
Surf Forecasts:
Indian River (Southside) surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 29 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 29 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s period, S swell with 266 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 28 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 8s 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 Tuesday (Jul 28) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 4s. Another secondary swell of 0.7m and 4s 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 1.7m 7s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 30) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Tue 28th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indian River (Southside) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a long, hard look at what Indian River (Southside) has got cooking for us over the next couple of weeks. I gotta be straight with you – this isn’t looking like a classic summer run. The pattern is flat and quiet, and we’ve got a long stretch of nothing doing.
The first solid recommendation doesn’t show up until Wednesday the 29th of July. That’s a gap of a few days right at the start with basically no surf to speak of. For Wednesday morning, we see a little bump in energy, with a weak, short-period SSE swell pushing in at 3ft. The combined energy is right at 108, so just barely into the moderate range, but it’s a weak little wind swell with a period of only 7 seconds. The wind is a cross-offshore breeze from the NNW, so the surface will be clean. Still, the “poor surf conditions” tag tells me the shape is going to be crumbly and gutless. It’s really only an option for the dedicated.
Things get even smaller after that. From Thursday the 30th of July all the way through the end of the forecast on the 10th of August, the swell barely flickers above 3ft. Most days you’re looking at knee-high dribble, and the energy readings are almost all two-digit numbers – weak stuff. Winds switch around from cross to onshore, and we get stretches of cross-chop and choppy conditions. With these tiny waves and often lumpy wind, this setup at a beach/jetty looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. There’s a rare glassy moment on the morning of Saturday the 1st of August, but with a swell of 1ft and a period of 7 seconds, you’d be hard-pressed to get a ride.
The water temperature is sitting at 75°, which is just about normal for this time of year, with a negligible anomaly. So the water is comfortable, but the surf just isn’t there.
Honestly, there’s not a single standout session in this entire 16-day window. If you’re desperate for a paddle, the cleanest chance is the Wednesday the 29th morning, when that 3ft cross-off swell might offer a few close-out walls for an advanced surfer. It’s a true one-off in an otherwise blank run. For the area, this kind of quiet stretch is a bit more normal, so don’t lose hope – forecasts can change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 27mm), heaviest during Tue afternoon. Warm (max 25°C on Tue morning, min 20°C on Sun morning). Winds increasing (calm on Sun night, fresh winds from the SE by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Thu morning. Warm (max 28°C on Wed afternoon, min 20°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 5 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
24 | 31 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 17 | 74 | 105 | 79 | 38 | 59 | 59 | 39 | 35 | 35 | 27 | 12 | 11 | 11 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | cross | cross | cross | on | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross |
High Tide | 7:47PM0.96m | 7:45AM0.71m | 8:27PM0.98m | 8:27AM0.73m | 9:04PM0.99m | 9:07AM0.75m | 9:39PM0.99m | 9:46AM0.77m | 10:12PM0.98m | 10:24AM0.79m | 10:45PM0.95m | 11:02AM0.81m | 11:18PM0.92m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:37PM0.18m | 1:56AM0.22m | 1:20PM0.15m | 2:34AM0.20m | 2:00PM0.12m | 3:08AM0.18m | 2:38PM0.10m | 3:39AM0.15m | 3:17PM0.08m | 4:09AM0.12m | 3:57PM0.08m | 4:40AM0.10m | 4:39PM0.08m | ||||||||
5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | |
— | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:10 | — | |
mm | — | — | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | 11 | 5 | — | — | — | 2 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 28 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 24 |
Feels °C | 20 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 23 | 27 | 24 | 21 | 25 | 24 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | E 6 | E 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 4 | SE 8 | ENE 6 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 9 | SE 9 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 |
24 | 18 | 18 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 7 | 17 | 4 | 105 | 79 | 38 | 59 | 59 | 39 | 33 | 19 | 15 | 10 | 11 | 11 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ESE 8 | ENE 6 | E 10 | E 6 | E 9 | E 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 7 | NE 6 | ENE 6 |
— | 31 | 23 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 24 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 39 | 35 | 35 | 27 | 12 | 9 | 6 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | S 6 | ENE 6 | — | E 9 | E 9 | E 6 | E 9 | E 8 | SW 4 | — | — | — | — | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 |
— | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 7 | 7 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | — | — | — | SSE 3 | SE 3 | — | SSE 3 | SSE 5 | — | WNW 3 | WNW 3 | WNW 3 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 3 | — | — | — | — | SE 4 |
19 | — | — | — | 3 | 6 | — | 6 | 74 | — | 2 | 9 | 7 | 17 | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 3 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 218 | 380 | 2 | 335 | 1053 | 67 | 335 | 145 | 213 | 32 | 18 | 2 | 39 | 22 | 38 | 22 | 32 | 2 | 43 | 433 | 162 |
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.










