
Surf Forecasts:
Indian River (Southside) surf forecast from 25 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 27 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 6s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 29 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s period, S swell with 262 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 27 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 6s period with E 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 Monday (Jul 27) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s. 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 1.7m 7s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Mon 27th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Mon 27th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indian River (Southside) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about what's on the table for the next couple of weeks at Indian River (Southside).
Honestly, it's looking pretty bleak. We’ve got a solid 16-day window, but the surf is flat and the conditions are messy for the most part. There are no standout days here, just a few moments where you might scratch out a ride if you're desperate.
From now through the end of July, it’s a write-off. The swell is tiny, mostly around 1 ft to 3 ft from the east or southeast, with short, weak periods of 4 to 8 seconds. The combined energy is low, sitting between 18 and 95—weak stuff. Winds are onshore or cross-shore for nearly all of it, making the surface choppy and ugly. The first real sniff of something surfable comes on Wednesday morning, July 29th. We get a 3 ft swell from the SSE (period 7 seconds) with a cross-offshore wind from the WNW. The energy bumps up to 95. That's your best bet in the first week, but it is ordinary—just "surfable" at best.
The water temp is about what you'd expect for this time of year. Nothing wild.
Into the first week of August, it doesn’t get much better. There’s a small uptick on Thursday, August 6th, with the morning seeing a 4 ft swell from the south and energy hitting 176 (moderate). The wind is cross-shore from the north, so it won't be clean, but it's the biggest wave height in the whole forecast. The afternoon improves a little with a cross-offshore breeze from the NNW and a 3 ft swell. Still, this isn't anything to write home about.
The long-range part of the forecast is also quiet. By the second weekend, on August 8th, we get a glassy Saturday morning with 2 ft from the south, but no power behind it (energy of 20). It’s not worth paddling out for.
In short, the whole 16 days is a flat spell. There’s no true standout. Consistency is poor. For an exposed beach/jetty setup like this, when the swell is this small and the wind is this unfriendly, you’re better off doing something else. Only the most advanced surfer with a longboard might find something to do on that Wednesday morning, July 29th.
Stay tuned, it tends not to stay this poor for long around here.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Mon afternoon, min 20°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 95mm), heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 26°C on Wed afternoon, min 20°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the S on Tue night, light winds from the NW by Thu afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | ||||||||||||||
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) | E 5 | E 6 | SE 7 | SE 8 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | E 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSE 5 | S 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 8 | ENE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
27 | 22 | 27 | 30 | 39 | 40 | 28 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 28 | 262 | 88 | 70 | 35 | 58 | 37 | 36 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:10AM0.66m | 7:03PM0.93m | 6:59AM0.69m | 7:47PM0.96m | 7:45AM0.71m | 8:27PM0.98m | 8:27AM0.73m | 9:04PM0.99m | 9:07AM0.75m | 9:39PM0.99m | 9:46AM0.77m | 10:12PM0.98m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:25AM0.24m | 11:51AM0.19m | 1:14AM0.23m | 12:37PM0.18m | 1:56AM0.22m | 1:20PM0.15m | 2:34AM0.20m | 2:00PM0.12m | 3:08AM0.18m | 2:38PM0.10m | 3:39AM0.15m | 3:17PM0.08m | 4:09AM0.12m | ||||||
— | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | |
8:17 | — | 8:16 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:13 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 11 | 79 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 26 | 26 |
Feels °C | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 21 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 20 | 26 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | ENE 6 | ESE 8 | ENE 6 | E 6 | E 6 | ENE 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ENE 6 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 8 | ENE 8 | SE 9 | NE 7 |
15 | 21 | 27 | 24 | 24 | 40 | 28 | 22 | 14 | 23 | 24 | 13 | 4 | 88 | 70 | 35 | 37 | 37 | 23 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | — | — | SE 8 | SSE 6 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | SE 8 | ENE 7 | SE 9 |
1 | — | — | 30 | 3 | 31 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 31 | 58 | 35 | 36 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | S 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 6 | E 9 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 6 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | E 6 | ENE 5 | — | ENE 6 | — | — | — | SE 2 | SSE 3 | S 4 | SSE 5 | S 7 | — | NNW 4 | N 5 | NNW 4 | N 4 | — |
27 | 22 | 23 | — | 39 | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 14 | 28 | 262 | — | 24 | 54 | 19 | 11 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 270 | 515 | 380 | 41 | 248 | 1005 | 0 | 8 | 388 | 286 | 1140 | 67 | 43 | 0 | 32 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 18 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Delaware | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.










