
Surf Forecasts:
Indian River (Northside) surf forecast from 7 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 7 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 10 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 6s period, SSW swell with 182 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 7 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s period with E 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 Monday (Sep 07) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 8s. 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 1.6m 6s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 10) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Thu 10th Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indian River (Northside) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table.
Honestly, it’s a pretty quiet run ahead. There’s really nothing worth paddling out for in the entire 16-day window. The standout opportunity, if you can call it that, is a brief moment on Thursday the 10th in the afternoon, but even that is pretty ordinary.
For the first week, things are pretty dead. Monday the 7th kicks off with a tiny 1 ft swell from the ENE and a cross-on breeze at Indian River (Northside). That’s a no-go. The water temp is sitting at 78°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year (anomaly of 5°), so that’s a nice change if you’re just floating around. Tuesday and Wednesday stay flat with weak energy readings (mostly in the 10-43 range), and the wind is all over the place. Nothing to get excited about.
Thursday the 10th afternoon is the only real moment where something happens. Swell bumps up to 4 ft from the S with a short 6-second period. Not a groundswell, just a weak push. The combined energy is only 81, so weak. But the wind goes glassy—totally calm—which is a major positive for clean conditions. It’s still just surfable waves but very ordinary, and a beginner-friendly break like Indian River (Northside) will see some tiny, weak lines. Expect crowds possible here, as it’s often crowded, and with nothing else on offer, that’ll be the case.
From Friday the 11th onward, it’s almost all poor surf conditions. Small swell, short periods, and cross-onshore or messy winds dominate. Even into the second week, nothing builds. The period shows some longer 12-second pulses from the ESE around the 18th and 19th, but the swell heights are tiny (0.7 ft to 1.0 ft), so that long period just means very long lulls between barely-rideable bumps. Combined energy stays low, mostly in the 20-43 range. Winds are often cross or cross-off then, so the surface will be clean, but there’s simply no power.
There’s a long gap from the 11th right through to the end of the forecast with no genuine recommendations. It’s just not happening. For an exposed beach/jetty setup like this, a blank run is more normal for the area when the swell windows don’t line up. Forecasts can always change, so keep an eye out, but for now, don’t bother waxing up.
Stay patient.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Wed afternoon, min 21°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the NE on Mon morning, fresh winds from the SSW by Wed night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 31°C on Thu afternoon, min 21°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 7 | E 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | E 8 | S 4 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | S 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 7 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 6 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
16 | 43 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 7 | 6 | 28 | 8 | 8 | 72 | 50 | 19 | 7 | 21 | 8 | 9 | 24 | 47 | 24 | 22 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 5:59PM0.95m | 6:40AM0.84m | 6:59PM0.99m | 7:35AM0.91m | 7:52PM1.01m | 8:24AM0.96m | 8:39PM1.02m | 9:10AM1.00m | 9:24PM1.00m | 9:53AM1.01m | 10:07PM0.95m | 10:36AM0.99m | 10:50PM0.90m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:59AM0.08m | 11:54PM0.02m | 11:58AM0.03m | 00:45AM-0.03m | 12:53PM-0.01m | 1:33AM-0.07m | 1:45PM-0.03m | 2:18AM-0.08m | 2:35PM-0.04m | 3:01AM-0.08m | 3:21PM-0.03m | 3:41AM-0.05m | 4:05PM-0.00m | 4:18AM-0.00m | |||||||
6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | |
— | 7:21 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:17 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:12 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 27 | 24 | 27 | 31 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 23 |
Feels °C | 23 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 24 | 30 | 27 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 24 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | E 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SE 6 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | NE 4 | SE 9 | SE 6 | ESE 9 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 |
16 | 43 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 7 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 50 | 19 | 4 | 21 | 7 | 9 | 24 | 47 | 24 | 22 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | ESE 8 | ENE 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | SE 7 | NE 4 | ESE 9 | NE 4 | E 8 | E 7 | — | — |
7 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | S 5 | ESE 8 | — | — | S 5 | SE 10 | — | — | NE 9 | — | E 8 | SE 8 | S 6 | — | ENE 4 | NE 4 | — | — | — | — |
8 | 1 | 7 | — | — | 1 | 4 | — | — | 3 | — | 1 | 11 | 2 | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | S 3 | SSW 4 | S 4 | S 5 | SSW 5 | S 6 | — | N 4 | N 3 | — | — | SE 6 | ESE 3 | — | SE 4 | SSE 4 |
— | — | — | — | — | 6 | 4 | 28 | 53 | 74 | 72 | — | 14 | 1 | — | — | 9 | 5 | — | 8 | 13 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 62 | 10 | 24 | 82 | 692 | 284 | 460 | 692 | 692 | 136 | 0 | 52 | 264 | 314 | 1046 | 1168 | 1166 | 516 | 460 | 461 | 7 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Delaware | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










