Surf Forecasts:
Indian River (Southside) surf forecast from 16 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 22 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 7s period, S swell with 289 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 18 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 5s 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 Saturday (Jul 18) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s is also forecast. 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 1.8m 7s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) 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 0.6m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indian River (Southside) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, it's Rusty. I've crunched the numbers for Indian River (Southside), and there's nothing to get excited about – not one solid surf option in the entire 16-day window. The area is a consistent spot for advanced surfers when it's on, but when it's off, it stays off.
Water temp is 76°, which is a touch warmer than normal for July – you'll be fine in boardshorts or a light spring suit.
The pattern is flat and frustrating. Wednesday the 15th kicks off with 1ft of weak ESE swell, period of 9 seconds, and combined energy at 16 – that's weak. Wind is offshore from the WNW at 9 mph, but there's no power behind it. Thursday the 16th morning goes glassy with 1ft from the SSE and a period of just 5 seconds, energy dropping to 14. It's dead. Friday the 17th through the weekend stays in the 0.7ft to 1ft range, with onshore breezes and energy barely hitting 27 on Saturday morning. That Saturday afternoon, the 18th, a 4ft south swell shows up with a 5-second period and energy of 67 – it's "surfable but very ordinary." That's our best moment, and it's not good.
From Sunday the 19th through the end of the run, we're stuck between 0.7ft and 3ft, periods under 10 seconds, energy mostly under 100. Even the clean days have no push. Monday the 21st shows 3ft from the SSE with a period of 4 seconds and energy of 27 – just windswell bump. Not worth the paddle.
One thing to watch: on the 30th of July, the combined energy jumps to 132 and 106, which is moderate, and the period goes to 9 seconds. But the swell is still only 2ft to 3ft, and it's cross-onshore. It's just not lining up. No standout days, no clean groundswell, no quality windows. For an exposed beach/jetty like this, you need a proper south-southeast swell with clean wind, and we're not getting it. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. I'd leave the board on the rack and check back in a week.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Warm (max 36°C on Wed afternoon, min 24°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 36mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 29°C on Sun afternoon, min 22°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wed 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | S 5 | SSE 5 | ESE 8 | S 5 | SSE 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 5 | S 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | S 7 | SSE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 15 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 59 | 173 | 68 | 75 | 52 | 71 | 37 | 12 | 24 | 24 | 171 | 82 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | off | off | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:32PM1.09m | 10:49AM0.82m | 11:20PM1.04m | 11:42AM0.83m | 00:07AM0.97m | 12:35PM0.83m | 00:53AM0.89m | 1:28PM0.83m | 1:40AM0.81m | 2:23PM0.83m | 2:29AM0.75m | 3:20PM0.84m | 3:22AM0.69m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:28PM-0.09m | 4:29AM-0.03m | 4:22PM-0.07m | 5:17AM-0.03m | 5:17PM-0.03m | 6:04AM-0.02m | 6:14PM0.02m | 6:50AM0.01m | 7:13PM0.09m | 7:38AM0.05m | 8:16PM0.15m | 8:26AM0.09m | 9:23PM0.20m | 9:17AM0.14m | |||||||
 |  | |  |  | | |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 |
 | 8:23 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:20 | — | 8:19 |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 8 | 18 | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 7 | 2 |
Temp °C | 36 | 34 | 29 | 33 | 33 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 31 | 28 | 23 |
Feels °C | 35 | 34 | 29 | 33 | 33 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 29 | 28 | 31 | 28 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | S 5 | SSE 5 | ESE 8 | S 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | S 6 | SSE 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | E 12 | SSE 5 | SE 6 | SSE 8 |
| kJ | 15 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 16 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 84 | 68 | 75 | 52 | 71 | 37 | 12 | 3 | 24 | 54 | 82 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | — | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 14 | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | NNE 4 | — | — | — | SE 7 | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | 7 | 6 | — | 7 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | — | — | — | 15 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 16 | — | E 15 | E 15 | E 15 | E 14 | — | E 9 | E 9 | — | E 8 | — | — | SE 12 | E 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 5 | — | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | — | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | 6 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 4 | WSW 3 | — | S 3 | — | E 4 | E 3 | SE 3 | SSE 3 | S 5 | S 7 | WSW 3 | WNW 3 | N 4 | NNE 3 | — | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | — | S 7 | N 3 |
| kJ | 4 | 3 | — | 4 | — | 7 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 59 | 173 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 1 | — | 7 | 24 | — | 171 | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 315 | 364 | 1478 | 1356 | 43 | 1047 | 1039 | 1493 | 1039 | 0 | 540 | 14 | 41 | 46 | 38 | 377 | 185 | 414 | 13 | 0 | 38 |
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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