Indian River (Southside) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let's get into it. This is Rusty, and I'm looking at the surf for Indian River (Southside). It’s a beach and jetty setup, and we’ve got a long stretch ahead.

Right out of the gate, things are looking pretty grim. For the first four days, through to Saturday, it’s just flat and messy. Swell is barely there, maybe 0.3ft to 3ft, and the wind is all over the place. The water temp is sitting at 78°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that's about the only positive. You won't need a wetsuit, but you also won't need a board.

We get a little flicker on Monday the 17th. The morning shows a tiny 3ft SSE swell, and the wind is a light cross-offshore from the NNW. The combined energy is weak (51), but it's clean. That’s about the only window where you could get a grovel board out and find something rideable. It's not a standout, just a glimmer.

After Monday, it goes back to being poor. There’s a bit of a bump mid-week with a small SE swell, but the wind is rarely your friend. The afternoon of Tuesday the 18th has a 2ft swell from the SE with a period of 13 seconds, which is a nice long groundswell, but it’s onshore wind and the wave comment says poor surf conditions. The energy is moderate (101), but the quality isn't there to make it worth the paddle.

The only real chance we see is Wednesday the 19th. The morning has a 3ft swell from the SE with an 11-second period. The combined energy is moderate (233), and while the wind is a cross-shore, it's a gentle breeze. The guidance says the optimum swell is from SSE, and this SE is close enough. It's listed as a marginal surf forecast, so don’t expect perfection, but it’s the best on offer. This is a fairly consistent spot, so a few days of flatness isn't a disaster, but this is a long, poor run.

Looking further ahead, the last week of August gets a little bigger. Thursday the 27th and Friday the 28th see swell pushing 5ft to 6ft from the ENE, with moderate energy (over 188 and 290). But it's all onshore wind with cross-on conditions. For an advanced spot like this, that's a write-off. It looks more interesting for the kite surfers than for a paddle surfer.

So, to be honest, this is a tough forecast. The only day that might give you a session is Wednesday the 19th in the morning. The rest of the time, you’re better off doing something else. Promising that things might change, but right now, there’s not much to get excited about.

Rusty.

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