Surf Forecasts:
Indian River (Northside) surf forecast from 31 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 2 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 12s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 6 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 9s period, ENE swell with 426 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 2 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 12s period with SE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Indian River (Northside) this week:
The surf forecast for Indian River (Northside) over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 4s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Indian River (Northside) in the next 16 days are 1.7m 9s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sun 6th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indian River (Northside) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get stuck into it. I’m looking at the full 16-day window here, and I’ve got to be straight with you – this is a tough stretch for the Indian River (Northside) area. The water’s sitting at a touch warmer than normal, about 76°F, roughly 3°F above the usual for this time of year, so it’s a little bath-like but nothing crazy.
The first few days are a write-off. We’re looking at tiny swell, mostly around 1ft to 2ft, with short period, sloppy energy, and a lot of onshore or cross-onshore wind. Monday the 31st and Tuesday the 1st of September are basically flat with wind chop. Wednesday the 2nd sees a little bump up to 2ft from the ESE with a period of 11 seconds, but the wind is cross-onshore and choppy, so it’s not doing us any favours. The combined energy is still weak at 86-105. Not worth paddling out.
Thursday the 3rd of September is the first real glimmer. Morning brings a glassy clean-up with 2ft from the SE, period 9 seconds, and light NW wind – that’s offshore. The energy is still weak at 79, but it’s clean and surfable. The afternoon stays clean with a cross-off breeze. It’s small, but if you’re desperate for a log, you could get a few.
Then we hit a dry spell. From Friday the 4th right through to Monday the 7th, it’s mostly poor, small, and messy. The wind is all over the place, and the swell barely nudges above 2ft. The energy levels are weak, often below 50. Not worth getting wet.
Tuesday the 8th through Thursday the 10th is more of the same – tiny swell, cross-off winds, clean but barely a ripple. The combined energy is consistently weak, mostly in the 50-70 range. The swell period is short, under 10 seconds, so no real push.
Friday the 11th of September afternoon sees a bit of a weird spike: 3ft from the S, but with a period of only 5 seconds. That’s short, weak, and won’t hold shape. The wind is cross-off and light, so it’s clean, but it’s not going to be a wave you’ll remember. Saturday the 12th is similar but with stronger wind – 22 mph from the NNW – so it’s blown out and messy.
The final few days, from Monday the 14th to Tuesday the 15th, show a little more hope. Monday morning has 4ft from the NE with a period of 5 seconds, glassy conditions, and light wind. The energy is still weak at 77, but it’s clean. The afternoon turns to junk again. Tuesday the 15th is small and clean but barely 1ft.
Honestly, there’s no standout day here. The best on offer is probably Thursday the 3rd of September morning, with glassy 2ft surf and offshore wind – it’s clean, but tiny. If you’re a beginner, that’s your window. Otherwise, the whole 16 days is a struggle. The consistency is there – the break is consistent – but the quality just isn’t. It’s one of those stretches where you’re better off waiting for the next system to roll through. Forecasts can change, so keep an eye on it, but for now, leave the board in the car.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 32°C on Tue afternoon, min 23°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Fri night. Warm (max 33°C on Thu afternoon, min 21°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu morning, fresh winds from the ENE by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ENE 6 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | E 8 | SE 8 | E 7 | E 7 | N 4 | SSE 6 | NE 4 | SE 9 | ENE 7 | ENE 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
16 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 7 | 37 | 78 | 65 | 56 | 40 | 30 | 35 | 17 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 7 | 32 | 3 | 147 | 173 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | off | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | on | on | cross-on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 11:02AM0.94m | 11:22PM0.87m | 11:45AM0.94m | 00:11AM0.82m | 12:35PM0.94m | 1:08AM0.78m | 1:32PM0.93m | 2:10AM0.74m | 2:34PM0.91m | 3:16AM0.73m | 3:41PM0.91m | 4:26AM0.74m | 4:51PM0.92m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:43PM0.05m | 4:48AM0.00m | 5:27PM0.08m | 5:27AM0.04m | 6:19PM0.11m | 6:14AM0.08m | 7:25PM0.14m | 7:16AM0.12m | 8:43PM0.15m | 8:36AM0.14m | 9:56PM0.12m | 9:53AM0.12m | 10:59PM0.07m | ||||||||
6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | |
— | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | |
mm | 2 | 5 | 3 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 10 | — | — | 5 | — | — | 7 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 32 | 32 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 33 | 32 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 |
Feels °C | 29 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 34 | 33 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 29 | 35 | 33 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 17 | 19 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 4 | SE 7 | SE 7 | S 4 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ENE 6 | E 6 | E 6 | S 4 | S 6 | E 7 | E 7 | SSE 6 | NE 4 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ENE 9 |
16 | 14 | 4 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 78 | 65 | 56 | 39 | 27 | 9 | 17 | 16 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 173 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 4 | — | SE 7 | S 4 | ESE 8 | SE 12 | S 5 | S 5 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | E 8 | E 7 | SSE 6 | ESE 8 | E 7 | SSE 6 | — | S 6 | — | SE 9 |
1 | — | 13 | 3 | 7 | 37 | 7 | 4 | 43 | 40 | 30 | 35 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 7 | — | 1 | — | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 8 | — | — | SE 13 | SE 9 | — | S 5 | S 4 | — | — | E 6 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | S 5 | ESE 8 | E 7 | S 6 | — | — | — |
— | 1 | — | — | 7 | 20 | — | 7 | 1 | — | — | 10 | 17 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSE 3 | — | SSW 4 | S 4 | — | NE 3 | ENE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | N 3 | N 3 | N 4 | NNW 4 | NE 4 | NE 6 | ENE 7 | — |
— | 1 | — | 3 | 2 | — | 1 | 29 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 5 | 17 | 4 | 32 | 98 | 147 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1195 | 1038 | 337 | 337 | 45 | 0 | 258 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 2 | 45 | 215 | 461 | 537 | 167 | 36 | 537 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Delaware | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Information about the Indian River (Northside) Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Indian River (Northside) provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Indian River (Northside) can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Indian River (Northside) 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 (Indian River (Northside)) 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 Indian River (Northside) 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.
Indian River (Northside) is 30 km (19 miles) from Ocean City. If you plan a vacation in Delaware, look for hotels and other accommodation in Ocean City. Ocean City has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











