
Surf Forecasts:
South Padre Island surf forecast from 27 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 5s period, SE swell with 83 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 1.3m 5s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 7PM. 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 | 7PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for South Padre Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's look at what we've got on the cards for South Padre Island.
Honestly, it's a tough outlook. We've got a solid 16-day window, but looking at the charts, it’s mostly a story of waiting. The first real sniff of anything worth paddling out for is over a week away, and even then it’s not the cleanest. A lot of days here are just blown-out or gutless, so don't be in a rush.
We kick off on Monday the 27th of July with nothing. The swell is tiny, 2 ft, with a short and weak period of 5 seconds, coming from the SE. The wind is already a problem – a moderate cross-shore breeze at 12 mph, but it's enough to put a chop on it. This sets the theme for the next week: mostly cross-onshore winds, often fresh, with swell heights barely breaking 3 ft. The water temp is 83°, which is pretty much spot on for the time of year.
There is a long gap here with no recommendations. Days blend into each other with the same story: small, messy, and unappealing. Tuesday through the following Sunday offer nothing but cross-onshore slop. The swell is weak, the combined wave energy barely hits 73 for the afternoon of the 28th, and the wind often cranks up to a strong breeze.
Now, we start to see a slight pulse on Wednesday the 5th of August. Morning brings a 4 ft swell from the SE, still wind-affected, but the combined wave energy climbs to 140 – that's moderate, for sure. It's still cross-onshore, but it's the first sign of life. The morning of Thursday the 6th of August is the only real standout in the whole window. We get a 3 ft swell from the SE with a period of 6 seconds, and the wind drops to a gentle breeze from the SSE, making it a clean cross-shore. The combined energy is 105, which is okay. It's not going to be epic, but it will be surfable and the most user-friendly it gets. For a beginner spot like South Padre Island that is inconsistent, this is a good window to try your luck.
But don't get too excited. After that, it's right back to the cross-onshore choppy stuff for the rest of the second week. Swell stays small and the wind just ruins it.
For the rest of the 16 days, you're looking at weak energy (15-73 range) and fresh onshore winds. There is no genuine groundswell here, just short-period windswell. Given the constant onshore wind and the beach/jetty setup, this looks more like a kite-surfing window than a paddle-surfing one. Keep an eye on forecasts, though – it can't stay this poor forever.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Wed morning, min 27°C on Mon morning). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Thu morning, min 27°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSE on Thu morning, strong winds from the SE by Sat afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | |||||||||||||||
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 5 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 6 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 6 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SSE 5 | SE 5 | SSE 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
21 | 32 | 26 | 31 | 66 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 40 | 23 | 13 | 8 | 18 | 29 | 24 | 25 | 55 | 36 | 47 | 73 | 59 | |
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-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 6:17AM0.60m | 6:33AM0.59m | 6:43AM0.57m | 2:05PM0.51m | 6:50AM0.55m | 3:22PM0.49m | 6:52AM0.53m | 4:37PM0.46m | 6:52AM0.51m | 5:59PM0.45m | |||||||||||
Low Tide | 9:00PM0.09m | 9:36PM0.10m | 10:11PM0.11m | 11:50AM0.50m | 10:42PM0.15m | 12:02PM0.46m | 11:12PM0.19m | 12:26PM0.42m | 11:41PM0.25m | 12:57PM0.37m | 00:09AM0.31m | ||||||||||
6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | |
— | 8:19 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:16 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 28 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 27 | 28 | 32 | 28 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | ESE 8 | E 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | E 8 | SE 8 | E 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 5 | — | E 10 |
1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | — | 2 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 8 | E 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 9 | — | — |
— | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 6 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 6 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SSE 5 | SE 5 | SSE 5 |
21 | 32 | 26 | 31 | 66 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 40 | 23 | 13 | 8 | 18 | 29 | 24 | 25 | 55 | 36 | 47 | 73 | 59 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 974 | 1059 | 971 | 974 | 1081 | 971 | 974 | 1059 | 971 | 974 | 1073 | 971 | 974 | 1062 | 971 | 974 | 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.










