Surf Forecasts:
South Padre Island surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 26 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 5s period, SE swell with 49 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 1.1m 5s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 26) 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 (Sun 26th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for South Padre Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, it’s Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you, this 16-day window for South Padre Island is a tough one. The surf is pretty much flat to tiny for the whole run, and the wind is nearly always onshore or cross-on, making a mess of what little bump there is. There’s not a single day that qualifies as a "good" surf option, so we’re calling a spade a spade. The whole forecast period, from now through to the 4th of August, is a write-off for proper waves. We’re looking at a long, blank run, which isn't unusual for this area in the height of summer. The water temp is sitting at 83°F at the start, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so at least it’s warm for a swim.
The first week is all tiny, weak swell. Early on, Monday the 20th and Tuesday the 21st, you’re looking at ankle-biters around 0.7 ft to 3 ft and periods of 4 to 9 seconds, which is just wind chop. The wind is a constant cross or cross-on from the south and southeast, from a gentle breeze up to a fresh breeze, so the surface is always chopped or lumpy. The combined energy is super weak, barely cracking 37 (for the first Monday afternoon), and it only gets worse, dropping to single digits by the 24th. There’s zero quality to mention.
As we head into the second week, from the 27th of July onward, the swell does try to nudge up a tiny bit. By the 27th afternoon and into the 28th, we’ve got a consistent 4 ft wave from the southeast, but it’s still a short period windswell of 5 seconds and the wind is howling from the southeast at 22 to 25 mph. The combined energy creeps up to the 50s and 60s, but it’s all messy, lumpy, and blown out. The 3rd and 4th of August see the swell push a little more, with heights hitting 4 ft and the energy climbing to 105 and 112 in the afternoons, but it’s still a short period, wind-affected mess. The wind is still cross-on from the southeast, strong enough to make it a “strong cross-onshore and messy” situation. For a beach/jetty setup like South Padre, this is more interesting for the kite surfers than for paddle surfers. There’s nothing here for the wave rider.
Stay patient, check back in a week, and the forecasts might change. For now, it’s a total flat spell.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 28°C on Mon morning, min 26°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SE on Mon afternoon, light winds from the S by Wed morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Thu morning, min 27°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSE on Thu morning, strong winds from the SE by Fri afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 5 | SE 4 | SE 4 | ESE 9 | SE 4 | SSE 4 | ESE 9 | SE 3 | SSE 4 | SE 4 | ESE 3 | SSE 4 | SE 5 | SE 3 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 20 | 29 | 20 | 8 | 16 | 19 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 29 | 49 | 27 | 32 | 48 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 7:08AM0.51m | 5:54AM0.54m | 5:01AM0.57m | 5:04AM0.60m | 5:20AM0.61m | 5:39AM0.61m | |||||||||||||||
Low Tide | 3:35PM0.24m | 4:32PM0.20m | 5:26PM0.16m | 6:15PM0.14m | 7:00PM0.12m | 7:42PM0.11m | 8:22PM0.09m | ||||||||||||||
 | |  | | | |  |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — |
 | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:20 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
Feels °C | 28 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 26 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 31 | 27 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | ESE 9 | E 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 9 | ESE 9 | E 6 | E 7 | E 9 | E 6 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 8 | — | E 8 | E 8 | — |
| kJ | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 16 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | — | 1 | 1 | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | — | — | E 5 | — | — | E 6 | E 8 | E 9 | E 6 | E 6 | — | E 6 | — | — | E 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 8 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 5 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SSE 4 | SE 4 | SSE 4 | SE 4 | SE 3 | SSE 4 | SE 4 | ESE 3 | SSE 4 | SE 5 | SE 3 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 |
| kJ | 20 | 29 | 20 | 8 | 13 | 19 | 5 | 8 | 14 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 29 | 49 | 27 | 32 | 48 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 974 | 1063 | 971 | 974 | 1063 | 971 | 974 | 1081 | 971 | 974 | 1062 | 971 | 974 | 1062 | 971 | 974 | 1059 | 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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