
Surf Forecasts:
Indian River (Northside) surf forecast from 16 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 22 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 7s period, S swell with 289 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 18 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 5s period with S 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 Saturday (Jul 18) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Indian River (Northside) in the next 16 days are 1.8m 7s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) 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 0.6m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indian River (Northside) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. I’m looking at the Indian River (Northside) stretch, and I gotta be straight with you: the next two weeks are looking pretty flat and sad. The swell window is just not giving us anything, with most of the energy coming in as weak, short-period junk. The combined energy numbers are mostly a sorry story, with values like 16, 15, and 27, barely a whisper on the beach. The water is running at 76°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, but that’s the only bit of comfort we’re getting.
Wednesday afternoon (15 July) is a total loss with a tiny 1.0ft swell and a weak 9-second period. That’s barely a ripple. Thursday morning the 16th goes glassy, which is a cruel tease, but the swell is still a pathetic 1ft with a 5-second period. It’s flat, mate. The wind gets ugly on Friday with cross-onshore, making that 1ft bump even more of a mess.
We grind through a whole week of this. Saturday morning the 18th is rainy with onshore wind, but that afternoon the wind goes glassy again. The swell bumps up to 4ft from the south, with a 5-second period, and the combined energy hits 67. It’s surfable, but the conditions are ordinary. That’s the best we get in the first week, and it’s still pretty average. Sunday the 19th through to the end of July is a long run of poor surf with tiny swell and mostly onshore or cross-onshore winds.
The only real glimmer of hope is on Thursday the 30th. The morning shows a 3ft swell from the SSE with a longer 9-second period, and the combined energy finally hits 132 (moderate). That afternoon holds 2ft with a 9-second period and 106 energy. It’s still small, and the wind is cross-onshore, so it won’t be clean. But it’s the only time in the whole 16-day window the energy gets into the triple digits. It’s a long way off, so don’t get your hopes up, but it’s the only light on the horizon.
For a beginner-friendly beach/jetty setup, there’s just nothing to get fired up about. The wind is mostly garbage, and the swell is tiny. It’s a long stretch of flatness. The setup looks more interesting for a kite than a paddle in these conditions.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Warm (max 36°C on Wed afternoon, min 24°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 36mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 28°C on Sun morning, min 22°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wed 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | S 5 | SSE 5 | ESE 8 | S 5 | SSE 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 5 | S 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | S 7 | SSE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
15 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 59 | 173 | 68 | 75 | 52 | 71 | 37 | 12 | 24 | 24 | 171 | 82 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | off | off | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:06PM1.08m | 10:45AM0.92m | 10:57PM1.04m | 11:39AM0.92m | 11:50PM0.98m | 12:33PM0.91m | 00:41AM0.91m | 1:24PM0.90m | 1:32AM0.84m | 2:13PM0.89m | 2:22AM0.77m | 3:01PM0.87m | 3:12AM0.72m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:10PM-0.05m | 3:57AM-0.13m | 4:02PM-0.04m | 4:43AM-0.11m | 4:52PM-0.01m | 5:28AM-0.08m | 5:43PM0.04m | 6:13AM-0.02m | 6:35PM0.10m | 6:59AM0.04m | 7:33PM0.15m | 7:49AM0.09m | 8:36PM0.18m | 8:42AM0.14m | |||||||
— | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | |
8:23 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:20 | — | 8:19 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 8 | 17 | 17 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 6 | 2 |
Temp °C | 36 | 34 | 29 | 33 | 33 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 31 | 28 | 23 |
Feels °C | 35 | 35 | 29 | 33 | 33 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 29 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 29 | 28 | 31 | 28 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | S 5 | SSE 5 | ESE 8 | S 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | S 6 | SSE 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | E 12 | SSE 5 | SE 6 | SSE 8 |
15 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 16 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 84 | 68 | 75 | 52 | 71 | 37 | 12 | 3 | 24 | 54 | 82 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | — | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 14 | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | NNE 4 | — | — | — | SE 7 | — | — |
1 | 7 | 6 | — | 7 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | — | — | — | 15 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 16 | — | E 15 | E 15 | E 15 | E 14 | — | E 9 | E 9 | — | E 8 | — | — | SE 12 | E 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 5 | — | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | — | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | 6 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 4 | WSW 3 | — | S 3 | — | E 4 | E 3 | SE 3 | SSE 3 | S 5 | S 7 | WSW 3 | WNW 3 | N 4 | NNE 3 | — | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | — | S 7 | N 3 |
4 | 3 | — | 4 | — | 7 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 59 | 173 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 1 | — | 7 | 24 | — | 171 | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 314 | 363 | 1480 | 1358 | 45 | 1046 | 1038 | 1492 | 1038 | 0 | 539 | 16 | 40 | 45 | 36 | 379 | 183 | 412 | 11 | 0 | 36 |
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.











