Indian River (Southside) Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.60° N 75.06° W

Indian River (Southside) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 pm 09 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Indian River (Southside) sea temperature is
24.9°C
2.6° 

Indian River (Southside) surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Indian River (Southside) surf forecast from 10 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 5s period, SE swell with 100 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s 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 Sunday (Sep 13) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 10s is also forecast. 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 1.3m 5s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 11PM. 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 5s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 2AM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Sun 13th Sep)4.5ft (1.3m) 6s
Best Surf 5AM (Sun 13th Sep)4.5ft (1.3m) 6s
Most Powerful11PM (Sat 12th Sep)4.5ft (1.3m) 5s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indian River (Southside) over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s talk Indian River (Southside) in the units you might be more familiar with.

First, the water is warm. It’s 77°, which is 5° above normal for this time of year. That’s a big anomaly, so you’re getting a nice warm ocean.

Honestly, the next 16 days are pretty flat and uninspiring. There is no real standout session. The first chance to even get a surfable wave doesn’t come until Sunday the 13th, and even that is barely worth mentioning.

From Wednesday the 9th through Saturday the 12th, it’s all tiny and weak. Swell heights stay under 3 ft, with short periods of 4 to 6 seconds. The combined energy is low, between 17 and 42, so just no power. Winds are mostly onshore or cross-shore. Thursday morning the 10th does have a clean offshore wind, but it’s only pushing 2 ft of weak swell. Not enough.

Sunday the 13th morning is the first “surfable” window, but it’s ordinary. Clean 3 ft from the SE, but the period is only 5 seconds and energy is 54. It’s small.

From Monday the 14th onward, it’s mostly a write-off. The first bit of real size shows up Saturday the 19th afternoon: 5 ft from the ENE, but with a messy cross-onshore wind at 16 mph and a short 6-second period. Energy climbs to 213, but the conditions are poor.

The only two days that are “marginal” are Sunday the 20th and Wednesday the 23rd. Sunday the 20th afternoon has 5 ft from the east with an 8-second period and 514 energy, but it’s onshore and light. Wednesday the 23rd afternoon brings 6 ft from the east with a 6-second period and 226 energy, but again, onshore wind at 16 mph spoils it.

The biggest swell of the whole forecast is Thursday the 24th morning: 7 ft from the ENE with an 8-second period and a huge 881 energy. But the wind is a fresh cross-onshore at 19 mph, making it lumpy and challenging. At that size, it’s for experts only, and the wind will make it a grinder.

For the most part, this is a kite surfer’s forecast, not a paddle surfer’s. The break is fairly consistent in having small swell, but the quality and wind are just not cooperating. No standouts here. Keep an eye on the forecasts as they might tighten up, but as it sits, it’s a quiet stretch.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Thu afternoon, min 22°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Wed night, light winds from the ESE by Fri afternoon).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 28°C on Sun afternoon, min 23°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SE on Sat night, calm by Sun night).

Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
ESE
9
0.7
S
6
0.6
S
6
0.7
SSE
6
0.5
S
6
0.4
SE
9
0.3
SE
9
0.9
ESE
4
1.1
SE
5
1.2
SE
6
0.9
SE
5
0.5
SE
10
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.4
ESE
9
0.4
ESE
9
0.3
ESE
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
8
33
22
40
19
20
13
29
60
88
45
45
22
21
21
20
30
31
16
Wind (km/h)
35
SW
20
W
10
WNW
15
WNW
15
NE
10
ESE
10
SE
25
SE
25
SE
20
S
10
W
10
NE
10
NNW
15
NE
15
E
15
SE
20
SSE
20
SSE
20
S
Wind State
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
8:19PM1.05m
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
Low Tide
2:08AM0.04m
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
clear
clear
clear
thunderstorm
rain showers
clear
part cloud
rain showers
light rain
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:35
6:37
6:37
6:39
6:39
6:41
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:17
7:16
7:15
7:13
7:12
7:09
7:08
 mm
3
1
1
4
7
2
Temp °C
24
27
30
28
23
23
24
24
23
26
25
28
27
24
25
24
24
24
25
Feels °C
20
26
31
29
24
24
25
23
22
26
28
32
31
26
27
24
26
25
27
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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