Indian River (Southside) Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.60° N 75.06° W

Indian River (Southside) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 pm 26 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Indian River (Southside) sea temperature is
25.0°C
1.6° 

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: Friday 28 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 5s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 11s period, SE swell with 59 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 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 Friday (Aug 28) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 5s 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 0.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 5AM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Fri 28th Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 5s
Best Surf 2AM (Fri 28th Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 5s
Most Powerful11AM (Wed 2nd Sep)1.5ft (0.5m) 11s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s get into it.

Look, I’ve been staring at the charts for Indian River (Southside), and I’ve got to be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch. We’ve got a solid 16-day window here, but the surf is barely whimpering for most of it. The water’s sitting at a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, about 77°F, with a positive anomaly of 3°F, so it’s a nice bath, but that’s about the only highlight for a while.

There’s a big gap of nothingness at the start. From the 26th of August right through to the end of the month, we’re looking at tiny, weak waves – we’re talking 1.0ft to 2ft – with cross-shore winds and barely enough energy to push a leaf. The combined wave energy is pitiful, like 16 to 76 (weak) for most of those days. It’s just not happening. You’d be better off reading a book.

We finally get a little glimmer on Friday the 28th of August. Early morning, the wind goes light and clean out of the northwest, and we get a tiny 2ft wave from the ESE. It’s surfable, but just. The energy is still low (85), so it’s a longboard-only kind of morning. The afternoon brings a risk of storms and a cross-on wind, so that window is tight.

The first week of September is more of the same – tiny 1.0ft to 1ft waves, mostly clean but with no push. The wind does go offshore a few times, like the afternoon of Tuesday the 1st of September (W, 9 mph) and Wednesday the 2nd of September (W, 12 mph), giving us glassy, clean conditions. But the swell is just too small to get excited about.

Now, here’s where it gets a bit more interesting, but also a bit frustrating. Around the 7th of September, the swell starts to build. The 7th of September morning shows a 2ft wave from the east (10s period) with moderate cross-onshore wind, but the combined energy jumps to 126 (moderate). That’s the first real sign of life. The 8th of September morning is the same deal – 3ft, ESE, 10s period, light wind, but still cross-onshore. The energy hits 174 (moderate), so there’s some push, but that onshore element is ruining it.

The real standout, if you can call it that, is Wednesday the 9th of September and Thursday the 10th of September. On the 9th, we get a 3ft east swell, period at 11 seconds (that’s a proper groundswell), with a cross-offshore wind out of the NNW at 22 mph. The water will be clean, and the wave energy is solid at 156 (moderate). It’s not huge, but that longer period will give it some shape. This is a beach/jetty setup here, so a longer-period swell like this can break a bit straight, but with that clean wind, it’s our best shot. Thursday the 10th is similar – 2ft, 10 seconds, clean cross-off wind, energy at 111.

This spot is rated for advanced surfers, and it’s fairly consistent, but the crowds can be an issue – it says “often” for crowds, so you’ll likely have company. The optimum swell is from the SSE, and we’re getting east and ESE swells, so it’s not a perfect angle, but the wind will help.

Honestly, if you’re a weekend warrior, you’re looking at a long, dry spell. For the kite crew, the first week is a no-go, but when that wind gets up around the 6th and 7th of September (22-25 mph), and the waves are small and messy, that’s more of a kite session than a paddle session.

So, if you’re desperate, circle the morning of Wednesday the 9th of September. It’s the best of a bad bunch. The rest? Go fishing.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Fri morning. Warm (max 26°C on Thu morning, min 22°C on Sat morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSE on Thu afternoon, calm by Fri morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 31°C on Mon afternoon, min 23°C on Sat afternoon). Wind will be generally light.

Wed
26
Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
PM
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
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
ESE
9
0.4
ESE
9
0.5
E
8
0.5
ESE
9
0.8
S
5
0.4
ESE
8
0.5
ESE
8
0.5
ESE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.3
ESE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.3
ESE
8
0.4
SE
7
0.4
SE
7
0.4
SE
7
0.4
SE
7
0.4
S
5
0.4
SE
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
25
31
36
46
31
28
38
35
17
13
17
18
18
12
14
12
12
14
9
21
Wind (km/h)
20
SSE
25
S
25
S
30
S
15
SW
0
NNW
15
SW
10
W
15
NNE
10
ENE
10
SSE
10
SSE
20
S
20
SSW
10
WSW
5
ENE
15
W
20
W
15
W
10
NE
Wind State
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
off
cross-on
on
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
off
off
off
cross-on
High Tide
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
11:58AM0.98m
00:10AM0.84m
Low Tide
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
5:17AM0.06m
6:00PM0.15m
clear
rain showers
thunderstorm
clear
rain showers
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:24
6:24
6:26
6:26
6:28
6:28
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:38
7:37
7:36
7:35
7:34
7:31
7:30
 mm
1
2
2
4
3
1
2
Temp °C
25
25
26
25
26
25
26
25
22
24
24
25
28
26
29
31
29
31
35
34
Feels °C
23
23
26
22
28
30
27
26
22
26
25
26
27
26
31
32
29
31
35
34
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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