
Surf Forecasts:
Indian River (Southside) surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 22 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 8s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 22 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 9s period, SSE swell with 600 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 7s 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 Sunday (Jul 19) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s. 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 2.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 11PM. 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 23) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 2PM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indian River (Southside) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk surf for Indian River (Southside) for the next couple of weeks. This is Rusty.
Not much on the table for the first few days. The swell is tiny, weak, and short-period – think windswell from the south. Combined energy is low, like 48 for the first afternoon, and it barely registers until midweek. Winds are messy too, mostly cross or onshore, so don’t expect any real quality. The water is about 77°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for July, so that’s a small comfort.
The first real chance for a surf comes on Wednesday the 22nd in the morning. Swell height is a bit under 4ft from the SSE, with a period of 8 seconds. Combined energy is 203, so moderate power. The big winner here is wind – offshore from the west, which means clean, shapey waves for the advanced guys. Not a huge session, but worth the paddle if you’re keen.
The real standout is that last week of July. Starting Wednesday the 29th, we get ENE swell pushing 6 to 6ft with periods of 7 to 8 seconds. The combined energy is strong, 344 to 380. Best part? Light cross-offshore winds, and on Thursday the 30th afternoon it actually goes glassy. That’s about as clean as it gets. The direction (ENE) is a solid match for what the jetty needs to make some nice lines. This window runs through Friday the 31st morning. Swell this size – over 5ft – starts to lean towards experts only.
After that, things shut down again. The start of August is small and choppy, with weak easterly swell and onshore winds. Pretty much a flat spell to end the 16-day run.
Expect Indian River (Southside) to be crowded if it gets good, especially that last week of July. It won’t be empty when the surf is clean and well overhead.
So, the call is simple: wait for the offshore morning on the 22nd for a little warm-up, then block out the 29th through 31st for the real deal. That Thursday the 30th afternoon glass-off is your jackpot.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 30°C on Sat afternoon, min 22°C on Mon morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Sat afternoon, light winds from the NE by Sun night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 31°C on Tue afternoon, min 20°C on Thu morning). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 4 | S 6 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SSE 4 | S 8 | SSE 8 | S 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 7 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
40 | 98 | 35 | 26 | 18 | 18 | 11 | 21 | 25 | 34 | 191 | 202 | 515 | 295 | 82 | 59 | 38 | 32 | 106 | 56 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | on | cross | cross | on | glassy |
High Tide | 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 | 5:18PM0.87m | 5:15AM0.66m | 6:13PM0.90m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 10:09AM0.17m | 11:30PM0.24m | 11:01AM0.19m | 00:25AM0.24m | |||||||
— | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | |
8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:17 | — | |
mm | — | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 30 | 24 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 27 | 31 | 25 | 27 | 31 | 28 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 23 |
Feels °C | 28 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 30 | 27 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | E 13 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | — | E 12 | SE 8 | — | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 7 |
3 | 3 | 35 | 26 | 18 | 18 | 11 | — | 3 | 2 | — | 202 | 176 | 295 | 82 | 59 | 38 | 32 | 106 | 56 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 13 | E 8 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | — | SE 8 | E 12 | — | E 6 | — | — | — | N 3 | NE 4 | SSE 7 | — | S 7 |
3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | 2 | 3 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 9 | — | 15 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | — | SE 8 | SE 12 | SE 8 | E 12 | E 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | — | — | — | ESE 6 |
2 | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | S 6 | NNW 3 | N 3 | N 3 | NE 3 | E 3 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SSE 4 | S 8 | — | S 8 | NNW 2 | N 4 | NNE 4 | — | ENE 4 | NE 4 | NE 5 |
40 | 98 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 21 | 25 | 34 | 191 | — | 515 | 1 | 10 | 5 | — | 19 | 29 | 29 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3107 | 185 | 43 | 75 | 141 | 282 | 335 | 433 | 667 | 1158 | 80 | 0 | 14 | 186 | 38 | 387 | 41 | 41 | 38 | 0 |
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.










