Indian River (Southside) Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.60° N 75.06° W

Indian River (Southside) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 pm 19 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Indian River (Southside) sea temperature is
24.9° C
1.2° 

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 20 Aug 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s period, S swell with 64 kJ wave energy.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Indian River (Southside) this week:

The most powerful waves expected at Indian River (Southside) in the next 16 days are 1.0m 6s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 8AM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful 5PM (Sun 23rd Aug)3.5ft (1.0m) 6s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s have a look at what’s on the table for Indian River (Southside) over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – this stretch is not showing much love at all. The 16-day window is almost completely empty of decent surf. We’ve got a long, quiet, flat spell ahead, with only a tiny flicker of hope right at the very end.

The water temp is sitting around 77° and running a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so the ocean feels nice but there’s just no push to go with it.

Right from the start, Wednesday the 19th through to the end of August, it’s a whole lot of nothing. Small, weak, often messy conditions. Swell heights hang between 0.7 ft and 4 ft, but the periods are mostly short – under 8 seconds – and the wind is all over the place: onshore, cross-onshore, sometimes cross-off but with moderate to fresh breezes that chop things up. The wave energy is weak, barely cracking 100 most days, and the guidance rates it all as poor surf. Honestly, there’s about a 10-day stretch here where you’d be better off doing something else.

Then, finally, on the morning of Wednesday the 3rd of September, there’s a tiny glimmer. The wind goes glassy – calm, dead flat – and the swell bumps up a touch with a period of 8 seconds from the east. The combined energy is still only moderate at 84, but for the first time the guidance says "surfable waves" – just barely. It’s small, around 2 ft from the east, but it’s clean. That’s basically the only window in the whole forecast where you could get wet and catch a couple of knee-high sliders. Don’t expect much, but if you’re desperate, that’s your moment.

Aside from that, it’s a long blank run. Few spots are consistent here at the best of times, so this dry spell is not unusual for the area. Forecasts can and do change, so keep an eye out, but for now, I’d leave the board in the car.

- Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 75mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 28°C on Thu afternoon, min 21°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 28°C on Sun afternoon, min 22°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light.

Wed
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
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
0
0
0
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
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
8
0.6
S
4
0.5
SSE
5
0.9
NE
5
0.8
ENE
5
0.6
ENE
5
0.3
ESE
8
0.3
ESE
8
0.2
ESE
13
0.2
ESE
12
1
S
6
0.5
SSE
6
0.4
SSE
6
0.3
ESE
12
0.3
ESE
11
0.9
NE
4
0.7
ENE
5
0.5
E
5
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
30
20
18
14
13
32
27
15
14
13
17
15
64
17
14
26
23
26
25
13
Wind (km/h)
5
ESE
15
SW
10
S
15
SSW
10
N
20
ENE
15
E
5
SSW
20
SSW
20
SSW
10
W
10
SSE
15
S
15
WNW
15
NNW
5
ESE
15
SSW
20
NE
20
NE
10
NE
Wind State
glassy
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-on
on
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross
cross
off
cross-off
on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
2:34PM0.88m
2:35AM0.71m
3:35PM0.88m
3:33AM0.68m
4:38PM0.89m
4:34AM0.68m
5:38PM0.91m
5:34AM0.69m
6:30PM0.94m
6:27AM0.72m
7:15PM0.96m
7:15AM0.76m
7:55PM0.98m
Low Tide
8:49PM0.27m
8:26AM0.23m
9:56PM0.30m
9:23AM0.26m
11:00PM0.31m
10:22AM0.27m
11:56PM0.31m
11:19AM0.25m
00:44AM0.28m
12:10PM0.22m
1:24AM0.25m
12:54PM0.18m
1:58AM0.22m
clear
clear
rain showers
thunderstorm
rain showers
cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
rain showers
cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
clear
clear
rain showers
thunderstorm
cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:18
6:18
6:20
6:20
6:20
6:22
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:49
7:47
7:46
7:45
7:44
7:42
7:40
 mm
2
8
44
5
15
1
1
2
1
4
1
1
Temp °C
27
27
26
28
22
23
23
25
25
27
26
25
28
28
23
25
25
23
23
23
Feels °C
27
27
29
29
24
23
24
29
26
28
27
27
28
30
22
25
23
23
22
24
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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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