
Surf Forecasts:
The Inlet and Pier surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 16 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 8s period, E swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 8s period, E swell with 82 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 16 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 8s period with E 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 (Sep 16) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at The Inlet and Pier in the next 16 days are 0.8m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 20) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Inlet and Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's coming down the line.
Well, it’s a bit of a tough stretch ahead, I won't lie. We’ve got a long run of really poor conditions to start with, and it’s going to take a while before anything decent shows up. The Inlet and Pier is the only break on the radar, and for the next two weeks, the surf quality is mostly a no-go. There’s a big gap from now all the way through to late September with nothing worth paddling out for.
Sunday the 13th through to Friday the 25th is just a write-off. Small, messy swell, and the wind is almost always in the wrong spot. You’ve got some days with strong, lumpy onshore wind, and even when it’s clean, the swell is tiny and weak. Don’t even bother.
Things finally start to turn around on Saturday the 26th. The morning shows some improvement – a 3ft ESE swell with clean, cross-offshore winds. The combined wave energy is still moderate though (185), and the waves are only just surfable. It’s not a classic, but it’s a start.
The standout moment, and the only real bright spot in the whole outlook, is Sunday the 27th of September. The morning brings clean 3ft swell from the east with a nice 10-second period, light offshore winds, and moderate energy (187). But it’s the afternoon that’s the real gem. The wind drops to glassy – absolutely dead calm – and the swell ticks up to a solid 3ft with even better energy (214). That’s the pick of the entire forecast. The water temperature is running 77°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, so it’ll feel like a treat.
A bit of a downer after that, because Monday the 28th sees the wind swing back onshore, chopping up a similar sized swell. So if you want a wave, make sure you’re out there on Sunday afternoon. The crowd factor is ‘often’ at The Inlet and Pier, so when it’s that good, expect company.
That’s your lot. Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Sun morning. Warm (max 26°C on Sun afternoon, min 20°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the N on Mon morning, calm by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Fri morning. Warm (max 23°C on Thu afternoon, min 19°C on Fri morning). Winds increasing (calm on Wed morning, fresh winds from the NE by Fri night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | N 4 | NE 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 4 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | E 6 | E 7 | E 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
24 | 23 | 22 | 28 | 21 | 47 | 41 | 62 | 76 | 80 | 55 | 46 | 44 | 41 | 26 | 16 | 69 | 62 | 24 | 34 | 25 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 9:35AM1.29m | 9:55PM1.14m | 10:17AM1.27m | 10:36PM1.05m | 11:01AM1.24m | 11:18PM0.97m | 11:46AM1.19m | 00:02AM0.89m | 12:35PM1.13m | 00:51AM0.83m | 1:30PM1.09m | 1:48AM0.80m | 2:32PM1.07m | 2:50AM0.80m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:54PM-0.00m | 4:02AM0.03m | 4:40PM0.07m | 4:42AM0.09m | 5:28PM0.16m | 5:23AM0.16m | 6:18PM0.24m | 6:09AM0.22m | 7:12PM0.31m | 6:58AM0.27m | 8:09PM0.37m | 7:53AM0.30m | 9:09PM0.39m | ||||||||
6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | |
— | 7:12 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:08 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:04 | — | — | 7:01 | — | |
mm | 4 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 26 | 26 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 |
Feels °C | 27 | 29 | 29 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 5 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ENE 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | E 6 | E 7 | E 7 |
22 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 16 | 16 | 8 | 62 | 76 | 80 | 55 | 46 | 44 | 41 | 26 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 24 | 34 | 25 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | ESE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | S 6 | E 15 | E 14 | SE 14 | E 13 | SE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 13 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 |
24 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 13 | 13 | 12 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | SSE 4 | E 5 | E 5 | — | E 15 | E 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 9 | — | — | — | ESE 9 | — | — |
1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 2 | — | — | N 4 | N 4 | NE 5 | ENE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 4 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | SSE 2 | S 4 | S 5 |
1 | — | — | 28 | 21 | 47 | 41 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | 69 | 62 | 1 | 19 | 83 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 9 | 13 | 3 | 429 | 624 | 622 | 665 | 665 | 23 | 235 | 1143 | 23 | 23 | 355 | 3 | 624 | 1194 | 614 | 1150 | 1321 | 68 |
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.










