
Surf Forecasts:
Indian River (Southside) surf forecast from 4 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 7 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 7s period, S swell with 85 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 7 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s 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 Tuesday (Jul 07) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 6s is also forecast. 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 0.9m 7s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) 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 4s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 04) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Tue 7th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Tue 7th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Fri 10th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indian River (Southside) over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright, this is Rusty checking in for the Indian River (Southside) area, and I'll be honest with you, the outlook for the next couple of weeks is a tough one to write.
For the next 16 days, we’re looking at a pretty flat and messy period overall, with a long stretch of very ordinary to poor conditions. The first real hint of anything surfable doesn't show up until Friday, July 10th, so we've got about a week of waiting ahead.
Alright, let's walk through it. Starting from July 4th, it's a no-go. Tiny swells, wind on it, and poor conditions. This pattern holds through the first week, with only a brief moment of clean conditions on the morning of Tuesday, July 7th, thanks to a light offshore wind from the west. But even then, the waves are just 2 ft from the SSE with a short 5-second period and combined energy is weak (22). It's small and weak, not worth a paddle out.
The best of a bad bunch finally appears on Friday, July 10th. The morning window is the standout: clear skies, a glassy 5 km/h offshore wind from the west, and the swell bumps up slightly to 3 ft from the SSE with a period of 7 seconds. Combined energy is still modest at 64, and it's "surfable if very ordinary", but honestly, that offshore wind makes it the cleanest we've seen. It's a small, weak wave but for the advanced surfer who just needs to get wet, it's the only real option. The break here is a beach/jetty setup, so don't expect any real power.
After Friday the 10th, we go right back into the doldrums. There are a few more mornings with clean, cross-off winds around July 12th and 13th, but the swell is from the east with a very short 4-5 second period and barely 3 ft. The wave energy is weak to moderate at best (between 43 and 62). It’s surfable if you’re desperate, but the shape will be junky and the sets inconsistent.
Toward the end of the run, on Thursday morning, July 16th, we get a brief shot with 3 ft from the NNE and a light offshore from the WSW. It's clean, but again, the period is short (5 seconds) and the energy is low (53). It's a fleeting moment in a long, flat stretch.
To be fair, Indian River (Southside) is an exposed beach/jetty setup that needs a decent SSE swell to fire, and we just don't have one coming. The consistent, clean windows are all tied to very weak, short-period swells that won't deliver any punch. For beginners, there's nothing here – it's all too small and weak. For experts, the lack of size and power will be frustrating.
If you're a kitesurfer, the moderate cross-shore winds on a few afternoons (like July 5th or 9th) might look more interesting than what's on offer for surfing. It's been a lean forecast, but it often turns around fast around here. Keep your eye on the horizon.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Sat afternoon. Warm (max 35°C on Fri night, min 22°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Tue night. Warm (max 28°C on Tue afternoon, min 19°C on Wed morning). Winds increasing (calm on Tue afternoon, fresh winds from the S by Thu afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 4 | Sunday 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Fri 10 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 4 | S 5 | SSE 4 | ESE 10 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 7 | ENE 8 | S 6 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SSE 5 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
22 | 21 | 21 | 14 | 14 | 35 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 17 | 25 | 38 | 21 | 26 | 22 | 12 | 25 | 61 | 36 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | on | cross | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | off | cross |
High Tide | 11:49PM0.91m | 12:11PM0.73m | 00:26AM0.87m | 12:55PM0.75m | 1:06AM0.83m | 1:43PM0.78m | 1:50AM0.79m | 2:36PM0.82m | 2:42AM0.76m | 3:36PM0.87m | 3:40AM0.73m | 4:40PM0.93m | 4:45AM0.71m | 5:47PM0.99m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:52AM0.12m | 5:44PM0.11m | 6:28AM0.10m | 6:34PM0.13m | 7:09AM0.09m | 7:31PM0.15m | 7:54AM0.08m | 8:34PM0.17m | 8:45AM0.06m | 9:43PM0.18m | 9:40AM0.05m | 10:52PM0.16m | 10:39AM0.03m | ||||||||
— | 5:39 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:43 | — | |
8:28 | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:25 | |
mm | — | — | 5 | 6 | 1 | — | 3 | — | — | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — |
Temp °C | 35 | 31 | 31 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 31 |
Feels °C | 38 | 34 | 31 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 21 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 31 | 33 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SSE 4 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | S 5 | SE 8 | SSE 4 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SSE 5 | SSE 7 | ESE 10 |
22 | 7 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 18 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 17 | 25 | 38 | 20 | 11 | 22 | 12 | 25 | 61 | 9 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 9 | — | N 4 | ESE 8 | — | ESE 8 | — | — | ENE 5 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 7 | ESE 10 | E 10 | SSE 9 |
— | 21 | — | 1 | 14 | — | 7 | — | — | 3 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 17 | 21 | 12 | 10 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 7 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | NW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | E 11 | E 10 | E 6 | E 5 | E 9 |
— | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 13 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | — | S 4 | S 4 | — | SE 8 | — | S 5 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | S 6 | SSE 6 | S 3 | — | — | SSE 7 |
6 | — | 9 | 6 | — | 35 | — | 11 | 13 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | 26 | 7 | 5 | — | — | 36 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 217 | 330 | 175 | 315 | 2127 | 1467 | 1493 | 1166 | 1166 | 43 | 22 | 75 | 2 | 39 | 21 | 414 | 189 | 1157 | 22 | 0 | 13 |
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.











