Indian River (Southside) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get straight into it. First thing’s first – the surf over the next couple of weeks is looking pretty lackluster for Indian River (Southside). There’s no easy way to say it, but if you’re itching for a wave, you’re going to have to be patient. The next 16 days are a flat, choppy, wind-blown mess for the most part.

We’re looking at a long dry spell right through to the end of next week. From Friday the 11th right through to the following Friday the 18th, it’s a whole lot of nothing. We’ve got tiny, weak swell – mostly under 3ft – and the wind is just all over the shop, mostly cross-on or onshore, making it a lumpy, bumpy, pretty ordinary affair. There’s one brief moment on Sunday morning the 13th where the wind swings offshore and it cleans up, but the swell is barely there, just ankle-biters. That’s not what you’re after.

Then we get a little bump of energy around the 18th and 19th. Friday afternoon sees the swell push up to 4ft, but it’s coming with a strong cross-shore wind, so it’s going to be messy. But then, hold on – Saturday morning the 19th. That’s the standout of the whole period. The wind goes glassy, dead calm. The swell is a bit more organised at 4ft from the ENE with an 8-second period. The energy is starting to build too, sitting in that moderate range (190). It’s not huge, but it’s clean. This is the one to be out for. It’s offshore, glassy, and the waves have a bit of shape to them. A real window of opportunity in a desert of mediocrity.

After that brief spark, it’s back to the grind. The wind picks up again from the NE, and by the 20th we’ve got heavy rain and near-gale-force onshore winds. That’s blown out, not surfable. The rest of that week stays windy and junky.

Moving into the second week, the 23rd brings a bigger pulse of energy – the combined energy jumps to 386 – but it’s accompanied by a 50 km/h onshore gale. That’s not surfing, that’s survival. It’s too big and blown out for a paddle. It might look interesting for the kite crew, honestly.

Finally, on Saturday morning the 26th, we get another chance. The wind swings offshore, fresh but clean, and the swell is around 3ft from the ESE with an 11-second period. It’s a long-period swell so it’ll have some push, and the energy is moderate (224). It’s promising, but it’s a way out, so I wouldn’t book the time off just yet. Keep an eye on it.

So, to be straight with you: the pick of the bunch is Saturday morning the 19th. Get out there if you can. The other glimmer is that Saturday the 26th, but it’s a long way off and forecasts change. Water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. Overall, it’s a lean spell, but it never stays flat forever.

Rusty.

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