Surf Forecasts:
South Padre Island surf forecast from 5 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 10 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 7s period, SE swell with 35 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 0.6m 7s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 10) 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 (Thu 10th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for South Padre Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – I’ve had a good look at the charts for South Padre Island and, honestly, it’s a tough stretch ahead.
For the next sixteen days, starting from September 5th all the way through to September 20th, the surf is looking pretty dismal. We’re looking at a long, flat spell with hardly any rideable waves on offer. The combined swell energy is weak throughout, with readings mostly in the single digits or low teens, like 7, 8, or 10, which is barely a ripple. The swell heights are tiny, sitting between only 0.7ft and 2ft, and the periods are short and weak – mostly between 3 and 7 seconds, which is just wind slop. On top of that, the wind is nearly always cross-onshore, keeping things choppy and messy. There are no standout days, no windows of clean, offshore conditions, and nothing to get excited about. This is a proper dry spell for South Padre. It’s a beach-and-jetty setup here, and with nothing but weak, short-period slop and side-shore winds, a kite might get more out of this than a paddle board. The swell direction is mostly from the SE or ESE, which isn't terrible for the break, but with no power behind it, it doesn't matter.
The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there, but that’s the only thing that’s normal.
This kind of blank run is more common than we’d like for this area, so it’s not a total shock. The only slight flicker of anything happens around September 19th and 20th, where the swell direction shifts more easterly and the period bumps up to 9 seconds on a couple of occasions, but the heights are still tiny at 1ft to 2ft. Even then, the wind stays cross-onshore or onshore. Not worth wetsuiting up for.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Fri night, min 28°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Tue morning, min 27°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | |||||||||||||||
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 4 | ESE 3 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 3 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 3 | SE 4 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | ESE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 6 | SE 6 | SE 7 | ESE 4 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 11 | 10 | 17 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 22 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 8 | 30 | 9 |
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 | 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 |
High Tide | 3:20AM0.65m | 3:50AM0.63m | 4:13AM0.60m | 4:28AM0.56m | 1:27PM0.55m | 4:36AM0.51m | 2:52PM0.56m | 4:37AM0.47m | 4:09PM0.56m | ||||||||||||
Low Tide | 5:04PM0.07m | 6:17PM0.06m | 7:22PM0.06m | 9:21AM0.53m | 8:21PM0.09m | 9:05AM0.48m | 9:15PM0.14m | 9:22AM0.41m | 10:05PM0.21m | 9:52AM0.33m | 10:52PM0.28m | ||||||||||
 | |  | | |  | | | | |  | | | |  |  | | | | | | |
 | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — |
 | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 33 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 29 | 30 | 32 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | — | — | SE 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ESE 5 | SE 5 | — | ESE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 6 | SE 6 | SE 7 | E 9 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 28 | — | 22 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 8 | 30 | 2 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | — | — | E 8 | E 5 | E 7 | — | E 8 | — | E 8 | — | SE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 8 | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 8 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 4 | ESE 3 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 3 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SE 3 | SE 4 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | SE 5 | ESE 5 | SE 5 | — | — | — | — | SE 3 | ESE 3 | ESE 4 |
| kJ | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 11 | 10 | 17 | 30 | 15 | 30 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 6 | 9 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 974 | 1059 | 971 | 974 | 1062 | 971 | 1000 | 1059 | 971 | 971 | 971 | 971 | 974 | 1062 | 971 | 971 | 974 | 971 | 974 | 1014 | 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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