Surf Forecasts:
Indian River (Southside) surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period, S swell with 43 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period with S 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 (Aug 23) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 5s is also forecast. 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 0.9m 5s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indian River (Southside) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty again.
Let's break this down: the next 16 days at Indian River (Southside) are pretty flat overall, with no real gems to speak of. There's a long dry spell at the beginning, from the 22nd through the end of August, with mostly small, weak swell and wind that’s not helping. The water temperature is 78°, which is a touch warmer than normal for the season.
The first day with anything surfable is Friday the 28th. Morning brings a 3ft south swell, but it's a short-period, weak swell (5 seconds) with energy at 74. A light offshore wind cleans it up, so you can get a wave, but it's nothing to get excited about.
The real highlight, and really the only one, comes on Tuesday the 1st of September. The morning shows a 5ft east swell with a clean cross-offshore wind and combined energy at 296. That’s decent. Then the afternoon gets even better: a 4ft east-southeast groundswell with a very long 13-second period, clean cross-offshore wind, and strong energy at 775. The longer period means better shape and power. The swell direction lines up well with what this break wants. This is your best shot, hands down. After that, it fades into small, poor conditions through the 6th. If you can get out, make it Tuesday the 1st. The rest is a snooze.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 28°C on Sun afternoon, min 20°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Warm (max 25°C on Tue afternoon, min 22°C on Thu afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | ||||||||||||||
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 4 | SSE 4 | S 5 | ESE 12 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
17 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 23 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 16 | 22 | 11 | 36 | 32 | 30 | 28 | 26 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 5:38PM0.91m | 5:34AM0.69m | 6:30PM0.94m | 6:27AM0.72m | 7:15PM0.96m | 7:15AM0.76m | 7:55PM0.98m | 7:58AM0.79m | 8:31PM0.99m | 8:38AM0.83m | 9:06PM0.99m | 9:17AM0.87m | 9:39PM0.98m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:56PM0.31m | 11:19AM0.25m | 00:44AM0.28m | 12:10PM0.22m | 1:24AM0.25m | 12:54PM0.18m | 1:58AM0.22m | 1:36PM0.13m | 2:29AM0.18m | 2:16PM0.10m | 2:58AM0.13m | 2:57PM0.08m | 3:29AM0.10m | |||||||
— | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | |
7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — | |
mm | 2 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 23 | 25 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 27 |
Feels °C | 23 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | SE 4 | S 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 5 | SE 5 | ESE 8 | SSE 6 |
9 | 13 | 18 | 7 | 11 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 16 | 22 | 11 | 36 | 15 | 11 | 28 | 10 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ENE 5 | E 8 | ESE 4 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SSE 6 | E 6 | S 5 | ESE 10 | E 12 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 11 | ESE 8 |
13 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 23 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 3 | 32 | 30 | 2 | 26 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 13 | E 8 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 14 | E 13 | E 12 | E 8 | E 11 | — | E 10 | E 4 |
17 | 11 | 15 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | — | 8 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 4 | SSE 4 | — | S 5 | — | — | — | — | N 3 | — | — | — | SSE 5 | SSE 3 | SSE 4 | SE 4 | — | SSE 5 | SE 5 | — |
14 | 18 | — | 24 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 6 | 2 | 7 | 10 | — | 16 | 10 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 282 | 204 | 0 | 43 | 22 | 141 | 43 | 145 | 43 | 380 | 43 | 141 | 330 | 540 | 202 | 282 | 1158 | 0 | 0 | 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.











