Surf Forecasts:
Indian River (Northside) surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 11s period, SE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period, SSW swell with 150 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 11s 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m 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 1.4m 6s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indian River (Northside) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's get into it.
It is a flat spell, plain and simple. For the next week and a half, there's just no energy to speak of. From now right through until the 26th of August, the swell is tiny, mostly under 3 feet, and the wind is often onshore or cross-shore, making it messy or blown out. The best you can say is that there are some clean windows on Monday and Tuesday morning of this week, but with swell only around 2 to 3 feet, you're on a longboard or a log, and you’re working for it.
The only flicker of life comes right at the tail end of the outlook. Wednesday the 26th starts to see a change. There's a long-period groundswell arriving from the ESE, with a period of 15 seconds. That's a proper pulse, and the energy ramps up from moderate (104) in the morning to strong (207) by the afternoon. The wave height is still only around 1 feet, which sounds tiny, but that long period will push in more shape than the height suggests. The wind is clean, cross-offshore, and light to moderate, so the surface will be smooth.
Then Thursday the 27th is where it gets interesting. This is the standout window. The swell from the ESE holds at 2 feet, period of 12 seconds, and the energy is up again (140 in the morning, 201 in the afternoon). Now here's the kicker: Thursday afternoon we see offshore wind out of the W at 10 mph, with the forecast calling for "gentle offshore and clean" conditions. That is a big deal. For a break like Indian River (Northside), which is exposed to swell from the SSE direction, this ESE swell isn't perfect, but with that clean offshore wind, the waves will be tidy, peaky, and fun on the sets. It’s not big, but it’s quality. This is the best the whole two weeks has to offer.
The water temperature is 78°, which is about a touch warmer than usual for the time of year, so a spring suit will do.
If you're an expert looking for bigger, cleaner power, the last two weeks are a write-off. For everyone else, the only real show in town is that late Thursday, 27th of August, window at Indian River (Northside). Get on it if you can.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 30°C on Mon afternoon, min 22°C on Tue morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Sun night, calm by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 46mm), heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 26°C on Wed afternoon, min 19°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | |||||||||||||||
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 3 | SSE 4 | S 5 | S 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | ESE 9 | NE 5 | ENE 5 | E 5 | E 8 | E 5 | E 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 3 | 24 | 71 | 54 | 25 | 27 | 20 | 15 | 56 | 34 | 22 | 16 | 8 | 9 | 15 | 41 | 30 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 11 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 11:58AM0.94m | 00:09AM0.87m | 12:46PM0.91m | 00:58AM0.80m | 1:33PM0.88m | 1:47AM0.74m | 2:21PM0.85m | 2:37AM0.69m | 3:09PM0.83m | 3:30AM0.66m | 4:01PM0.81m | 4:28AM0.64m | 4:58PM0.81m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:16PM0.04m | 5:34AM0.01m | 6:03PM0.10m | 6:14AM0.08m | 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 | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | |  | |  | | |  |  | |  |  | | | | |
 | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — |
mm | — | — | 7 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 6 | 2 | — | 6 | 29 | 1 | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 25 | 25 | 24 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 23 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 |
Feels °C | 23 | 23 | 21 | 28 | 32 | 33 | 23 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 25 | 21 | 20 | 28 | 23 | 25 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | NE 4 | SE 9 | S 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 5 | E 5 | E 5 | E 6 |
| kJ | 3 | 1 | 3 | 54 | 25 | 27 | 20 | 15 | 56 | 34 | 22 | 16 | 8 | 9 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 11 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SE 9 | — | SE 12 | ESE 12 | — | S 6 | — | SE 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSE 4 | S 5 | S 5 | ESE 9 | E 8 | SSE 6 | E 8 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 6 | 14 | — | 5 | — | 1 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 12 | 4 | 5 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 12 | ESE 9 | — | — | — | — | E 6 | E 6 | SE 5 | E 15 | E 15 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | ESE 8 | SSE 6 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 8 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 3 | SSE 4 | S 5 | SSW 6 | — | — | N 3 | — | — | — | SSE 2 | S 4 | — | — | NE 3 | NE 5 | ENE 5 | — | — | — | SSE 2 |
| kJ | 3 | 24 | 71 | 122 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 7 | — | — | 2 | 41 | 30 | — | — | — | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1141 | 1165 | 2129 | 16 | 139 | 73 | 139 | 24 | 0 | 136 | 325 | 173 | 329 | 1354 | 373 | 1046 | 1172 | 206 | 210 | 248 | 252 |
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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