Surf Forecasts:
Indian River (Southside) surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 11s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 11s period, SE swell with 56 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 11s period with SE 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 (Aug 19) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 11s period. 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 0.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indian River (Southside) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s break this down. Honestly, it’s a rough outlook for Indian River (Southside). For the next week and a half, the surf is flat and the conditions are mostly poor. The swell energy is barely registering—like 31 to 66 on the combined scale—and wave heights are stuck under 3 ft, with short, weak periods. The wind keeps switching between cross-shore and onshore, so it’s choppy or messy most of the time. There’s a couple of glassy windows, like Wednesday afternoon the 19th with a glassy 5 mph south wind, or the 24th Monday afternoon with another glassy lull, but the swell is just too tiny—maybe 1 ft—to ride.
Water temp is about 78°F, a little warmer than average for this time of year.
The only real glimmer comes on Wednesday morning, August 26th. It’s a tiny 1 ft southeast swell, but it’s got a long 16-second period—real groundswell character. The combined energy hits 88, so at least it’s moving. Winds are light from the SSW at 5 mph, making it clean. It’s barely enough for a longboard, but the long period might give it a little push at the jetty.
Next morning, Thursday the 27th, is similar: 2 ft from the ESE, 13-second period, clean with a light S 10 mph cross-off breeze. Combined energy is 132—still weak, but that’s the best combo of tiny waves and clean conditions across the whole 16 days. For a spot that’s usually advanced, this is really just a small-wave cruiser session.
After that, it’s back to onshore slop and barely rideable waves through the end of August and into September. The 30th has a 3 ft ESE swell with a 12-second period and combined energy of 242, but it’s getting hammered by ENE winds at 25 mph—that’s a kite surfer’s setup, not a paddle surfer’s.
So, if you’ve got a log and a lot of patience, pick the mornings of the 26th or 27th. Otherwise, it’s a long flat spell. Forecasts can shift, but for now, it’s quiet.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 30mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 28°C on Wed afternoon, min 20°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 35mm), heaviest during Sun morning. Warm (max 27°C on Sun afternoon, min 20°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 4 | E 4 | E 4 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | ESE 13 | S 5 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
19 | 14 | 56 | 34 | 22 | 20 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 16 | 18 | 30 | 32 | 23 | 16 | 17 | 25 | 22 | 26 | 23 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | on | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | glassy | cross |
High Tide | 1:40PM0.89m | 1:44AM0.75m | 2:34PM0.88m | 2:35AM0.71m | 3:35PM0.88m | 3:33AM0.68m | 4:38PM0.89m | 4:34AM0.68m | 5:38PM0.91m | 5:34AM0.69m | 6:30PM0.94m | 6:27AM0.72m | 7:15PM0.96m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:44PM0.21m | 7:35AM0.17m | 8:49PM0.27m | 8:26AM0.23m | 9:56PM0.30m | 9:23AM0.26m | 11:00PM0.31m | 10:22AM0.27m | 11:56PM0.31m | 11:19AM0.25m | 00:44AM0.28m | 12:10PM0.22m | 1:24AM0.25m | ||||||||
6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | |
— | 7:51 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — | |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 11 | 18 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 2 | 12 | 9 | 4 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 27 | 25 | 22 | 26 | 24 |
Feels °C | 28 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 22 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 28 | 26 | 19 | 26 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSE 4 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SSE 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | S 5 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 6 |
19 | 10 | 56 | 34 | 22 | 20 | 14 | 14 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 15 | 14 | 4 | 21 | 14 | 17 | 25 | 22 | 14 | 9 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | ESE 9 | NE 4 | NE 4 | NE 4 | — | SE 5 | E 6 | ESE 8 | S 4 | — | — | SSE 4 | ESE 8 | S 5 | SSE 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 5 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 |
6 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 14 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 14 | 26 | 23 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | ESE 12 | — | NE 4 | NE 4 | — | — | — | E 16 | E 8 | E 7 | E 14 | SE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 8 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | NE 5 | — | E 7 |
6 | 14 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 5 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 17 | 6 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 1 | — | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | S 3 | S 3 | SSE 3 | — | E 4 | E 4 | E 4 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | S 5 | — | S 5 | — | NNW 2 | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 3 | — | 10 | 16 | 18 | 30 | 32 | 23 | — | 37 | — | 1 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 270 | 335 | 0 | 202 | 515 | 568 | 364 | 640 | 377 | 459 | 2588 | 458 | 335 | 335 | 515 | 509 | 175 | 2 | 43 | 2 | 134 |
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.











