Surf Forecasts:
Indian River (Southside) surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 22 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 8s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 22 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 8s period, S swell with 761 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 22 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 8s period with SSE 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 Wednesday (Jul 22) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 1.3m and 9s. 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 2.4m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 2s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 23) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 8ft (2.4m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 8ft (2.4m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indian River (Southside) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let me be straight with you – this is a tough one to write. We’re looking at the Indian River (Southside) stretch, and for the next 16 days, the picture is bleak for paddle surfing. There are no good surf options on the table.
Right from the get-go, Monday morning the 20th, we’ve got tiny 1ft SSE swell with a cross-onshore breeze. The water temp is sitting at 77°, a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. Don’t get too excited though – the whole opening week is filled with poor surf conditions and minimal energy. The wind is generally onshore or cross-shore, keeping things chopped and messy. The combined swell energy barely nudges above 100 for most of the period, and when it does spike on Wednesday the 22nd with a moderate 222 (energy) and 5ft of S swell, the wind goes cross-off, but it’s still labelled as poor surf. That afternoon a 8ft S swell rolls in with a big energy reading of 1043, and it gets a marginal call due to tide, but that’s too big and powerful for a beach/jetty setup with cross-off wind – that’s more of a kite-surfing scenario than a fun paddle.
After that brief pulse, we go straight back to tiny, weak waves for the rest of the run. The combined energy drops into the double digits and stays there. From the 24th of July right through to the 4th of August, it’s a long, flat grind of 0.7ft to 2ft swells, mostly from the ESE or SSE with short periods under 8 seconds. That’s just wind chop. There’s a tiny glimmer on the 29th of July with a 3ft SSE swell and a 10-second period (127 energy), but the wind is cross-shore and the surf conditions are still poor. Honestly, there’s nothing to recommend here.
A blank run like this is pretty normal for the area when there’s no solid swell source. Forecasts can change, but as it stands, leave the board at home for now.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 37mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 30°C on Wed afternoon, min 21°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Tue afternoon, calm by Wed night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sat morning. Warm (max 23°C on Fri afternoon, min 20°C on Thu morning). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 7 | SE 6 | SE 5 | S 5 | S 5 | S 7 | S 8 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | ENE 5 | E 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ENE 5 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 18 | 26 | 31 | 75 | 82 | 246 | 222 | 737 | 212 | 67 | 36 | 27 | 35 | 58 | 47 | 28 | 37 | 37 | 43 | 35 | 28 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 2:23PM0.83m | 2:29AM0.75m | 3:20PM0.84m | 3:22AM0.69m | 4:19PM0.85m | 4:17AM0.66m | 5:18PM0.87m | 5:15AM0.66m | 6:13PM0.90m | 6:10AM0.66m | 7:03PM0.93m | 6:59AM0.69m | 7:47PM0.96m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:16PM0.15m | 8:26AM0.09m | 9:23PM0.20m | 9:17AM0.14m | 10:29PM0.23m | 10:09AM0.17m | 11:30PM0.24m | 11:01AM0.19m | 00:25AM0.24m | 11:51AM0.19m | 1:14AM0.23m | 12:37PM0.18m | 1:56AM0.22m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | |  |  | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | |
 | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — |
 | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:16 | — | — | 8:15 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | — | 4 | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 28 | 24 | 27 | 30 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 |
Feels °C | 24 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 22 | 27 | 30 | 25 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 7 | S 6 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | — | — | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 7 | ENE 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 18 | 22 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | — | 306 | 212 | 67 | 36 | 27 | 13 | 17 | 37 | 28 | 37 | 23 | 43 | 35 | 28 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 12 | SE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 4 | S 7 | ESE 8 | S 6 | S 6 | — | — | ESE 7 | S 6 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 |
| kJ | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 8 | 13 | 1 | 5 | — | — | 37 | 2 | 9 | 5 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | SE 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 8 | — | SE 6 | — | — | — | — | S 6 | — | SSE 6 | S 6 |
| kJ | 6 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 7 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 6 | SE 5 | S 5 | S 5 | S 7 | S 8 | S 8 | NNW 2 | NNE 4 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | E 5 | E 5 | ENE 4 | ENE 5 | — | NE 5 | — | — |
| kJ | — | 26 | 31 | 75 | 82 | 246 | 222 | 737 | 1 | 36 | 17 | 14 | 35 | 58 | 47 | 25 | 32 | — | 12 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 273 | 1472 | 600 | 1158 | 1158 | 1005 | 222 | 2 | 22 | 38 | 202 | 73 | 251 | 459 | 270 | 380 | 335 | 41 | 38 | 209 | 171 |
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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