Surf Forecasts:
Indian River (Southside) surf forecast from 29 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 4s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 10s period, SE swell with 112 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 4s 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 Tuesday (Sep 01) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.2m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 4s. 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 0.7m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 4s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 4s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indian River (Southside) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, let's be straight with each other. The next couple of weeks are going to test your dedication. There's a long, painful stretch of tiny, choppy, and generally uninviting conditions ahead. We’re talking ankle-biters, short-period slop, and a lot of wind blowing the wrong way. This is the kind of forecast that makes you appreciate other hobbies.
The water at Indian River (Southside) is around 76°F, which is a bit warmer than usual for this time of year, a small consolation while we wait.
The first week is basically a blank. Starting Saturday the 29th, we have 0.8ft of windswell out of the NE, with a period of only 4 seconds, and the wind is cross-on, making it a mess. It drops to 0.4ft in the afternoon. The whole of Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday is more of the same—waves under 3ft, with periods hanging around 4-8 seconds, and onshore or cross-shore breezes keeping everything bumpy. The energy in the water is weak, barely registering.
Wednesday the 2nd brings a touch more period at 10-11 seconds, which gives it a bit of shape, but the size is still only around 2ft and the wind is cross-on. It’s still pretty average.
Now, Thursday the 3rd is our first little window. The morning is clean with a light cross-off breeze and a 2ft swell from the ESE. The afternoon is better—the wind goes glassy, which is a huge positive. The swell is still only 2ft at 7 seconds, but that clean surface makes it doable. It’s not a classic, but if you have to get wet, this is the time.
That weekend and the start of the following week flounder again. Tiny surf, clean but small. The swell is just not there.
Then we get our one true standout. Wednesday the 9th. The morning sees a jump in size to 4ft from the south, but the period is short at 7 seconds. The wind is cross-off, keeping it clean. The afternoon is the pick of the whole run: 4ft from the SSE with a much better 11-second period. The wind drops to a light cross-off, and the combined swell energy reads 461, which is a solid, moderate amount of push. This is the day to plan for. Clean, a bit of size, and proper groundswell energy. Still not a big day, but the best we're going to get.
After Wednesday, the plug gets pulled. Thursday the 10th still has some size in the morning (3ft) but a fresh 30 km/h cross-off wind makes it tricky, and then it fades fast. After that, it's back to the doldrums—tiny surf, poor shape, and onshore breezes right through to the 13th.
Honestly, if you're a beginner, there is no green light in this window. The only real chance for a decent wave is Wednesday the 9th, and even that isn't for the faint of heart. Everything else is a struggle for crumbs.
This is a tough stretch. We have a solid week of junk before we even get to that one decent pulse. It's a long way out, so things could change, but as it stands, it's time to be patient and pick your moments carefully.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 26°C on Sun afternoon, min 21°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Wed night. Warm (max 35°C on Thu afternoon, min 23°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | S 4 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | ESE 4 | SE 4 | SE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 7 | E 7 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | E 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
19 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 14 | 10 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 16 | 37 | 79 | 67 | 35 | 31 | 49 | 34 | 22 | 16 | 9 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | off | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:55AM0.90m | 10:13PM0.96m | 10:33AM0.94m | 10:49PM0.93m | 11:14AM0.96m | 11:27PM0.89m | 11:58AM0.98m | 00:10AM0.84m | 12:49PM0.99m | 1:00AM0.80m | 1:50PM0.98m | 1:59AM0.75m | 3:02PM0.98m | 3:12AM0.73m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:38PM0.07m | 4:01AM0.07m | 4:22PM0.08m | 4:37AM0.06m | 5:09PM0.11m | 5:17AM0.06m | 6:00PM0.15m | 6:01AM0.08m | 6:57PM0.20m | 6:51AM0.10m | 8:02PM0.24m | 7:50AM0.13m | 9:16PM0.26m | ||||||||
6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | |
— | 7:35 | — | — | 7:34 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:25 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 22 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 29 | 30 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 28 | 35 | 34 | 30 | 28 | 26 |
Feels °C | 21 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 25 | 30 | 38 | 35 | 32 | 30 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | ENE 5 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 4 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 14 | ESE 8 | SE 4 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | E 7 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | E 7 |
17 | 16 | 8 | 18 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 13 | 8 | 7 | 12 | 79 | 67 | 21 | 31 | 49 | 34 | 22 | 16 | 9 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | SSE 5 | SE 8 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | NE 5 | SE 8 | S 5 | ENE 4 | — | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 7 | E 8 | ESE 8 |
2 | 3 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 4 | 2 | — | 7 | 37 | 5 | 11 | 35 | 31 | 16 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 6 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 9 | — | E 9 | E 6 | E 9 | — | E 8 | — | — | SE 13 | SE 9 | S 3 | — | — | — | SW 3 | S 4 | S 4 | SSE 6 | S 5 |
2 | 2 | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 7 | 20 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 4 | ENE 5 | — | — | SSE 3 | S 4 | — | ENE 2 | SE 3 | ESE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | — | — | S 5 | SW 2 | WNW 2 | — | — | S 6 | S 3 |
19 | 15 | — | — | 3 | 10 | — | 1 | 1 | 11 | 16 | 21 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 12 | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 253 | 335 | 335 | 282 | 1480 | 75 | 335 | 1164 | 1108 | 1166 | 1166 | 0 | 13 | 2436 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 43 | 583 | 515 |
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.











