
Surf Forecasts:
Indian River (Southside) surf forecast from 10 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 5s period, SE swell with 64 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s 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 Sunday (Sep 13) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 10s. 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 1.1m 5s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indian River (Southside) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s look at Indian River (Southside). Honestly, it’s been flat or near flat and it’ll stay that way for a long while here.
There’s a big dry spell ahead of us – through this week and into the middle of next week the surf is tiny and blown out. A few knee-high pulses but nothing you’d wet a wetsuit for. Wind’s mostly onshore or cross-shore, and the water’s sitting at 77°, which is a few degrees warmer than usual, about 5° above average. Feels like bathwater.
The first real chance to paddle out is Monday, September 21st, in the morning. We get a little NE push with waves around 4ft, a light cross-offshore NW breeze, and clean conditions. It’ll be weak though – combined energy is just 62 (weak). Surfable, but very ordinary.
Then the wind picks up hard from the NE on Tuesday the 22nd – strong breeze, messy. No thanks.
The interesting part, for experienced surfers only, comes late in the outlook. By Wednesday the 24th of September, the swell builds in the morning – chest to head high at 5ft, with a cross-offshore WNW wind. The energy is moderate (297). Still lumpy conditions and the period is short, so the waves will be sectiony.
Thursday the 25th of September – now we’re talking serious size for experts – around 8ft to 8ft by afternoon, with a cross-offshore SW wind and clean conditions. Short period, but serious energy (572 to 730). That kind of size on a beach/jetty setup will be more fun for the kite surfers than paddle surfers. If you’re an expert, the Friday morning on the 25th might offer a few clean lumps, but it’s marginal.
So there you go: a long flat spell now, nearly two weeks. The best is the morning of Monday the 21st with small clean waves. The bigger stuff at the very end is only for experts and the quality is uncertain. Don’t hold your breath.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Warm (max 31°C on Thu afternoon, min 22°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sun night, min 21°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SE 9 | SSE 6 | SE 9 | SSE 6 | SE 9 | ESE 4 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | E 5 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | E 6 | E 8 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
14 | 26 | 19 | 16 | 13 | 28 | 48 | 46 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 16 | 29 | 53 | 41 | 25 | 12 | 31 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross | off | cross | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:03PM1.03m | 9:22AM0.95m | 9:44PM0.99m | 10:06AM0.98m | 10:23PM0.94m | 10:47AM0.98m | 11:01PM0.89m | 11:29AM0.98m | 11:40PM0.84m | 12:11PM0.96m | 00:19AM0.79m | 12:56PM0.94m | 1:04AM0.75m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:14PM-0.01m | 2:50AM0.01m | 3:04PM-0.01m | 3:30AM0.01m | 3:52PM0.02m | 4:08AM0.03m | 4:40PM0.06m | 4:46AM0.07m | 5:28PM0.12m | 5:24AM0.12m | 6:18PM0.20m | 6:03AM0.18m | 7:12PM0.26m | |||||||
— | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | |
7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:12 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:08 | — | — | 7:07 | — | |
mm | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 31 | 28 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 27 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 22 |
Feels °C | 34 | 31 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 28 | 27 | 30 | 31 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | SSE 6 | S 6 | SSE 6 | SE 9 | — | — | ESE 5 | ESE 6 | E 5 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 15 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | E 6 | E 8 |
14 | 26 | 17 | 10 | 13 | — | — | 46 | 24 | 14 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 16 | 16 | 4 | 41 | 25 | 12 | 31 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | ESE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | S 5 | — | — | ESE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | E 5 | E 5 | SSE 5 | S 6 | — | E 15 | E 14 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 13 |
13 | 9 | 19 | 8 | 2 | — | — | 9 | 24 | 23 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | 4 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 8 | — | E 8 | E 11 | — | — | E 8 | — | S 4 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | E 5 | E 15 | E 15 | — | — | ESE 9 | E 10 | E 9 |
1 | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | — | — | 9 | 2 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 6 | — | ENE 3 | ENE 4 | E 5 | ESE 4 | ESE 5 | — | — | — | — | N 3 | NNE 3 | ENE 4 | E 5 | ESE 6 | — | S 2 | S 4 | S 4 |
40 | — | 9 | 16 | 10 | 28 | 48 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 4 | 16 | 29 | 53 | — | 1 | 9 | 10 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 22 | 2 | 105 | 266 | 335 | 1165 | 377 | 0 | 2 | 80 | 22 | 134 | 273 | 459 | 1089 | 2458 | 1232 | 8 | 2280 |
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.










