
Surf Forecasts:
Indian River (Southside) surf forecast from 10 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 10 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period, ESE swell with 152 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 10 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period with S 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 10) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Indian River (Southside) in the next 16 days are 1.3m 7s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indian River (Southside) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down the surf on the way for Indian River (Southside).
To be straight with you, this 16-day forecast is a bit of a struggle. There’s a whole lot of rough, windy, and gutless conditions, with only a tiny glimmer of hope late in the game. The water’s running at 77°, which is a solid 5° warmer than average for this time of year – you’ll feel that tropical bath straight away.
We start with a brief, sad little window on Thursday the 10th. The morning serves up a weak 3ft S swell, barely holding itself together (combined energy of 51). Winds are offshore from the WSW at 12 mph, but the period is a short 6 seconds. It’s surfable if you’re desperate, but not a session you’d drive for. That afternoon, the swell drops even further to 2ft and the energy vanishes (36).
From Friday the 11th through to the middle of the second week, it’s a total write-off. Rain, messy onshore winds, and tiny swell. Friday morning brings a NE wind at 16 mph, chopping up a 2ft heap of nothing. The combo of tiny waves and often crowded line-ups just isn’t worth it.
There is one muscular spike on Friday the 18th when the energy jumps to 199 in the morning (5ft) and 218 in the afternoon (5ft). However, this is a short-period 6-7 seconds from the ENE, and the wind is cross-offshore and strong at 19-22 mph. Over 5ft makes this advanced-only territory, and with that short, punchy period, it’s going to be lumpy, not clean.
Monday the 21st brings the biggest numbers of the whole run – 7ft with 557 energy in the morning and 630 in the afternoon. That’s some serious water movement, but the near gale NE winds at 31 mph are blowing cross-onshore, turning the ocean into a washing machine. At 7ft, this is experts-only and honestly, it’s more kite-surfing weather than a surfable day.
The single real standout comes on Tuesday the 22nd in the afternoon. The wind finally swings offshore from the W at 16 mph, the swell holds at a clean 4ft from the ENE with a 9-second period, and the combined energy sits at a solid 236. The forecast calls it “good surf conditions” and for an advanced break like this, that’s your call to action. It’s not a long groundswell, but the offshore flow will clean it right up.
Everything after that fades into small 2ft leftovers on Wednesday the 23rd with strong offshores, and then the final days on Thursday the 24th and Friday the 25th are blown out by 25 mph onshore winds and tiny 2ft junk.
So here’s the real talk: from the 11th to the 17th there’s a dry spell of pure crap. The only window worth paddling out for is the afternoon of Tuesday the 22nd – clean offshore wind, moderate 4ft ENE swell, and a real chance at some groomed, lined-up sets. If you’re advanced and you’ve got patience, that’s your one good bet in the whole forecast.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 30°C on Thu afternoon, min 23°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Warm (max 28°C on Sun afternoon, min 22°C on Tue afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 6 | S 6 | SSE 6 | S 6 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | E 9 | E 5 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | E 6 | S 4 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
41 | 21 | 28 | 19 | 13 | 13 | 18 | 49 | 43 | 27 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 57 | 47 | 89 | 152 | 75 | 41 | 16 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | off | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:36AM0.91m | 9:03PM1.03m | 9:22AM0.95m | 9:44PM0.99m | 10:06AM0.98m | 10:23PM0.94m | 10:47AM0.98m | 11:01PM0.89m | 11:29AM0.98m | 11:40PM0.84m | 12:11PM0.96m | 00:19AM0.79m | 12:56PM0.94m | 1:04AM0.75m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:14PM-0.01m | 2:50AM0.01m | 3:04PM-0.01m | 3:30AM0.01m | 3:52PM0.02m | 4:08AM0.03m | 4:40PM0.06m | 4:46AM0.07m | 5:28PM0.12m | 5:24AM0.12m | 6:18PM0.20m | 6:03AM0.18m | 7:12PM0.26m | ||||||||
6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | |
— | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:12 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:08 | — | — | 7:07 | — | |
mm | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 3 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 30 | 28 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 |
Feels °C | 26 | 32 | 30 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 27 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 6 | SE 9 | SSE 6 | S 6 | SSE 6 | E 4 | — | E 9 | ESE 10 | SE 5 | ESE 5 | SE 5 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 5 | — | E 15 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | E 6 | E 6 |
41 | 13 | 28 | 19 | 10 | 6 | — | 2 | 9 | 27 | 17 | 13 | 21 | 21 | 2 | — | 4 | 90 | 75 | 41 | 11 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | — | — | E 8 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 5 | S 5 | E 15 | E 15 | — | E 14 | SE 14 | E 13 | SE 9 |
8 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 13 | — | — | 1 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 4 | — | 4 | 7 | 4 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | S 5 | — | — | — | E 7 | — | — | SSE 5 | ESE 5 | E 15 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 13 |
2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 6 | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 4 | S 6 | — | NE 2 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | ESE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | — | S 4 | — | — | — | E 9 | E 5 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | — | S 3 | S 4 |
5 | 21 | — | 1 | 9 | 7 | 18 | 49 | 43 | — | 3 | — | — | — | 57 | 47 | 89 | 152 | — | 5 | 16 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 74 | 22 | 141 | 73 | 296 | 1125 | 1047 | 217 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 13 | 134 | 900 | 2303 | 1493 | 459 | 8 | 589 | 209 |
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.










