Indian River (Southside) Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.60° N 75.06° W

Indian River (Southside) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 pm 16 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Indian River (Southside) sea temperature is
24.5° C
1.1° 

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 16 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 22 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 8s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 22 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 8s period, S swell with 623 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 22 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 8s period with SSE 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 (Jul 22) at 2PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 8s period. 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 2.2m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 16) at 8PM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2PM (Wed 22nd Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 8s
Best Surf 2PM (Wed 22nd Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 8s
Most Powerful 5AM (Wed 22nd Jul)7ft (2.2m) 8s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, let me tell ya… it’s pretty dismal out there for the next while. I’ve looked over the whole sixteen-day stretch for Indian River (Southside) and honestly, there ain’t a single session I’d point you to. The first real chance of anything rideable doesn’t show up until the morning of Wednesday the 22nd, and even that is a messy proposition.

Things start off with barely a ripple. From Thursday the 16th right through to Tuesday the 21st, we’re looking at tiny, weak slop – swell heights mostly between 0.7ft and 3ft, with periods that are short and weak. The combined swell energy is sitting at feeble levels, barely cracking double digits or staying in the low double-digits. Combine that with poor surf conditions flagged every single time, and it’s dead. You’d be better off taking the paddleboard out for a flat-water cruise.

The only day that gets my attention – and I say that with caution – is Wednesday the 22nd. The morning shows a jump to 6ft of swell from the south, with a period of 8 seconds and the combined energy reading a moderate 592. That’s the most juice we see in the whole window. The wind is cross-offshore from the SSW, which should keep the surface clean. But – and this is a big but – the guidance calls it “poor surf conditions” and at 6ft, that’s pushing into expert territory for this spot, especially with a short period that’ll make it dumpy and fast. Not one for the faint-hearted. If you’re a real experienced hand, that Wednesday morning might offer a few, but it’s a long-shot standout in an otherwise bleak run.

Beyond that, we drop back into below-par waves for the rest of the month. A few morning clean-ups on the 25th and 27th with light offshore or cross-off winds, but the swell is tiny – 2ft to 2ft – and the energy is weak. Not worth the drive.

The water temp is sitting at 76°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for the time of year, so at least your wettie can stay thin.

Bottom line: there’s a 16-day gap here with basically no decent surf on offer. One morning – Wednesday the 22nd – holds a whisper of hope for experts only. For the rest of us, it’s a write-off. Hang tight, check back; things can change.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 53mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 33°C on Thu afternoon, min 24°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Thu night, fresh winds from the SW by Sat night).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 29°C on Tue afternoon, min 22°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the S on Mon night, strong winds from the SSW by Tue night).

Thu
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
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)
0.2
ESE
8
0.5
S
4
0.4
SSE
5
0.2
ESE
8
0.2
ESE
8
0.5
SSE
4
1.1
S
5
1.7
S
7
0.8
SSE
7
0.6
SSE
7
0.5
SSE
8
0.5
SSE
7
0.4
SSE
7
0.6
SE
4
0.6
SSE
6
0.9
SSE
4
1.6
SSE
8
1.9
S
8
0.9
SSE
7
0.7
SE
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
6
10
8
7
7
7
51
282
63
36
37
27
18
14
23
29
316
443
91
51
Wind (km/h)
15
SSW
10
NNW
10
NNE
15
ESE
15
S
20
SSE
20
SSW
40
SW
20
WNW
20
N
20
NNE
20
E
20
ESE
25
SE
25
SSW
35
SSW
40
SSW
35
SSW
15
NNE
35
NNE
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross
High Tide
11:20PM1.04m
11:42AM0.83m
00:07AM0.97m
12:35PM0.83m
00:53AM0.89m
1:28PM0.83m
1:40AM0.81m
2:23PM0.83m
2:29AM0.75m
3:20PM0.84m
3:22AM0.69m
4:19PM0.85m
4:17AM0.66m
Low Tide
4:22PM-0.07m
5:17AM-0.03m
5:17PM-0.03m
6:04AM-0.02m
6:14PM0.02m
6:50AM0.01m
7:13PM0.09m
7:38AM0.05m
8:16PM0.15m
8:26AM0.09m
9:23PM0.20m
9:17AM0.14m
10:29PM0.23m
clear
rain showers
clear
clear
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
rain showers
thunderstorm
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
thunderstorm
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
thunderstorm
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:48
5:50
5:50
5:50
5:52
5:52
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:22
8:22
8:22
8:21
8:21
8:20
8:19
 mm
4
2
4
41
2
1
2
1
34
Temp °C
33
31
26
27
26
27
28
25
27
28
27
23
23
25
26
29
27
25
23
24
Feels °C
35
34
25
26
25
30
27
23
27
27
26
21
21
27
26
27
22
22
24
23
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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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