Surf Forecasts:
Indian River (Northside) surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 11s period, SE swell with 72 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s 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 (Aug 19) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 10s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Indian River (Northside) in the next 16 days are 0.6m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indian River (Northside) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let's be real with you. I've scanned the forecast for Indian River (Northside), and it's a pretty quiet picture for the next couple of weeks. There's no decent swell on the horizon to get excited about. We're looking at a long stretch of small, weak surf, so keep your expectations low and your longboard close. The best you can say is that it'll be good for a paddle and a few knee-high rollers if you're desperate. Don't expect any barrels. If you're just learning, this might be a decent time to get your feet wet, but for anyone with a bit of experience, it's going to be a frustrating wait.
The water temperature is sitting at 78.3°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you won't need a thick wetsuit.
The whole 16-day outlook is a washout for real surf. There's a solid week of nothing on the cards, with waves barely reaching 1.3ft and energy levels in the weak 16-80 range. Even the cleaner days with offshore winds don't have any swell behind them. It's the classic case of no energy in the water.
We finally see a slight bump around Friday the 28th of August, where the energy levels pick up to a moderate 281, with the swell building to 4.3ft from the SSE. But it's short-period windswell at 7 seconds, and with a fresh 19 mph south wind whipping up a lumpy cross-chop, it's going to be a mess. The 3ft on the morning of the 28th is cleaner with a light SSW cross-off breeze, but it's still not great. For a beginner, that 4.3ft is right at the edge of what's manageable; any bigger and it's a no-go. The 30th of August might offer a cleaner 2ft with light cross-off winds, but it's still small and weak.
I wouldn't even bother with the surfboard for most of this. With the combo of small, weak surf and those onshore breezes, a kite might be the only thing that gets you out on the water for a while. It's a tough stretch, but that's the way it goes sometimes. The ocean will turn it back on eventually. Hang loose.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Thu afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Wed afternoon, min 22°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 50mm), heaviest during Sat morning. Warm (max 26°C on Sun afternoon, min 19°C on Sat morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Sat morning, light winds from the ESE by Sat night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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 6 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ENE 4 | ENE 5 | E 4 | E 5 | E 5 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 6 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 14 | 72 | 34 | 30 | 20 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 23 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 42 | 28 | 14 | 13 | 12 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross | cross | off | off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:47AM0.74m | 2:21PM0.85m | 2:37AM0.69m | 3:09PM0.83m | 3:30AM0.66m | 4:01PM0.81m | 4:28AM0.64m | 4:58PM0.81m | 5:29AM0.65m | 5:54PM0.83m | 6:26AM0.69m | 6:47PM0.87m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:53PM0.15m | 6:58AM0.14m | 7:52PM0.20m | 7:51AM0.19m | 8:56PM0.22m | 8:53AM0.22m | 9:58PM0.21m | 9:54AM0.22m | 10:52PM0.18m | 10:49AM0.20m | 11:40PM0.15m | 11:39AM0.16m | 00:25AM0.11m | |||||||
 |  | |  |  |  |  | | |  |  |  | | | | |  | | |  | |
 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | 7:51 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — |
mm | — | 1 | — | — | — | 3 | 7 | 3 | — | — | 1 | 18 | 12 | 7 | 1 | — | 11 | — | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 26 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 26 | 22 | 23 | 25 | 23 |
Feels °C | 29 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 21 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 6 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSE 5 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | E 5 | E 5 | ENE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 6 |
| kJ | 10 | 72 | 34 | 30 | 20 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 5 | 8 | 15 | 14 | 18 | 14 | 9 | 19 | 28 | 13 | 13 | 8 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | NE 4 | NE 4 | NE 4 | — | S 3 | S 4 | SSE 5 | ESE 9 | S 5 | E 14 | SE 13 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ENE 5 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 |
| kJ | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 12 | — | NE 4 | — | — | SE 6 | SE 5 | E 16 | E 15 | E 15 | — | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ENE 5 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 |
| kJ | 14 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 4 | — | 18 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | S 3 | SSW 3 | — | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | ENE 5 | E 4 | E 5 | — | S 3 | S 4 | SSE 5 | — | NW 3 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | 10 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 23 | — | 2 | 2 | 42 | — | 1 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 387 | 10 | 24 | 590 | 200 | 243 | 568 | 218 | 638 | 2670 | 516 | 284 | 284 | 45 | 905 | 284 | 0 | 24 | 24 | 45 |
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.
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