Indian River (Southside) Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.60° N 75.06° W

Indian River (Southside) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 pm 25 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Indian River (Southside) sea temperature is
24.9°C
1.5° 

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 26 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s period, ESE swell with 62 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s period with ESE 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 (Aug 27) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 11s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 5s 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 0.7m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 5AM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Thu 27th Aug)1.5ft (0.5m) 9s
Best Surf11PM (Thu 27th Aug)1.5ft (0.5m) 9s
Most Powerful 5AM (Fri 28th Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 8s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at the prospects for Indian River (Southside). Straight up, this is one of those outlooks where patience is the name of the game. The guidance is telling us this spot needs a proper south-southeast swell to get going, and for the next fortnight, that just isn't happening. We're looking at a long stretch of small, weak, and often messy conditions.

The next ten days or so are a write-off for paddling. We've got tiny swell mixed with less-than-ideal wind. From August 26th right through to September 1st, the 'combined energy of all swells directed here' barely makes it into double digits, often hovering between a weak 16 and 63. There is nothing worth paddling out for. Don't bother.

We do see a slight pulse of energy arrive around September 2nd and 3rd, with the combined energy hitting 86 and 105. The south side of the river might see some small waist-high waves, but it's hardly a call to arms. The period is short, mostly in the 5 to 10-second range, so won't have much push. By September 4th and 5th, the energy picks up a little more, into the 100s, with the swell coming from the east-northeast. The trouble is, the optimum direction is south-southeast, so it's all a bit mismatched, and the wind is often cross or cross-onshore, keeping things choppy. Not the quality we're after.

The most promising window appears around September 7th into the 8th. The swell holds from the east at around 2ft, but crucially, on the Monday, we see light offshore winds from the southwest and south-southwest. This cleans up the surface nicely. The 'combined energy' is only moderate, 64 and 51, but clean surf on a beach/jetty setup is a rarity in this outlook. This is the closest we get to a standout, but it's a low-energy, small-wave day for the experts who know the bank. It won't be crowded given the lack of quality, but there could be a few out.

Overall, it's a grim run. For a break that's exposed, we just aren't seeing the right ingredients line up. With the small, weak swell and frequent wind, this spot might be more interesting for a kite session on the windier days than for surf. But as I always say, forecasts can change, and it rarely stays this poor forever.

Stay safe, keep an eye on the charts, and don't drive too far for this one.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Fri afternoon. Warm (max 26°C on Thu morning, min 21°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 33°C on Mon afternoon, min 22°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
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
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
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
11
0.3
ESE
10
0.4
ESE
9
0.4
ESE
9
0.5
ESE
8
0.5
ESE
9
0.5
ESE
9
0.7
SSE
6
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.3
ESE
8
0.3
ESE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
7
0.4
SE
7
0.2
ESE
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
11
18
25
31
40
46
44
28
27
23
17
12
13
18
18
16
14
13
25
Wind (km/h)
10
W
5
SSE
25
S
25
S
25
S
25
S
0
ESE
5
ENE
5
N
15
W
25
NE
15
ENE
5
SSE
10
SSE
20
S
20
SSW
15
SW
5
W
10
WSW
Wind State
off
glassy
cross
cross
cross
cross
glassy
on
glassy
off
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
High Tide
7:58AM0.79m
8:31PM0.99m
8:38AM0.83m
9:06PM0.99m
9:17AM0.87m
9:39PM0.98m
9:55AM0.90m
10:13PM0.96m
10:33AM0.94m
10:49PM0.93m
11:14AM0.96m
11:27PM0.89m
Low Tide
1:58AM0.22m
1:36PM0.13m
2:29AM0.18m
2:16PM0.10m
2:58AM0.13m
2:57PM0.08m
3:29AM0.10m
3:38PM0.07m
4:01AM0.07m
4:22PM0.08m
4:37AM0.06m
5:09PM0.11m
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:22
6:24
6:24
6:26
6:26
6:28
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:40
7:38
7:37
7:36
7:35
7:34
7:31
 mm
2
2
1
4
7
4
Temp °C
24
23
25
25
26
26
25
24
24
24
23
23
23
24
25
24
29
33
32
Feels °C
24
24
23
24
25
25
26
27
27
27
22
22
23
25
25
24
31
34
33
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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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