Surf Forecasts:
The Inlet and Pier surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 26 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 5s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 5s period, SE swell with 80 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 26 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 5s period with ESE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for The Inlet and Pier this week:
The surf forecast for The Inlet and Pier over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 2PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at The Inlet and Pier in the next 16 days are 1.2m 5s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 2PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Inlet and Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright mate, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table for The Inlet and Pier.
Honestly, the next couple of weeks are looking pretty flat and uninspiring. We’ve got a long stretch of nothing much happening. The surf is mostly poor, and the swell is tiny. For the first week and a half, there’s hardly a wave worth paddling for. The water is sitting at 79°F, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year, so that’s a bit of a weird one.
From Wednesday the 19th of August right through to the end of the month, the swell is mostly around 0.7ft to 2ft, with periods all over the shop. The wind is often onshore or cross-shore, and the combined energy is weak, usually under 100 (e.g., 36, 23, 18). There’s a brief moment on Saturday the 22nd afternoon when it goes glassy, but the swell is only 1ft, so it’s more of a float than a surf. The Inlet and Pier is a beach and jetty setup, so without any decent swell, it’s a no-go.
Things stay quiet through to the end of August. The morning of Sunday the 30th is glassy with calm wind and 2ft of swell from the SE, but it’s still weak and not really rideable. The combined energy is only 44.
We do get a little bump in energy on Monday the 1st of September. The morning sees a 1ft swell from the ESE with a period of 13 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 148 (moderate). The wind is cross-off from the SW at 16 mph, so the surface is clean. The swell is still small, but that longer period – 13 seconds – gives it a bit more shape and push. The afternoon goes lighter, with the wind dropping to 6 mph, still cross-off, and the swell drops to 1ft with a 12-second period and energy at 67. It’s surfable, but only just. The best of a poor bunch would be that Monday morning, but it’s still only for the keenest on a log.
After that, it’s back to small, poor conditions through to Thursday the 3rd of September. The wind picks up, becoming cross-onshore and choppy, swell stays around 2ft, and the energy is weak to moderate (80s and 90s). Nothing worth getting excited about.
So, the standout is the morning of Monday the 1st of September. It’s the only time the energy gets into the moderate range, the wind is clean, and the period is solid. But it’s tiny. For a true surf, you’d be waiting a long time. No real standouts to rave about here.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 49mm), heaviest during Fri afternoon. Warm (max 28°C on Wed night, min 22°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 28°C on Sun night, min 23°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | S 4 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | SSE 5 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
34 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 27 | 26 | 23 | 22 | 11 | 31 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 1:15PM1.09m | 1:30AM0.82m | 2:12PM1.06m | 2:26AM0.77m | 3:14PM1.06m | 3:28AM0.77m | 4:14PM1.08m | 4:27AM0.79m | 5:09PM1.12m | 5:19AM0.84m | 5:56PM1.18m | 6:06AM0.91m | 6:39PM1.23m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:51PM0.27m | 7:41AM0.21m | 8:51PM0.32m | 8:33AM0.24m | 9:53PM0.34m | 9:28AM0.25m | 10:53PM0.34m | 10:25AM0.23m | 11:45PM0.31m | 11:18AM0.19m | 00:26AM0.26m | 12:08PM0.15m | 1:03AM0.21m | ||||||||
6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | |
— | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | 8 | — | 14 | 21 | 1 | — | 6 | — | 2 | 4 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
Feels °C | 29 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SSE 5 | S 5 | NE 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | ESE 8 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | E 7 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | ENE 4 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | NE 4 |
34 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 14 | 28 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 13 | 6 | 15 | 4 | 20 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 22 | 11 | 1 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 4 | NE 4 | — | — | — | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | SSE 5 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 13 | E 8 | E 8 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | SSE 6 | S 6 | NNE 4 |
1 | 1 | — | — | — | 14 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 11 | 5 | 14 | 14 | 27 | 26 | 23 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 4 | — | — | SE 5 | — | — | E 7 | ESE 9 | ENE 4 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | SE 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | SSE 6 | E 7 | NE 4 | E 7 |
1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 16 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | S 4 | S 4 | — | NE 3 | — | SSW 4 | — | SSE 4 | — | — | SSE 5 | — | NNE 3 | ENE 4 | — | ENE 4 | ESE 3 | SE 5 |
— | — | — | 1 | 14 | — | 5 | — | 3 | — | 7 | — | — | 17 | — | 3 | 7 | — | 2 | 6 | 31 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 104 | 129 | 230 | 355 | 617 | 2 | 1060 | 1060 | 440 | 253 | 602 | 13 | 176 | 13 | 104 | 104 | 230 | 172 | 981 | 253 | 3 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Maryland | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the The Inlet and Pier Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for The Inlet and Pier provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at The Inlet and Pier can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our The Inlet and Pier 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 (The Inlet and Pier) 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 The Inlet and Pier 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.
The Inlet and Pier is 3 km (2 miles) from Ocean City. If you plan a vacation in Maryland, 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.











