Surf Forecasts:
Indian River (Southside) surf forecast from 3 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 10s period, ENE swell with 141 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 3 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s period with SE 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 Thursday (Sep 03) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Indian River (Southside) in the next 16 days are 0.8m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indian River (Southside) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let me tell you how it is for Indian River (Southside). This is a spot that needs the stars to align, and for the next 16 days, they just aren’t.
To be straight with you, this forecast is a bummer. We’re looking at a long dry spell with zero recommendations for good surf. The first couple of weeks are pretty much a washout for anyone wanting a proper wave. There are a few moments where you could get wet, but it’s going to be a struggle.
Right off the bat on Thursday morning, we’ve got a tiny 2ft swell rolling in from the SE with a short period of 9 seconds. The combined swell energy is a weak 50, so there’s hardly any push. Winds are cross-off from the WSW at 9 mph, so it'll be clean, but the wave comment says it all – “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” That’s the best it gets right now.
The water here is running at 77°F, which is a solid 4°F warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s very unusual and feels more like a bath than the Atlantic.
After that first morning, it gets grim. From Thursday afternoon all the way through to the end of the forecast on September 18th, every single session is marked as “poor surf conditions.” We’re talking flat, weak swell – often under 2ft – with periods as low as 5 to 6 seconds. For a beach and jetty setup like this, that’s just not gonna produce anything worth paddling for.
The energy levels stay pathetic. Most readings are below 100, and a lot are in the teens and twenties. There’s one moment on Monday the 7th morning where the combined energy hits 117, but that swell is a messy 3ft from the ENE with a short period, and the wind is a cross-shore from the North at 9 mph. It’s still rated as poor. Even the few times we get offshore wind, like on the 8th and 10th, the swell is too small and weak to matter.
There are long gaps here. From that Thursday morning right through to the 18th, there’s just nothing recommended. It's a solid two-week stretch of flat to tiny, weak, and messy surf.
If the swell ever did show up bigger, this beach and jetty setup would get chopped up by the wind. With the NE and E winds we see later in the period and the poor conditions, this honestly looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer. The wave quality just isn't there.
Keep your eye on the forecasts, folks. It tends not to stay this dull forever.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 32°C on Thu afternoon, min 22°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Warm (max 25°C on Tue afternoon, min 20°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | |||||||||||||||
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 9 | ESE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 6 | ESE 8 | S 6 | SSE 6 | S 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 5 | ENE 7 | ENE 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 40 | 30 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 6 | 19 | 12 | 3 | 21 | 62 | 75 | 108 | 106 | 73 | 50 | 31 | 16 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | on | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:50PM0.98m | 1:59AM0.75m | 3:02PM0.98m | 3:12AM0.73m | 4:21PM0.99m | 4:31AM0.73m | 5:34PM1.01m | 5:46AM0.76m | 6:36PM1.04m | 6:50AM0.80m | 7:31PM1.05m | 7:46AM0.86m | 8:19PM1.05m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:02PM0.24m | 7:50AM0.13m | 9:16PM0.26m | 8:56AM0.14m | 10:29PM0.24m | 10:09AM0.13m | 11:36PM0.20m | 11:19AM0.10m | 00:33AM0.14m | 12:23PM0.05m | 1:23AM0.09m | 1:21PM0.01m | 2:08AM0.04m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | |  |  |  | | |
 | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — |
 | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:17 | — |
mm | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 27 | 32 | 30 | 27 | 31 | 29 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 25 |
Feels °C | 29 | 35 | 31 | 30 | 33 | 32 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 25 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 8 | S 5 | SSE 5 | ESE 8 | S 6 | SSE 6 | NE 5 | SE 9 | SE 10 | ENE 7 | ENE 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 |
| kJ | 40 | 30 | 18 | 14 | 9 | 6 | 19 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 75 | 108 | 106 | 73 | 50 | 31 | 16 | 8 | 9 | 8 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | E 6 | E 6 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | S 5 | ESE 8 | NE 4 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ENE 8 | E 8 |
| kJ | 10 | 10 | 5 | 17 | 13 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | E 5 | E 5 | E 6 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | S 6 | E 11 | S 6 | S 5 | S 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 3 | S 4 | — | S 6 | NNW 3 | N 4 | — | — | ENE 7 | ENE 5 | — | — | — | WSW 2 | WSW 2 | SSW 3 | S 4 | SSW 5 | S 5 | S 6 |
| kJ | — | 1 | 4 | — | 15 | 1 | 6 | — | — | 21 | 62 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 3 | 21 | 26 | 25 | 112 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 2 | 13 | 43 | 591 | 568 | 640 | 141 | 458 | 1352 | 226 | 41 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 691 | 141 | 282 | 3107 | 56 |
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.
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