
Surf Forecasts:
Indian River (Southside) surf forecast from 28 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 29 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 9s period, SE swell with 225 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 29 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s 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 Wednesday (Jul 29) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 6s. 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 1.2m 9s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indian River (Southside) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s be straight with you – the next couple of weeks around Indian River (Southside) are looking grim. We’re staring down a long, flat run with barely a pulse of energy. The whole 16-day window is basically a write-off for any kind of decent surf. That’s the reality of it right now.
The first few days are a total bust. Monday the 27th kicks off with a tiny 1ft ESE swell, weak energy (30), and cross-shore winds from a thunderstorm risk. It’s poor. Tuesday the 28th? Still poor. The swell bumps up to 4ft on Tuesday afternoon from the south, but the period is a miserable 5 seconds and the wind is a strong cross-offshore breeze at 22 mph. That’s just choppy, messy junk.
Wednesday the 29th is the only time we get a little glimmer. The morning looks clean with a light NW wind, but the swell is only 2ft from the SE, with weak energy (53). The afternoon actually turns offshore from the west at 9 mph, which is clean, but again, it’s tiny and ordinary. It’s surfable, but nothing to write home about.
From Thursday the 30th all the way through to the end of the second week, it’s a desert. The swell stays under 2ft, the energy readings drop into the teens and single digits, and the wind directions are mostly cross or cross-on. There’s a glassy moment Friday afternoon the 31st with 1ft and light winds, but even then, the energy is only 28 – it’s nearly flat.
The water temperature is sitting at 75° with no anomaly, so that’s about average for the time of year, nothing special.
There’s a brief, tiny spike in energy on Monday the 3rd of August (166), but it’s driven by a 4ft SE swell with a short 8-second period and strong cross-shore winds. It still gets a zero score. That’s not surf, that’s just wind chop flapping around.
Forget about a standout session here – there simply isn’t one. If you’re desperate, maybe paddle out on Wednesday the 29th morning or afternoon for a few knee-high, clean crumbles. That’s your best bet in a very long, flat spell. The rest is for the kite crew if the wind gets up.
Stay patient, check back. Forecasts change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 27°C on Wed afternoon, min 21°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Fri afternoon. Warm (max 25°C on Thu afternoon, min 20°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 5 | SSE 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 7 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
22 | 23 | 24 | 88 | 80 | 47 | 56 | 53 | 53 | 40 | 35 | 31 | 20 | 35 | 11 | 31 | 23 | 14 | 17 | 18 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 8:27PM0.98m | 8:27AM0.73m | 9:04PM0.99m | 9:07AM0.75m | 9:39PM0.99m | 9:46AM0.77m | 10:12PM0.98m | 10:24AM0.79m | 10:45PM0.95m | 11:02AM0.81m | 11:18PM0.92m | 11:42AM0.83m | 11:54PM0.88m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:34AM0.20m | 2:00PM0.12m | 3:08AM0.18m | 2:38PM0.10m | 3:39AM0.15m | 3:17PM0.08m | 4:09AM0.12m | 3:57PM0.08m | 4:40AM0.10m | 4:39PM0.08m | 5:13AM0.08m | 5:25PM0.10m | ||||||||
— | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | |
8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:09 | — | |
mm | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 10 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 27 | 26 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
Feels °C | 25 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | SSE 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 7 | SE 8 | SE 7 | ENE 5 | ESE 9 | NE 5 | E 5 | SE 5 |
22 | 23 | 24 | 7 | 80 | 47 | 56 | 53 | 53 | 40 | 35 | 31 | 20 | 35 | 11 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 18 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | E 6 | N 4 | E 9 | E 6 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | NE 6 | ESE 9 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ESE 9 | NE 5 | NE 5 | — | SE 7 |
7 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 1 | — | 7 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 6 | — | — | — | E 9 | — | NE 6 | — | — | E 8 | — | NE 6 | — | SE 9 | S 9 | ENE 5 | — | — | ESE 8 |
— | 1 | — | — | — | 6 | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | — | 3 | 2 | 3 | — | — | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 3 | S 4 | S 4 | S 5 | — | — | — | NW 3 | WNW 3 | WNW 3 | WNW 3 | NNW 3 | — | — | — | SSE 7 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | — |
1 | 7 | 14 | 88 | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | 31 | 23 | 14 | 17 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1467 | 541 | 1039 | 1122 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 22 | 43 | 43 | 213 | 22 | 330 | 414 | 387 | 567 | 1125 | 432 |
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.










