Surf Forecasts:
Indian River (Southside) surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 2 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 12s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 11s period, ESE swell with 81 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 2 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 12s 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 Wednesday (Sep 02) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 4s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Indian River (Southside) in the next 16 days are 0.6m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 31) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indian River (Southside) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s cut through the static and get real about what we’ve got on the table for the Indian River (Southside). I’ll be honest with ya, the next 16 days look pretty bleak, but I’ll walk you through it.
The whole period is flat as a pancake, mate. We’re looking at a long run of tiny, weak slop barely pushing 1 ft to 2 ft most days, with a combined energy that’s stuck in the low double digits (22) for most of it. That’s just a faint pulse, not a real swell. For a beach/jetty setup like this, we need something with a bit more punch.
Sunday the 30th kicks it off, but there’s nothing to surf. 1 ft of pure junk from the SE with an 8-second period and a cross-chop from the south at 15 mph. Total mess. Monday the 31st morning goes glassy with a northerly breeze, but still just that tiny 1 ft bump – it’s hopeless for a paddle.
We get a tiny flicker of hope on Wednesday the 2nd of September. The morning shows 2 ft from the ESE, but here’s the kicker: the period jumps to 11 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell pulse with moderate wave energy (91). The wind is a light cross-offshore from the NNW, so the surface is clean. For advanced surfers, you might find a few lully, lined-up runners on the jetty, but it’s still small. For beginners, anything over 5 ft is a concern, and this ain’t even close to that, so it’s a non-issue. This is the best of a bad bunch – a true standout if you’re desperate for a slide, but it’s not going to blow anyone’s mind.
After that, it’s back to the doldrums. The rest of the first week and all of the second week are a write-off. The swell drops back under 2 ft for days on end. We do get some glassy mornings, like the 31st morning and the 1st morning, but with nothing to ride, glass ain’t enough. Winds will be clean and offshore at times (7th, 10th, 11th September), but again, the swell energy is pathetic, barely registering double digits (6, 20, 22). The wave comment repeats “poor surf conditions” like a broken record.
Best Option: The only break in the gloom is the Wednesday 2nd September morning session. That 2 ft, 11-second groundswell with clean, cross-off wind is your one shot. It’s a long-period swell, so expect more energy but also longer lulls between sets. That long period can make a beach break a bit straight, but the jetty here might focus it a little. The swell direction is ESE (optimum direction is SSE), so it’s not a perfect match, but it’s the only game in town. Crowds are “often” here, so don't be surprised if a few other desperate locals have the same idea. The water temp is sitting about average for the time of year, nothing out of the ordinary.
Honestly, this is a dead run for Indian River (Southside). If you’re a kite surfer, the moderate cross-shore breezes with that tiny chop might be more interesting than a paddle. But for a surfboard, you’re better off waiting for the forecasts to change. It’s a quiet patch, but it tends not to stay this poor for long.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 27°C on Mon night, min 23°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 30°C on Tue night, min 23°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | ||||||||||||||
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 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 4 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 8 | ENE 6 | SSE 6 | ESE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
17 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 7 | 37 | 78 | 67 | 43 | 32 | 30 | 18 | 14 | 13 | 6 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:13PM0.96m | 10:33AM0.94m | 10:49PM0.93m | 11:14AM0.96m | 11:27PM0.89m | 11:58AM0.98m | 00:10AM0.84m | 12:49PM0.99m | 1:00AM0.80m | 1:50PM0.98m | 1:59AM0.75m | 3:02PM0.98m | 3:12AM0.73m | ||||||
Low Tide | 4:01AM0.07m | 4:22PM0.08m | 4:37AM0.06m | 5:09PM0.11m | 5:17AM0.06m | 6:00PM0.15m | 6:01AM0.08m | 6:57PM0.20m | 6:51AM0.10m | 8:02PM0.24m | 7:50AM0.13m | 9:16PM0.26m | |||||||
— | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | |
7:35 | — | 7:34 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:25 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | 4 | 7 | 3 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 30 | 26 | 29 | 28 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 28 | 26 |
Feels °C | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 27 | 31 | 29 | 28 | 31 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SSE 4 | SE 8 | SE 7 | S 5 | S 4 | SE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | S 4 | S 5 | SSE 6 | ESE 8 |
17 | 18 | 18 | 6 | 3 | 14 | 13 | 7 | 4 | 37 | 78 | 67 | 43 | 32 | 30 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 6 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | E 5 | SE 8 | — | S 4 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 9 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 |
4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 16 | — | 2 | 12 | 7 | 20 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 5 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | E 9 | E 6 | E 9 | — | — | — | — | ESE 8 | S 4 | ESE 6 | — | — | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 5 |
1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 3 | 4 | — | — | 5 | 10 | 18 | 13 | 7 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 3 | S 4 | — | SSE 4 | SSW 4 | — | SSW 5 | SSW 4 | — | — | SSE 3 | — | S 6 | — | — | — | N 3 |
— | — | 5 | 21 | — | 3 | 8 | — | 7 | 5 | — | — | 3 | — | 22 | — | — | — | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 335 | 282 | 2401 | 75 | 335 | 1047 | 1092 | 335 | 1169 | 14 | 0 | 38 | 39 | 2 | 8 | 141 | 43 | 175 | 364 |
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.











