
Surf Forecasts:
Indian River (Southside) surf forecast from 5 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 6 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 10 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 6s period, S swell with 109 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 6 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s 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 Thursday (Aug 06) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m 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 1.2m 6s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) 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 0.9m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 08) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indian River (Southside) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, it’s Rusty. Let’s be straight with you—looking at the next couple of weeks at Indian River (Southside), it’s a pretty flat and uneventful stretch. We’re kicking off with a real dud. The opening days of this outlook, starting Wednesday the 5th and running through the weekend, are basically a write-off. The swell is tiny, with the odd pulse pushing 2ft, and short, weak 4 to 6 second periods. The energy is pathetic—we’re looking at combined swell energy values in the teens, 20s, and 30s, just not enough to push any real surf onto the sand. Winds are all over the place, mostly cross or cross-off, and while the water is clean, there’s nothing to ride. It’s a classic early August flat spell.
Now, there’s a little glimmer of hope early next week. Around Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th, we’re still seeing tiny 1ft to 2ft waves. The energy dips even lower, down to the low 20s and even 15 on the Tuesday morning. It’s not surf, it’s just a ripple. We’re biding our time, watching the bank, and checking the horizon—which is doing nothing.
The real story, and the only thing that gets my heart rate up, is that pulse of easterly energy arriving from Saturday the 15th onwards. We finally see some size, with chest to head-high waves pushing 4ft to 5ft. This is when the combined swell energy starts to climb into three-digit territory, hitting 119, 129, and even 152. This is the standout period of the whole outlook. The direction swings to the east and east-northeast, which is not the optimum SSE direction for the spot, but it’s the only real surf we’re going to get. The catch is, the wind is onshore—east and east-southeast—which is going to chop it up and make it messy. This is a classic case of “if you’re desperate.” It’s pushing towards the limit of what’s fun for an average surfer, and it’s still only rated as poor surf conditions. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing weird there.
Monday the 17th keeps the size, with 4ft to 5ft on offer and moderate energy values of 143 to 174. Still onshore winds though, so it will be lumpy. The last couple of days of the window, Wednesday the 19th and Thursday the 20th, we see the swell fade back down to 2ft to 2ft, with the energy dropping back to the 60s and 50s. The wind goes a bit variable, with a cross-off on that final Thursday morning giving us clean conditions, but there’s next to nothing to ride. It’s a poor run, lads. The only real chance to get wet is that mid-month pulse, and even that will be a battle against the wind. Don’t get your hopes up too much, but keep the board ready just in case. Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Fri afternoon, min 23°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 33°C on Sat afternoon, min 22°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SE 7 | SE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 4 | S 6 | S 6 | S 5 | SSE 6 | SE 8 | S 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | S 6 | S 5 | SSE 6 | S 6 | S 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
35 | 25 | 35 | 25 | 40 | 32 | 64 | 64 | 34 | 45 | 31 | 41 | 55 | 29 | 38 | 24 | 29 | 25 | 16 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:20AM0.79m | 2:08PM0.91m | 2:13AM0.75m | 3:13PM0.93m | 3:17AM0.72m | 4:26PM0.96m | 4:30AM0.70m | 5:39PM1.01m | 5:46AM0.72m | 6:46PM1.05m | 6:54AM0.75m | 7:44PM1.08m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:18AM0.08m | 8:15PM0.20m | 8:12AM0.09m | 9:26PM0.22m | 9:13AM0.09m | 10:39PM0.22m | 10:19AM0.08m | 11:47PM0.18m | 11:25AM0.05m | 00:48AM0.13m | 12:28PM0.01m | 1:42AM0.08m | |||||||
— | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | |
8:07 | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 27 | 27 | 33 | 29 | 28 | 31 | 32 | 30 | 32 | 32 |
Feels °C | 28 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 27 | 28 | 34 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 34 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | SE 6 | — | SE 7 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SSE 6 | ESE 7 | SSE 6 | S 6 | SE 8 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | E 9 | E 8 | SSE 6 | S 6 | S 6 |
35 | 25 | — | 11 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 33 | 5 | 45 | 22 | 20 | 55 | 29 | 2 | 1 | 29 | 25 | 16 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 4 | — | E 12 | E 10 | E 9 | — | — | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | SE 8 | E 9 | NNW 3 | ESE 7 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | SE 10 |
3 | — | 3 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 31 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 4 | E 9 | — | — | — | E 11 | — | — | — | E 9 | E 9 | — | E 9 | E 9 | E 11 | SE 11 | E 8 | E 9 | E 8 |
3 | 2 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 4 | S 6 | S 6 | S 5 | — | S 6 | S 6 | — | — | S 6 | S 5 | W 2 | WSW 2 | WSW 3 |
— | — | 35 | 25 | 40 | 32 | 64 | 64 | 34 | — | 41 | 41 | — | — | 38 | 24 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 80 | 335 | 1158 | 204 | 202 | 1165 | 188 | 0 | 226 | 2 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 2 | 22 | 22 | 145 | 108 |
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.











