Surf Forecasts:
South Padre Island surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period, SE swell with 96 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 6s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 1PM. 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 | 1PM (Sat 15th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for South Padre Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on offer for South Padre Island over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you—it’s a tough run.
Right now, looking at the 16-day window, the surf just isn’t cooperating. We start off on Saturday, August 15, and straight away we’ve got issues. Combined wave energy is weak (131), the swell is a short-period 4 ft from the SE, but the wind is a moderate cross-onshore, making everything choppy and messy. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual there. That pattern pretty much sets the tone for the whole period. The swell stays small, rarely cracking 3 ft, and the period is nearly always under 8 seconds—that’s windswell, not groundswell, so the waves lack punch and shape.
The most promising bit of the whole outlook, and I mean the *only* glimmer, comes right at the end on Thursday morning, August 27. The swell bumps up slightly to 3 ft from the ESE, period hits 6 seconds, and the combined energy rises to 75. It’s still not big, but for this stretch that’s the best we get. The wind is lighter—a gentle cross-shore—so the chop won’t be as bad. That Thursday morning is probably the only time you’d even bother paddling out, and even then it’s a gamble.
After that, it drops straight back down into the weak, choppy stuff. The rest of the run shows consistent cross-onshore winds, often a fresh breeze, with tiny swell and energy readings that barely break 30 or 40. Honestly, there’s a long gap of poor conditions. We’re looking at a solid two weeks where the surf is just not doing anything worth getting excited about.
If you’re after a paddle, wait for that Thursday the 27th and keep expectations low. Otherwise, the onshore junk is really more suited to kites than surfboards this time around.
Stay patient, folks. It can’t stay this flat forever.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Mon morning, min 27°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Wed afternoon, min 27°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | |||||||||||||||
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 6 | ESE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 6 | E 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 6 | SE 5 | SE 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 87 | 94 | 52 | 42 | 59 | 47 | 17 | 25 | 22 | 18 | 22 | 18 | 13 | 29 | 26 | 27 | 54 | 38 | 36 | 43 | 35 |
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 | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 6:20AM0.48m | 6:05PM0.52m | 6:11AM0.47m | 7:45PM0.49m | 5:55AM0.48m | 10:13PM0.49m | 5:28AM0.51m | 4:42AM0.54m | 4:07AM0.57m | 4:10AM0.58m | |||||||||||
Low Tide | 11:53AM0.33m | 00:26AM0.32m | 12:40PM0.27m | 00:57AM0.41m | 1:33PM0.22m | 00:54AM0.48m | 2:30PM0.20m | 3:32PM0.18m | 4:36PM0.17m | 5:37PM0.16m | |||||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:00 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — |
 | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
Feels °C | 30 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 6 | SE 6 | — | ESE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 6 | E 6 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | — | — | — | — | E 8 |
| kJ | 87 | 94 | — | 42 | 59 | 47 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 18 | 8 | 7 | 13 | 7 | 7 | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | — | — | — | — | SE 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 6 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | — | — | ESE 6 | — | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 6 | SE 5 | SE 6 |
| kJ | 44 | 62 | 52 | — | — | 29 | — | 25 | 22 | 18 | 22 | 18 | 13 | 29 | 26 | 27 | 54 | 38 | 36 | 43 | 35 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 974 | 1059 | 971 | 974 | 1059 | 971 | 974 | 1062 | 971 | 974 | 1059 | 971 | 974 | 1059 | 971 | 974 | 1059 | 971 | 974 | 1073 | 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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