Surf Forecasts:
Indian River (Southside) surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 11s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 6s period, S swell with 86 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 11s period with SE 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 6s. 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 1.2m 6s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 6s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indian River (Southside) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Indian River (Southside) over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I gotta be honest with ya – it’s pretty grim. The water’s sitting at a warm 78°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s about the only thing that’s gonna feel good. The forecast is a long, flat spell of nothing. For the first full week, right through to August 27th, we’ve got virtually nothing worth paddling out for. Swell is tiny, mostly under 2ft, and the energy readings are weak, barely cracking 40 or 50 (combined wave energy in the 11 to 71 range). There’s a couple of days early on with clean, glassy conditions – Monday morning the 17th has a light 9 mph offshore from the WNW, and Tuesday morning the 19th is dead glassy – but the swell is just a pathetic 1ft to 2ft. It’s barely a ripple.
The pattern doesn’t really change. We’ve got days of onshore and cross-shore winds kicking up chop, and even when the wind swings offshore, there’s simply no energy in the water. Thursday the 20th and Friday the 21st are a total write-off with rain and strong onshore winds. For a beach/jetty setup like this, that’s just messy.
There is one moment that catches my eye, late in the window. On Thursday, August 27th, in the afternoon, we finally see a little jump in life. The combined energy hits 125 (moderate), with a clean 9 mph cross-offshore breeze from the NNW. The swell is still small at 2ft, coming from the SE with a long 11-second period. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. That’s the best we get, and it’s a long way off. For a spot that’s fairly consistent, this is a real dry spell. It won’t stay poor forever – forecasts can change – but right now, I’d say leave the board in the car and go do something else.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Mon night. Warm (max 29°C on Mon afternoon, min 23°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSE on Sun night, calm by Mon afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 39mm), heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 29°C on Wed afternoon, min 19°C on Thu afternoon). Winds increasing (calm on Wed afternoon, fresh winds from the NE by Fri night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 4 | S 5 | S 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | NE 4 | NE 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | E 6 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 34 | 66 | 32 | 18 | 22 | 21 | 26 | 56 | 34 | 30 | 20 | 7 | 7 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 20 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | off | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 00:16AM0.87m | 12:50PM0.90m | 00:59AM0.80m | 1:40PM0.89m | 1:44AM0.75m | 2:34PM0.88m | 2:35AM0.71m | 3:35PM0.88m | 3:33AM0.68m | 4:38PM0.89m | 4:34AM0.68m | 5:38PM0.91m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:51PM0.07m | 6:07AM0.06m | 6:46PM0.14m | 6:50AM0.12m | 7:44PM0.21m | 7:35AM0.17m | 8:49PM0.27m | 8:26AM0.23m | 9:56PM0.30m | 9:23AM0.26m | 11:00PM0.31m | 10:22AM0.27m | 11:56PM0.31m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  | | |  | | | |  |  |  |  | |  | |  | | |
 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — |
mm | — | 7 | — | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 8 | — | 3 | 6 | 16 | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 24 | 28 | 29 | 24 | 25 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 24 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 22 |
Feels °C | 22 | 20 | 30 | 33 | 25 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 28 | 27 | 20 | 24 | 21 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 24 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 9 | S 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SSE 5 | ESE 8 | SSE 4 | E 4 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SSE 6 | ENE 6 | E 6 |
| kJ | — | 3 | 32 | 18 | 22 | 21 | 26 | 56 | 34 | 30 | 20 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 15 | 15 | 6 | 26 | 20 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | ESE 4 | E 5 | — | SE 12 | ESE 12 | S 6 | — | — | SSE 5 | ESE 8 | E 6 | ESE 9 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | ESE 9 | SSE 6 | ESE 13 |
| kJ | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | 6 | 14 | 18 | — | — | 2 | 7 | 1 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 17 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SE 9 | — | — | — | S 6 | — | — | — | E 6 | — | E 16 | ESE 9 | E 15 | E 14 | SE 13 | ESE 8 | SE 9 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 5 | 15 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 4 | S 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | — | S 3 | — | SSE 5 | — | — | NE 4 | NE 5 | ENE 6 | — | SE 6 |
| kJ | 34 | 66 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 5 | — | — | 13 | 26 | 27 | — | 8 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2588 | 217 | 22 | 38 | 141 | 141 | 2 | 0 | 43 | 145 | 141 | 568 | 330 | 568 | 640 | 1097 | 266 | 54 | 270 | 2 |
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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