Indian River (Southside) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, mate, Rusty here. Let’s have a proper look at what’s on offer for the next couple of weeks. I’ll level with you straight up: the Indian River (Southside) isn’t exactly firing, and there’s a long, quiet stretch to get through before we even see anything worth getting wet for.

The first week is a write-off, to be honest. From Monday the 24th right through to Sunday the 31st of August, we’re looking at tiny, weak waves. The swell is mostly under 2 ft, and the combined energy is low, sitting between 21 and 82 for most of it – that’s barely a ripple. The best wind we see is a glassy moment on Tuesday afternoon, but with only 1.0 ft on offer, it’s still a flat spell. The water’s sitting at 77°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so it’s a nice temperature for a swim, but not a surf.

We finally get a bit of a pulse around late August, but it’s still poor. Friday the 28th has a small SSE swell (2 ft–3 ft) with a short period of 6–7 seconds, not enough to get excited about. The combined energy climbs to 72, still weak. The wind does go glassy on Friday afternoon, so if you’re desperate for a splash, that’s the cleanest window, but it’s really only for the most optimistic surfer.

The next week, from the 1st of September, we see a shift. The combined energy picks up to over 100 (109–116) as some longer period ESE swell (15–16 seconds) arrives. The swell height stays stubbornly small at 1 ft–2 ft, but that longer period means there’s some shape to it. The standout moment is Tuesday morning, September 1st – glassy conditions with a light NNW breeze, and that ESE swell (15 seconds) giving a little push. The combined energy is 109, so it’s not throwing much power, but for a shortboard or a longboard with a bit of patience, it’s the most surfable wave of the whole period. The second week is a grind, and this is the one to aim for.

From the 3rd of September onwards, the wind becomes a problem. Strong onshore breezes (25–34 mph) from the east and northeast blow the place out, even as the swell builds to 3 ft and then 5 ft by the 5th. The combined energy spikes to 359, which is moderate wave energy, but the wind is brutal – near gale force and messy. This is more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle session. The swell is short period (7–8 seconds) and onshore, so it’s a choppy, lumpy mess. Not for the faint of heart.

Tuesday the 8th of September sees a cleanup, with a light SSW wind giving a clean, cross-off breeze and a 2 ft E swell at 9–10 seconds. The combined energy is 110, so it’s a weak wave, but it’s rideable. It’s the last chance for a quiet, clean surf before the window closes.

So, the best on offer? Without a doubt, it’s the morning of Tuesday, September 1st. The Indian River (Southside) won’t be pumping, but with glassy conditions and a small, long-period swell, it’s the only window that might give you a clean, fun wave. The crowds can be “often” here, so expect some company, but with such small waves, it’ll be quiet. For a bigger swell, you’ll have to wait until the 5th, but that’s blown out – only for the brave or the windsurfers. The rest of the two weeks is a flat, windy drag.

Rusty.

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