders than for anyone with a surfboard.
The southeast swell stays more consistent in the second week, but the quality remains poor. Thursday and Friday (August 13-14) will be more of the same, with energy ranging from 43 to 109, but the wind stays up and onshore. There are a few moments of lighter breeze, like the morning of Friday the 21st or early on Tuesday the 18th, where it might get a little less bumpy. But the swell is too small and weak to make it worthwhile.
Honestly, the whole 16-day stretch is a dead loss. No standout days, no hidden gems, no clean waves. It never gets big enough to be fun, and the wind never goes offshore to clean it up. This is just a classic long flat spell for this coast. The beach and jetty break is exposed to the southeast, but with that onshore wind and short-period swell, nothing is going to line up. Keep the board in the car, but maybe bring a fishing rod.
Rusty, out. We'll get waves again, but it's not looking like any time soon.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sat morning. Warm (max 29°C on Sat morning, min 27°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NE on Sat morning, fresh winds from the SE by Mon afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Tue morning, min 27°C on Tue night). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | |||||||||||||||
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 5 | E 5 | E 4 | E 5 | E 5 | ESE 5 | E 5 | ESE 4 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 9 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 18 | 22 | 21 | 31 | 32 | 24 | 38 | 21 | 38 | 103 | 92 | 75 | 109 | 61 | 43 | 55 | 38 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | 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 | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 4:26AM0.68m | 5:03AM0.68m | 5:36AM0.66m | 6:01AM0.61m | 1:39PM0.57m | 6:16AM0.56m | 3:13PM0.56m | 6:22AM0.51m | 4:38PM0.54m | ||||||||||||
Low Tide | 6:20PM0.03m | 7:23PM-0.01m | 8:23PM-0.02m | 9:19PM0.00m | 10:26AM0.55m | 10:12PM0.05m | 10:40AM0.48m | 11:01PM0.13m | 11:12AM0.41m | 11:47PM0.23m | |||||||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — |
 | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 32 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 5 | E 8 | E 8 | E 5 | E 8 | SE 8 | E 5 | — | E 8 | SE 8 | SE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 10 |
| kJ | 9 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 21 | — | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | E 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ESE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 5 | E 4 | — | E 5 | ESE 5 | — | ESE 4 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 |
| kJ | — | 13 | 6 | — | 18 | 22 | — | 31 | 32 | 24 | 38 | 21 | 38 | 103 | 92 | 75 | 109 | 61 | 43 | 55 | 38 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 999 | 999 | 971 | 974 | 1008 | 971 | 974 | 1059 | 974 | 974 | 1063 | 971 | 974 | 1059 | 971 | 974 | 1062 | 971 | 974 | 1062 | 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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