Surf Forecasts:
Indian River (Northside) surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s period, E swell with 67 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s 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 Sunday (Aug 23) at 2PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 6s. 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 0.6m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 2PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indian River (Northside) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this stretch is a tough one. For the first week and a half, we’re looking at a real dry spell. From Thursday, August 20th, all the way through the morning of Wednesday, September 2nd, the surf at Indian River (Northside) is just flat or tiny. It’s all small, short-period junk or onshore slop. The water is a touch warmer than normal at 77° for that first mention, but that’s about the only thing going for it. There’s a few moments on Sunday the 23rd with a light offshore breeze that’ll keep the water glassy, but with only 2ft of swell, it’s barely a ripple. Don’t bother paddling out for that.
After that long flat spell, things start to tick up. By Wednesday, September 2nd, we finally get some energy in the water. The morning has a 5ft swell from the east with a short period (7 seconds), and the energy is building to a moderate 249. The wind is a light cross-shore, so it’s not perfect, but at least there’s some push. The afternoon stays similar, with 5ft from the east, period hitting 8 seconds and energy jumping to 314. It’s still messy, but we’re getting somewhere.
Now, the one standout you want to circle on your calendar is Thursday, September 3rd. The morning kicks off with 5ft of east swell (9 second period) and a clean, cross-offshore breeze from the NNW. The energy is a solid 286. That’s a proper, clean lineup. But the afternoon session is the real gem: 5ft from the east, period still a nice 9 seconds, and the wind swings to a light NW cross-offshore, keeping it clean. The energy jumps to a strong 696 – that’s a lot of punch. This is the best on offer. The swell is big enough for a good push but not out of control, and the offshore wind will make for some clean, rippable walls. For a beach/jetty setup, east swell with a clean cross-off wind is about as good as it gets around here. It’s a shame the rest of the week is so poor, but this Thursday afternoon is the one.
Friday, September 4th, the morning drops back to 4ft from the east, still clean with a light cross-offshore, but the energy is back down to 195. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. The afternoon gets ruined by a rain shower and a cross-onshore wind picking up, so that’s a write-off.
So, bottom line: save your energy for Thursday, September 3rd. The afternoon is the standout. The rest of the window is mostly a flat, choppy mess. Keep an eye on the forecasts, but for now, that Thursday is the only real call.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 42mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 28°C on Thu afternoon, min 20°C on Fri morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSE on Thu afternoon, calm by Fri night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 26°C on Mon afternoon, min 19°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 8 | SSE 5 | NE 5 | NE 5 | ESE 9 | E 4 | ESE 13 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | ESE 9 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 14 | 28 | 38 | 30 | 15 | 19 | 17 | 8 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 23 | 11 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 27 | 17 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 7:16AM0.73m | 7:32PM0.91m | 7:59AM0.78m | 8:12PM0.94m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 12:26PM0.13m | 1:08AM0.06m | 1:12PM0.10m | 1:48AM0.03m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — |
 | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:38 | — |
mm | — | 16 | — | — | 2 | 8 | 10 | 6 | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 27 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
Feels °C | 26 | 28 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 19 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 23 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | ENE 5 | — | E 4 | NE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | ESE 11 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | ESE 11 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 6 |
| kJ | 14 | 28 | 8 | 4 | 15 | — | 13 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 10 | 14 | 6 | 23 | 3 | 6 | 22 | 22 | 27 | 8 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | — | ESE 8 | SSE 5 | NE 5 | ENE 5 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | SSE 5 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 5 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 |
| kJ | — | 7 | 8 | 8 | 15 | — | 13 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 6 | 11 | 22 | 4 | 11 | 9 | 17 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 16 | E 15 | E 15 | SSE 4 | — | ESE 13 | ESE 8 | E 8 | ESE 12 | E 7 | E 7 | NNW 3 | E 7 | SSE 5 | E 7 | S 4 | — | NNE 3 | — |
| kJ | — | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | 17 | 6 | 5 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | — | NE 5 | NE 5 | — | E 4 | S 3 | — | — | — | — | NW 3 | — | — | — | S 4 | — | N 2 | NE 3 | — |
| kJ | 9 | — | 38 | 30 | — | 19 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | 9 | — | 1 | 1 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 590 | 590 | 1038 | 2590 | 460 | 284 | 72 | 133 | 127 | 139 | 144 | 45 | 45 | 139 | 329 | 511 | 139 | 363 | 387 | 144 |
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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