Texas
The sweet spot is around midday — 1-2ft waves, 8mph SSE winds, poor conditions.
The sweet spot is around midday — 1-2ft waves, 8mph SSE winds, poor conditions.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Jamaica Beach for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Jamaica Beach, 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 Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on S swell at 4s with light winds out of the SSE. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 14mph from the SE and dropping conditions to very poor.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on S swell at 4s and 9mph from the SW. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Sat, Sep 5: 0–1ft, 4s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with light NE winds.
Sun, Sep 6: 0–1ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with light WNW winds.
Mon, Sep 7: 0–1ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with gentle WNW breeze.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor today — get one free email when Jamaica Beach turns Good.
Check Jamaica Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Jamaica Beach is a laid-back surf spot on Galveston Island along the upper Texas Gulf Coast, facing west into the shallow waters of West Bay, though it picks up rideable surf from Gulf swells wrapping around the island's southern shores. Waves here are typically small and mushy, shaped by the gently sloping sandy bottom and the low-energy swell environment of the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. It's a relaxed spot that's ideal for beginners and longboarders looking to practice on Texas's uncrowded coastline, with the best conditions arriving during fall tropical swell events.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Jamaica Beach is 1-2ft with a 4.3s swell period. Wind is SSE at 5mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Jamaica Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 2.2ft S wind swell swell at 4s. 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 Jamaica Beach is Thursday from 1 PM to 4 PM with 1ft waves, a 4.4s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Jamaica Beach works best with a SSE 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 Jamaica Beach. 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.
Jamaica Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Jamaica Beach is a laid-back surf spot on Galveston Island along the upper Texas Gulf Coast, facing west into the shallow waters of West Bay, though it picks up rideable surf from Gulf swells wrapping around the island's southern shores. Waves here are typically small and mushy, shaped by the gently sloping sandy bottom and the low-energy swell environment of the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. It's a relaxed spot that's ideal for beginners and longboarders looking to practice on Texas's uncrowded coastline, with the best conditions arriving during fall tropical swell events.
The prime season at Jamaica Beach 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 Jamaica Beach include jellyfish, strong currents, flat conditions, shallow sandbars, boat traffic. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Jamaica Beach 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).
