Texas
A slow one — 1-2ft waves and very poor conditions with 15mph SE winds.
A slow one — 1-2ft waves and very poor conditions with 15mph SE winds.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Boca Chica for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Boca Chica, Texas. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and very poor conditions with strong SE wind at 15mph.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly very poor with 13mph out of the S.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly very poor with 11mph from the SSE.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on SE swell at 5s and moderate SE wind around 8mph. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Mon, Sep 7: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on ESE swell at 5s with 9mph from the SSE. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Very Poor today — get one free email when Boca Chica turns Good.
Check Boca Chica from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Boca Chica sits at the southernmost tip of Texas near the mouth of the Rio Grande, where the river meets the Gulf of Mexico and creates a unique sandbars setup that can produce surprisingly fun, peaky waves. The Gulf's shallow continental shelf and prevailing northeastern swells during fall generate rideable surf, especially when tropical systems push energy into this remote stretch of coastline. This is one of the most isolated and least-known surf spots in Texas, offering solitude and a raw, frontier-like experience far from any crowds.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Boca Chica is 1-2ft with a 5.1s swell period. Wind is SE at 15mph. Conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Boca Chica is 1-2ft, produced by a 3ft SSE wind swell swell at 5s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Boca Chica is Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 1ft waves, a 4.9s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Boca Chica works best with a NE swell and W winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Boca Chica. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Boca Chica is a rivermouth with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Boca Chica sits at the southernmost tip of Texas near the mouth of the Rio Grande, where the river meets the Gulf of Mexico and creates a unique sandbars setup that can produce surprisingly fun, peaky waves. The Gulf's shallow continental shelf and prevailing northeastern swells during fall generate rideable surf, especially when tropical systems push energy into this remote stretch of coastline. This is one of the most isolated and least-known surf spots in Texas, offering solitude and a raw, frontier-like experience far from any crowds.
The prime season at Boca Chica is fall, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Boca Chica include strong currents, rip currents, jellyfish, sharks, remote location, border proximity, spacex launch restrictions. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Boca Chica forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable; extended forecasts show general trends. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
