South Padre Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what South Padre Island has cookin’ for us over the next couple of weeks.

Well, I gotta be straight with you – it’s gonna be a long wait. We’re looking at a solid stretch of nothing much, with the first real chance of a surfable wave not showing up until Saturday the 19th of September. Before that, it’s mostly small, short-period windswell and messy onshore winds making for poor conditions day after day. From Friday the 11th all the way through to Friday the 18th, the outlook is basically a write-off. The swell is tiny – 2 ft to 4 ft – with periods hanging around 4 to 7 seconds, coming mostly from the SE or ESE, hammered by cross and cross-on winds that’ll chop it all up. The combined swell energy is weak too (values like 19 to 189), just confirming it’s not happening. The water is warm at 86°, which is about 2° warmer than usual for this time of year, so it’ll feel like a bath, but you won’t be surfing in it.

Then, on Saturday morning the 19th, we finally get a glimmer. The swell picks up a little, and the wind shifts light WSW at 3 mph, giving us a clean, cross-off breeze. The swell is still small at 3 ft from the E, with a period of 7 seconds, and the combined energy is moderate (106). It’s surfable, but very ordinary. Not a standout, just the first breath of life after a long flat spell. The afternoon though, the wind swings back onshore, so don’t sleep in – that morning window is your only shot for the day.

After that, it gets quiet again. Sunday the 20th through Wednesday the 24th of September we’re back to small, weak surf – 2 ft to 3 ft – with occasional clean mornings from NNW winds, but the swell just isn’t there.

Now, if you’re a patient soul, there are a couple of promising mornings to circle. Thursday the 24th of September is one of the best-looking windows. The swell pushes to a clean 3 ft from the ESE with a 6-second period, and here’s the kicker – the wind goes glass. Absolutely flat, no wind, just a light N breeze at 3 mph. The water will be glassy. That’s a rare treat. The combined energy is weak (43), but for a morning surf on a longboard, that’ll be a gorgeous session at South Padre Island (beach/jetty).

Then, Friday the 25th of September morning looks similar. Another glassy start, light NE wind at 3 mph, with a 3 ft E swell at 6 seconds. Combined energy is still weak (58), but the clean conditions make it a worthwhile paddle. The same goes for Saturday the 26th of September morning: glassy again, 3 ft from the E at 6 seconds, and the wave energy is building to moderate (85). That Saturday morning session is likely the pick of the whole forecast – small but clean, offshore morning vibes, with the lightest winds you’ll see.

Sadly, every afternoon that week gets blown out by onshore ENE winds, so it’s strictly a dawn patrol game. And for the standout? Honestly, nothing here is pumping. The swell never gets over 5 ft, and it’s short-period, so no big groundswell energy. But if I have to pick one, I’d say Saturday the 26th morning. The glassy wind, the building energy, and the clean conditions make it the best on offer. Just don’t expect a barrel.

In the second week, the pattern stays the same: teeny tiny waves with occasional clean mornings, but nothing to get excited about. The forecast at this range is less reliable, but the trend says small and clean is the best you’ll get.

Rusty.

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