Surf Forecasts:
Indian River (Southside) surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s period, S swell with 75 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 7s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Indian River (Southside) in the next 16 days are 1.0m 6s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indian River (Southside) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s get into it, my friends.
Alright, looking at the 16-day window for Indian River (Southside), I gotta be straight with you – it’s looking pretty grim for most of the run. There’s a big gap of flat, ugly surf right from the start that runs through until the end of the first week. The swell energy is weak, with values struggling to even hit triple digits. The water temp is sitting at 78°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but it doesn't do much for the surf.
Nobody wants to hear it, but Friday the 21st through to the end of the month is basically a write-off. The morning of the 21st has a 2ft NNE swell, but with a pathetic 4-second period and a cross-shore wind – that's just chop. Saturday is heavy rain and messy. Sunday the 23rd morning offers a clean, glassy offshore wind, but the swell is a tiny 1ft from the SSE with next to no energy (16). It’s clean but it’s flat. You’d be paddling for nothing.
The same story repeats day after day: tiny swells from the ESE with short periods, or cross-shore winds. Even when the wind goes offshore, like on Monday the 24th with a glassy 1.0ft and a promising 12-second period, the energy is just too low (34). The period says it’s a groundswell, but with no size, it’s a non-event for a beach/jetty setup like this.
The only faint glimmer in this entire forecast happens on Friday the 28th of August. The morning session shows a 2ft SSE swell with a 6-second period, combined energy hitting 62 (still weak), but the wind is a light cross-offshore from the southwest. The notes say “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” and I’d agree. It’s the highest-rated moment of the whole run, but let’s be real – it’s a 1 out of 10. It’s clean, it’s small, and it’s the best we’ve got. For a spot that’s fairly consistent, this is a bust.
The rest of the period into September is more of the same: tiny swells, choppy cross-shore winds, and no energy. There’s nothing to recommend.
Bottom line: Don’t bother. If you must get wet, the only moment that could offer a session is the morning of Friday August 28th with that light offshore wind, but keep your expectations on the floor. For anything else, this is a kiteboarding flat spell, not a surf window.
Stay tuned, forecasts change. Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 37mm), heaviest during Sat morning. Warm (max 28°C on Sun afternoon, min 20°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 27°C on Mon afternoon, min 21°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NNE 4 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ENE 6 | ESE 4 | ESE 8 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | S 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
12 | 8 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 13 | 9 | 25 | 14 | 27 | 26 | 23 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 9 | 22 | 19 | 35 | 47 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:38PM0.89m | 4:34AM0.68m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:23AM0.26m | 11:00PM0.31m | 10:22AM0.27m | 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 | |||||||
6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | |
— | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 21 | 12 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | 3 | 10 |
Temp °C | 21 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 28 | 27 | 23 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 29 | 25 |
Feels °C | 20 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 20 | 26 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 5 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | SE 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SSE 4 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | SSE 5 | S 6 |
4 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 25 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 23 | 11 | 3 | 11 | 22 | 9 | 14 | 5 | 35 | 47 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 13 | NE 6 | ENE 5 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | SSE 5 | SSE 4 | ESE 11 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | ESE 10 | ESE 7 | ESE 9 |
8 | 8 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 8 | 2 | 14 | 14 | 27 | 26 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 34 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | SE 13 | E 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | SSE 5 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 14 | E 14 | E 12 | ESE 10 | E 11 |
1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 4 | — | — | ESE 3 | ESE 4 | SSE 4 | — | WSW 3 | — | NNW 3 | — | SSW 2 | — | — | SSE 5 | SSE 4 | SSE 3 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | — | — |
12 | — | — | 2 | 19 | 13 | — | 2 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 4 | 4 | 3 | 22 | 19 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1039 | 1473 | 249 | 335 | 8 | 22 | 80 | 22 | 75 | 22 | 43 | 141 | 141 | 207 | 282 | 335 | 1158 | 589 | 387 | 191 | 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.











