Indian River (Southside) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's take a look at what Indian River (Southside) has cooking.

Honestly, mate, it's a bit of a tough stretch. We're looking at a long, flat spell to kick things off. From now, right through until around September 15th, the swell is tiny – we're talking ankle-snappers at best, mostly 0.7 ft to 2 ft. The energy is pathetic, with figures mostly in the teens or single digits (like 17). There's a little bump of 3 ft on the afternoon of the 9th from the south, but with a period of just 4 seconds, it's just wind slop. No real power, no shape. It's just not worth paddling out for.

The only glimmer of something halfway decent in that first week is Monday afternoon, September 7th. The swell is still only 2 ft from the east, but the period stretches to 9 seconds, and the wind goes glassy (SE 5 km/h). The energy is at 71 (moderate), but that's more a reflection of the lack of competition than actual punch. It's a "surfable" window, but "ordinary conditions" is what the file says – and I agree. For a beginner or a longboarder looking for a glide, you might get a few, but don't expect much.

Things finally start to change around September 16th. The swell builds, and by Wednesday morning we've got 5 ft from the east (period 6 seconds, energy 190). By Wednesday afternoon, it's up to 6 ft from the ENE (period 7 seconds, energy 306). Now, 6 ft is getting solid, but it's still short-period windswell. That means the waves will be a bit crumbly and sectiony, not the clean lines we'd hope for. The wind is cross-onshore, which will add chop, so it's going to be a messy, bumpy affair.

Thursday the 17th holds similar size – 6 ft from the ENE – with energy climbing to 408. The wind is still cross-onshore, especially by the afternoon (SE 20 km/h), which will make it properly choppy. This is the biggest swell of the forecast, but the quality is poor. The best part might be the Friday morning of the 18th, when the swell is 5 ft from the east with a 9-second period (energy 422) and light cross-shore wind (SSE 10 km/h). It's still not clean, but it's the best of a messy bunch.

Look, for an advanced crew on a beach/jetty setup, the 16th to 18th will have some size, but don't expect perfection. The water temp is sitting at 78°F, which is about 5°F warmer than usual – that's a real anomaly, the water is much warmer than normal for this time of year. You won't need a wetsuit, that's for sure. Crowds are "often" a thing here, so expect company.

To be straight with you, there's no standout day that's going to blow your mind. If I had to pick one, it's Friday morning, September 18th – the 5 ft east swell with light winds is the closest we get to a clean, surfable wave, but even then, it's not a classic. For the rest, it's mostly a wait-and-see game. The surf is just not cooperating.

Rusty.

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