Surf Forecasts:
The Inlet and Pier surf forecast from 27 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 8s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 11s period, SE swell with 123 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 8s 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 12s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 4s is also forecast. 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 0.7m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 03) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Inlet and Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, and I'm looking at the charts for the next couple of weeks. To be straight with you, it's a pretty grim spell we're looking at. The Inlet and Pier is the only game in town, and we're going to be staring at a whole lot of small, weak, and generally messy conditions.
The water temperature is sitting right around what you'd expect for this time of year, so at least you won't get a shock paddling out.
We kick off on Thursday 27th August with a tiny 2 ft swell out of the east, with a short period and low energy (48). The wind is a cross-shore, leaving it a bit choppy. Not worth the paddle. Friday 28th, the swell is still a pathetic 2 ft, but the wind goes glassy in the morning. Still, the energy is so low (42) it's barely a ripple. You could get a fun little knee-high wave if you time it right, but it wouldn't last.
The whole weekend, from the 29th all the way through to the 1st of September, is a write-off. Tiny swells, mostly 1 ft to 0.7 ft, and onshore winds. The energy is in the teens and single digits. It's flat, plain and simple. The wind goes clean offshore on the 1st, but the swell is a measly 0.7 ft to 1 ft, so there's nothing to push. It's a wasted opportunity.
Now, here's a glimmer, but it's a weird one. On Wednesday 2nd September, we finally see a bit of life. Swell jumps to 2 ft to 2 ft, but it's a long-period groundswell from the southeast, with a period of 11 seconds. The energy comes up to moderate levels (122–209), and the wind is clean offshore. The Inlet and Pier is a beach/jetty setup, and a long-period swell like this can sometimes break too straight and fat on a beach, but with the swell being so small, it might just offer a few clean, workable lines. It's a bit of a gamble, but it's the best we've got.
Then it all goes wrong again. From Thursday 3rd September, we get a bit of a swell pulse, but it's all wrong. The wind is onshore or cross-onshore and howling (19 mph), and the swell is a short-period, wind-affected mess. Energy gets up to 298 on the 4th, but with 19 mph onshore winds, it's going to be a choppy, lumpy, blown-out shambles. This is more kite-surfing territory than quality surfing. The swell is pushing 5 ft on the 3rd, but it's a windswell with a 6-second period, and it's just a mess.
The last few days of the forecast, from the 7th to the 11th, we're back to tiny swells and poor conditions. The wind goes clean offshore again on the 11th, but the swell is only 1 ft, so it's a non-event.
Honestly, if you're desperate, the Wednesday 2nd September morning is your best and only call. It's a gamble, but it's the only chance of a clean, surfable wave. Other than that, save your energy and wax. The next two weeks are a dud.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Fri afternoon. Warm (max 27°C on Fri night, min 23°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Tue afternoon. Warm (max 33°C on Tue afternoon, min 23°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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 9 | E 8 | ESE 9 | S 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
31 | 36 | 46 | 67 | 40 | 39 | 26 | 17 | 16 | 25 | 18 | 18 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 4 | 20 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | off | off | off | glassy |
High Tide | 7:33AM1.06m | 7:58PM1.29m | 8:14AM1.13m | 8:38PM1.29m | 8:55AM1.19m | 9:17PM1.26m | 9:37AM1.24m | 9:56PM1.22m | 10:19AM1.28m | 10:37PM1.15m | 11:04AM1.30m | 11:21PM1.07m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:39AM0.15m | 1:37PM0.06m | 2:14AM0.10m | 2:20PM0.04m | 2:50AM0.07m | 3:03PM0.03m | 3:26AM0.05m | 3:47PM0.04m | 4:04AM0.05m | 4:34PM0.07m | 4:46AM0.06m | 5:26PM0.12m | |||||||
— | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | |
7:38 | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | |
mm | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 |
Temp °C | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 33 | 30 |
Feels °C | 23 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 22 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 28 | 33 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | E 8 | ESE 9 | SSE 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | S 4 | SSE 4 | SE 7 | SE 7 | S 5 | SE 9 |
31 | 36 | 46 | 44 | 40 | 39 | 26 | 17 | 16 | 25 | 18 | 18 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 11 | 5 | 20 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 14 | E 13 | E 12 | ESE 9 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | ENE 4 | SSE 5 | — | E 9 | SE 8 | SE 7 | S 4 | SSE 5 | ESE 7 | ESE 12 |
4 | 3 | 3 | 30 | 25 | 17 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 3 | — | 1 | 14 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 15 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | — | — | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | S 5 | NE 4 | E 9 | — | E 8 | — | E 8 | E 15 | SE 8 | S 5 |
1 | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | S 4 | SSE 4 | S 5 | — | — | — | NE 3 | ENE 4 | — | — | SSE 3 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | — | — | — | ENE 4 |
7 | 9 | 9 | 67 | — | — | — | 2 | 6 | — | — | 2 | 10 | 9 | 9 | — | — | — | 9 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 411 | 180 | 1143 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 253 | 347 | 253 | 388 | 2561 | 666 | 388 | 1154 | 622 | 304 | 608 | 3 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Maryland | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.











