Surf Forecasts:
Indian River (Southside) surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 5s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period, S swell with 52 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 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 Friday (Aug 28) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.8m 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 6s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indian River (Southside) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab your board and let's have a look at what's coming our way for the Indian River (Southside).
To be straight with you, the next ten days or so are pretty grim. We're looking at tiny, weak surf with barely any energy pushing in from the east. Most of that period, you’re staring at poor surf conditions with combined swell energy values barely getting above 47. It's a whole lot of nothing for a surfer.
From the 23rd of August right through the 31st, it's basically flat. Don't bother checking the cam. We're talking ankle-snappers at best. The wind does swing around to a light offshore or glassy a couple of times, like on the morning of the 25th with the swell coming from the ESE at only 0.7 ft and a period of 11 seconds, but that's a lake, not a surfable wave. It’s not even worth paddling out for that.
Things start to get a little more interesting in the first week of September. On Wednesday the 2nd, we finally see some energy creep back in. The combined swell energy jumps to 152. You’ll find 2 ft of swell from the ESE, with a period of 12 seconds and a clean offshore wind. It’s surfable, but only just. This spot is for advanced surfers anyway due to the jetty so even the small stuff can be tricky.
The real standout, and I mean the only thing that’s going to get my heart pumping, is Thursday the 3rd of September. The swell pushes up to 4 ft from the ESE and then the E, with a period of 10 seconds. The combined energy jumps up to 329 to 330 – that’s a proper moderate pulse of energy. With a cross-offshore wind from the NNW, it’s going to be clean and hollow. That’s the morning to be in the water. It’s still not huge, but it's far and away the best we'll see in this outlook. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no dramas there.
Anything after that drops back off again, fading into smaller, messier surf. It’s pretty disappointing overall, but this patch of coast can go through long quiet spells. Don’t let it get you down—forecasts can always change.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 28°C on Sun afternoon, min 19°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 26°C on Tue night, min 22°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 13 | SE 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 4 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SSE 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
17 | 5 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 26 | 23 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 16 | 22 | 19 | 32 | 32 | 42 | 39 | 36 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
Feels °C | 25 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 28 | 26 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 5 | SE 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | ESE 11 | SSE 6 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 12 | E 5 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SSE 6 |
7 | 4 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 11 | 6 | 11 | 22 | 16 | 22 | 19 | 3 | 14 | 42 | 39 | 36 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | E 8 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | SSE 5 | ESE 11 | S 5 | SSE 5 | E 6 | E 14 | ESE 10 | E 12 | ESE 9 | E 11 | E 11 | ESE 8 |
12 | 5 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 26 | 23 | 2 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 3 | 32 | 2 | 2 | 24 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 13 | ENE 5 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | — | E 6 | E 6 | E 14 | E 6 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | E 8 | E 10 | E 10 |
17 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 4 | WSW 2 | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 3 | — | S 3 | — | SSE 6 | SSE 3 | SE 4 | ESE 4 | S 4 | S 5 | S 5 | — |
6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 6 | 7 | 15 | 32 | 9 | 20 | 14 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 8 | 335 | 188 | 75 | 43 | 162 | 141 | 458 | 213 | 141 | 330 | 589 | 188 | 335 | 1158 | 13 | 8 | 74 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Delaware | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.











