South Padre Island Surf Break

Lat Long: 26.67° N 97.29° W

South Padre Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 6 pm 13 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's South Padre Island sea temperature is
29.5°C
0.8° 

South Padre Island surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


South Padre Island surf forecast from 14 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 19 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 7s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 18 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, E swell with 203 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 19 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 7s period with E swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for South Padre Island this week:

The surf forecast for South Padre Island over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 19) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 7s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at South Padre Island in the next 16 days are 1.4m 7s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (CDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Sat 19th Sep)2.5ft (0.8m) 7s
Best Surf 7AM (Sat 19th Sep)2.5ft (0.8m) 7s
Most Powerful10AM (Fri 18th Sep)4.5ft (1.4m) 7s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for South Padre Island over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what the next couple of weeks are shaping up like for South Padre Island. I’ll be straight with you – this stretch is a tough one. We’re looking at a long, dry spell with very little to get excited about, so patience is going to be the name of the game.

Right from the start on Sunday the 13th, it’s a no-go. The swell is tiny, around 2ft from the SE with a short period of only 4 seconds. On top of that, we’ve got a cross-onshore wind that’s making a mess of things. The water is sitting at a warm 85°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year, but that’s about the only positive here.

This flat and poor pattern drags on for days. Through the week of the 14th to the 17th, we’re seeing nothing but small, weak swells and onshore or cross-onshore winds. It’s frustrating. The combined wave energy in this whole period is pretty much non-existent, with most readings well under 100 – a sign of just how weak it all is.

There’s a tiny flicker of hope on the morning of Friday the 18th. We get a slight bump in swell to 5ft from the east with a period of 7 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 327 (moderate energy). The wind is light and onshore, so conditions are marginal at best. It’s not worth paddling out for unless you’re desperate.

The real standout, and I mean the only real chance for a surf, comes early on Saturday the 19th. The swell drops back to 3ft from the east, but the wind turns glassy – dead calm. That means the surface will be clean and smooth. The combined energy is weak at 59, and the period is short, so don’t expect any power. It’s small, but if you’re keen for a longboard or a foamy and you can pick your moment, this is the best you’ll see. The break at South Padre Island is exposed to the east, which is okay, but it prefers an ESE direction. The set-up is a beach and jetty, and crowds are possible at times. It’s inconsistent, so you’ll be waiting for the few little runners that come through.

After that, it’s back to the doldrums. From the afternoon of the 19th right through to the end of the period on the 28th of September, we’re looking at a long stretch of tiny, weak surf and mostly poor wind. Swells barely crack 3ft and the combined energy is almost always below 100. There are a couple of glassy mornings on the 22nd and 24th, but the swell is only 1.0ft to 1ft – barely a ripple. It’s not surfable.

If you’re a beginner, steer clear of anything over 5ft, but honestly, we never even get close to that. There’s nothing here for experts either. The whole period is a write-off for proper surfing, and with the wind and small, crappy chop, the beach setup might look more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Hang in there, it won’t be poor forever, but this is a blank run that’s pretty normal for the area in this kind of pattern. Stay patient.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Sun afternoon, min 27°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 28°C on Wed afternoon, min 27°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the E on Thu night, calm by Sat morning).

Sun
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
Friday
18
Saturday
19
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
SE
4
0.7
SE
5
0.6
ESE
6
0.8
ESE
4
0.9
SE
4
0.7
SE
6
0.9
SE
4
0.7
ESE
6
0.4
ESE
6
0.5
E
6
0.6
E
4
0.6
ENE
5
0.7
E
5
1.1
E
7
1.4
E
7
1.3
E
7
1
E
7
0.8
E
7
0.9
E
7
0.9
ESE
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
14
30
20
16
28
32
21
33
13
15
12
20
27
107
203
173
102
59
73
77
Wind (km/h)
25
SE
25
SSE
20
SE
30
SE
30
SSE
20
SE
25
SE
20
SE
15
E
20
E
20
ESE
10
NE
20
ENE
25
E
10
E
20
E
20
ESE
5
SSW
20
ESE
20
SSE
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
on
cross-on
on
on
on
on
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
High Tide
6:41PM0.54m
4:07AM0.48m
8:16PM0.53m
10:55PM0.54m
2:15AM0.56m
2:37AM0.57m
2:55AM0.57m
3:05AM0.57m
Low Tide
00:14AM0.44m
11:49AM0.18m
00:49AM0.49m
12:35PM0.16m
00:56AM0.53m
1:27PM0.17m
2:26PM0.18m
3:34PM0.19m
4:43PM0.19m
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
part cloud
thunderstorm
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:13
7:13
7:13
7:15
7:15
7:16
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:36
7:35
7:32
7:31
7:30
7:30
7:29
 mm
2
1
Temp °C
29
28
29
29
28
28
28
28
28
28
28
28
28
28
28
28
27
28
28
28
Feels °C
30
30
31
30
29
30
29
30
32
30
31
32
30
28
32
29
27
30
29
29
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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