Surf Forecasts:
Indian River (Southside) surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 10s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period, E swell with 49 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 10s period with ESE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Indian River (Southside) this week:
The surf forecast for Indian River (Southside) over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 10s 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 (Southside) in the next 16 days are 0.6m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 4s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indian River (Southside) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Well, grab a coffee, 'cause I gotta tell ya straight up – it's gonna be a long wait for any kind of real surf around here. The Indian River (Southside) is lookin' at a pretty grim 16-day stretch. We're talking about a solid two weeks of tiny, weak, and mostly messy conditions before anything even starts to look like a proper wave. The whole pattern for the next fortnight is basically "flat to ankle-biting slop." There’s a big gap of days with nothin' worth paddling out for, so patience is the name of the game.
Let's break it down. From Friday the 21st right through to Sunday the 30th of August, it's a total write-off. We're talkin' swell heights barely ticklin' 2 ft, with periods all over the shop but mostly short and weak. The combined wave energy is pathetic – the highest is just a measly 61 (moderate? barely). Winds are mostly onshore, cross-onshore, or just plain messy. Even the few moments of glassy conditions on Monday the 24th afternoon (NW 3 mph) or Wednesday the 26th morning (ESE 3 mph) can't save the surf because there's simply no swell to ride. The water temp is 78°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s about the only highlight.
Then we inch into the last week of the window. Monday the 31st of August and Tuesday the 1st of September? Still poor. A little bump of 2 ft from the S and SSE, but with periods of 4-5 seconds, that's just wind chop. The combined energy is laughably low (22). Not worth it.
Finally, a tiny flicker of hope on Wednesday the 2nd of September. We get a morning with clean, moderate offshore wind from the W (12 mph) and a 1 ft swell from the SE at 10 seconds. Combined energy is still low at 28, but the offshore wind will make it look better than it is. It’s not a stand-out, but it's the best we've got.
Honestly, the one true standout – and I say that with a heavy heart – is the Thursday the 5th of September afternoon. It’s the last call in the window. A glassy session with the wind goin' slack (ESE 3 mph, glassy), a 2 ft swell from the S with a dire 4-second period. The combined energy is 17 – super weak. It will be small, but glassy and clean. For a longboard or a foamie in the dead flat spell, that's your best bet. It's a promise, but not a great one.
This break is fairly consistent for *something* to show up, but when it's this flat, you just gotta wait. This looks like a kite-surfing setup if the wind picks up – for paddle surfing, it’s mostly a stretch. Forecasts can change, but for now, don't hold your breath.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Sat morning. Warm (max 27°C on Sun afternoon, min 19°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Mon afternoon, min 20°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NNE 4 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ENE 7 | ESE 13 | ESE 8 | SSE 5 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | SE 7 | ESE 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
9 | 8 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 12 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 26 | 23 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 17 | 9 | 21 | 24 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross |
High Tide | 4:38PM0.89m | 4:34AM0.68m | 5:38PM0.91m | 5:34AM0.69m | 6:30PM0.94m | 6:27AM0.72m | 7:15PM0.96m | 7:15AM0.76m | 7:55PM0.98m | 7:58AM0.79m | 8:31PM0.99m | 8:38AM0.83m | 9:06PM0.99m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:23AM0.26m | 11:00PM0.31m | 10:22AM0.27m | 11:56PM0.31m | 11:19AM0.25m | 00:44AM0.28m | 12:10PM0.22m | 1:24AM0.25m | 12:54PM0.18m | 1:58AM0.22m | 1:36PM0.13m | 2:29AM0.18m | 2:16PM0.10m | 2:58AM0.13m | |||||||
6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | |
— | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | |
mm | — | — | 1 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 20 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 |
Feels °C | 19 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 27 | 26 | 19 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 5 | NE 5 | NE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 6 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 7 | ESE 10 | ESE 6 |
4 | 4 | 9 | 18 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 26 | 23 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 17 | 5 | 9 | 24 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | NE 6 | ENE 5 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | E 6 | — | ESE 10 | E 12 | ESE 9 |
8 | 8 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 8 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 9 | 3 | 17 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | SE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 14 | E 14 | E 12 | E 8 | E 11 |
1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 17 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 4 | — | — | ESE 3 | E 4 | S 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 2 | — | — | — | SSE 4 | SSE 2 | SSE 4 | SE 7 | — |
9 | — | — | 3 | 10 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 21 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1039 | 1414 | 245 | 458 | 217 | 509 | 335 | 145 | 145 | 43 | 202 | 141 | 335 | 330 | 330 | 1140 | 1158 | 1039 | 377 | 377 | 8 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Delaware | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Indian River (Southside) Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Indian River (Southside) 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 (Southside) can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Indian River (Southside) 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 (Southside)) 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 (Southside) 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 (Southside) is 28 km (17 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.











