Indian River (Southside) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Truth be told, the next couple of weeks are looking pretty lean for Indian River (Southside). This setup is a beach/jetty spot, and it needs a lot of things to line up, but for most of the next 16 days, the swell just isn't getting the job done.

We’re kicking off with a long stretch of nothing. From Tuesday, August 18, all the way through to Saturday, August 22, the swell is tiny. We’re talking 0.7ft to 3ft, with the combined swell energy barely cracking 70. The wind is a mix of cross and cross-on, and the water temp is about average for this time of year. It’s just plain poor. You’d be better off cleaning the wax off your board at home.

The first real chance of anything surfable comes on Sunday, August 23, but don’t get too excited. We’ve got a 3ft swell from the south, with a short period of 6 seconds and a combined energy of 108 (moderate). The wind is a clean cross-off in the morning, which is a positive, but the waves are ordinary. It’s a small step up from flat, but not worth a special trip.

Monday, August 24, has a similar story. The swell drops to 2ft from the SSE, but Monday afternoon turns glassy – zero wind. The ocean goes flat calm, which is a treat for the soul but won’t give you much to ride. The waves are still ordinary.

Then we hit another dry spell. From Tuesday, August 25, through to Saturday, August 30, it’s back to tiny, weak swell and a lot of wind. The standout weirdness is on Wednesday, August 26, when we get a 1ft swell from the ESE with a very long period of 16 seconds, and the energy jumps to 120. That’s a weird combo – a tiny wave with a massive groundswell period. It’s too small to do anything with, and the wind is a moderate cross-shore with chop. It’s a tease.

The one true highlight, and the only day I’d actually pencil in, is Monday, August 31. The morning brings a solid 6ft swell from the east, with a period of 6 seconds and a combined energy of 248 (strong). That’s the most juice we see in the whole forecast. The wind is a light cross-off, so it’ll be clean. Now, 6ft is getting into the territory where it’s a bit much for beginners, but for the advanced crew, that’s the best on offer. The afternoon gets ruined by a 16 mph cross-shore, so get out there early. The only downside is that this break is a beach/jetty, and with a short period like that, it might be a bit dumpy, but it’s the best we’ve got.

After that, it drops back down. Tuesday, September 1, has a 3ft swell from the SE, but by Wednesday it’s back to poor conditions. The second week of the forecast is a write-off, with nothing standing out beyond that Monday morning.

So, the call is: wait for Monday, August 31. Get there early, score the 6ft east swell in clean glassy conditions. It’s the only standout in a very quiet 16 days. The rest of the time, it’s flat or just ordinary. Keep the spirit alive, though – it tends not to stay this quiet forever.

Rusty.

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