Surf Forecasts:
South Padre Island surf forecast from 14 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 20 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 7s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 18 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, E swell with 206 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 20 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 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 Sunday (Sep 20) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 4s is also forecast. 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 1PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (CDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Sun 20th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Sun 20th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (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, Rusty here, looking at the forecast for South Padre Island. Gotta be straight with you, it's a tough stretch. There's a long, frustrating gap with nothing worth paddling out for. From today, Monday the 14th, right through to the end of the week, it's a write-off. We're talking weak, mostly onshore and cross-onshore winds, tiny swell, and a lot of poor conditions. The first week is essentially a blank.
We finally get a tiny glimmer very late in the window. On Friday, September 25th, there's a small window in the morning. It's not much, but it's the best we've got. We're looking at a small 3ft swell coming from the NE with moderate wave energy (50), and a light offshore cross-off wind from the NW. That breeze will clean things right up. This is really a session for the most committed on a longboard or a foiler. The rest of that day and the weekend look pretty average, with strong winds picking up again.
Honestly, the whole 16 days is a struggle. The swell energy is mostly weak (with values like 21, 23, 26, and jumping to a moderate 155-284 on the 27th and 28th, but blown out with fresh winds). That Sunday the 27th sees a 5ft swell with fresh cross-onshore winds, which will be lumpy and tough. There's simply no standout window of clean, good waves. The conditions are so poor for so long that the setup, with these strong onshore winds, looks more interesting for kite surfing than a regular paddle session.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Sun night, min 27°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 28°C on Wed night, min 27°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 6 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 6 | SE 4 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | E 5 | E 4 | E 5 | E 5 | ENE 6 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 4 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 20 | 20 | 27 | 24 | 12 | 24 | 12 | 13 | 8 | 17 | 18 | 143 | 155 | 178 | 123 | 77 | 77 | 56 | 32 | 28 | 11 |
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 | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | off | on | cross |
High Tide | 4:07AM0.48m | 8:16PM0.53m | 10:55PM0.54m | 2:15AM0.56m | 2:37AM0.57m | 2:55AM0.57m | 3:05AM0.57m | 3:15AM0.56m | |||||||||||||
Low Tide | 11:49AM0.18m | 00:49AM0.49m | 12:35PM0.16m | 00:56AM0.53m | 1:27PM0.17m | 2:26PM0.18m | 3:34PM0.19m | 4:43PM0.19m | 5:44PM0.20m | ||||||||||||
 | |  | | | | | |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — |
 | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:28 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 31 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 28 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | SE 8 | — | E 9 | ESE 8 | E 9 | ESE 6 | E 8 | ESE 6 | E 5 | E 9 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 8 |
| kJ | 1 | 3 | — | 2 | 7 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 155 | 178 | 123 | 77 | 77 | 56 | 32 | 20 | 1 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | S 7 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SE 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 6 | SE 7 | — | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | 8 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 6 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 6 | SE 4 | ESE 6 | — | E 5 | E 4 | — | E 5 | ENE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 4 | E 6 | E 4 |
| kJ | 20 | 20 | 27 | 24 | 12 | 24 | — | 13 | 8 | — | 18 | 143 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 28 | 11 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 974 | 1073 | 971 | 974 | 1059 | 971 | 974 | 1059 | 971 | 974 | 1234 | 900 | 974 | 1059 | 971 | 974 | 1062 | 971 | 9 | 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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