The Inlet and Pier Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.33° N 75.08° W

The Inlet and Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 pm 24 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Inlet and Pier sea temperature is
25.9°C
2.0° 

The Inlet and Pier surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


The Inlet and Pier surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 9s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 17s period, ESE swell with 58 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 9s 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 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 5s 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 0.3m 17s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 8PM. 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 6s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 8AM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Thu 27th Aug)1.5ft (0.4m) 9s
Best Surf11PM (Thu 27th Aug)1.5ft (0.4m) 9s
Most Powerful 8PM (Mon 31st Aug)1ft (0.3m) 17s

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 good honest look at what's coming up for The Inlet and Pier. Gotta be straight with you – the next week and a half is pretty grim.

We've got tiny little dribbles of swell from the ESE for days, barely pushing 1.0 ft. The water is sitting at 79°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that's about the only nice thing I can say. The combined energy is down in the weak zone at (39) on Monday afternoon, and it just gets worse. Tuesday through to the end of August is all small stuff, mixed wind directions, and a lot of "poor surf conditions" stamped on it. There's a long stretch here where there is simply no surf worth paddling out for.

Around the 31st of August, we get a little tease with an 18-second period wave, but it's only 0.7 ft. That's a whisper of a groundswell but with no height, it's just a flat line. Combined energy still weak at (42). That pattern of weak, small swell continues right through the first couple of days of September. The wind switches around a bit, giving us some clean moments, but there's just no power behind it.

Then, on the 3rd of September, things change. Suddenly the swell jumps to 7 ft from the E, and the combined energy ramps up to (615) Thursday morning. By Thursday afternoon, we're looking at 8 ft from the ENE with energy hitting (986). That's a solid pulse of moderate to strong energy. But hold on – the period is a short 7 to 8 seconds, so it's a wind swell, not a clean groundswell. And the winds Thursday morning are cross-on from the NNE, making it fairly choppy. Thursday afternoon has the wind turning onshore from the E, which isn't ideal. This is going to be a messy, dumping close-out for most, and with size over 7 ft, it's expert-only territory.

Friday the 4th of September stays big, with 7 ft from the ENE in the morning, but a strong N wind at 22 mph cross-shore will make it lumpy. The afternoon cleans up a little with a cross-off wind from the NNW at 19 mph, so that's your best chance for the bigger stuff – a cleaner look at a 7 ft ENE swell. It's still short period at 8 seconds, and The Inlet and Pier is a beach/jetty setup, so the short-period wind swell will break quickly and won't have much shape. A big powerful wave, but not one for the log or a learner.

Saturday the 5th of September holds around 6 ft to 6 ft from the E with cross-off winds from the NNW. Combined energy stays strong in the moderate-high range (597-659). Still short-period (8-9 seconds), so expect punchy, fast-breaking waves. This remains expert-level.

By Sunday the 6th, the swell drops to 4 ft from the E, with energy down to (261). The morning has clean cross-off winds from the N – this is probably the most user-friendly window of the whole run. Still short period, but at 4 ft it's more accessible for intermediate surfers.

Monday the 7th of September, the swell is down to 3 ft with a glassy morning – winds flat calm (0 mph) from the SE. Combined energy at (197) is light, but that glassy surface will make what little wave there is look pretty. The afternoon gets a cross-on wind, spoiling it.

From Tuesday the 8th onward, it drops back into the doldrums with tiny, weak surf and onshore winds. No standouts there.

The standout in this run is undeniably the 3rd to the 5th of September. If you're an expert with a step-up board and a willingness to battle a short-period, powerful wind swell, then Friday afternoon the 4th of September is the pick of the week: 7 ft from the ENE with a clean cross-off wind. It's going to be big, fast, and not for the faint-hearted. The crowds? The Inlet and Pier is listed as "often" crowded, and when a rare pulse like this shows up, you can expect the line-up to be busy with the usual suspects.

Second best is Saturday the 5th of September, with similar size but slightly smaller, and still clean cross-off winds. For anyone who isn't a hard charger, wait for Sunday the 6th or Monday the 7th when the size drops to a more manageable 4 ft to 3 ft and the winds are clean or glassy.

Tough run of small surf before that, but when it comes, it comes with a bit of bark. Keep your eyes on the forecast, because long-range calls like this big pulse early September are promising but less certain – we'll know more as we get closer.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Warm (max 29°C on Mon afternoon, min 21°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Thu night. Warm (max 28°C on Fri afternoon, min 23°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Mon
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
ESE
12
0.3
ESE
11
0.3
ESE
11
0.3
ESE
11
0.2
ESE
11
0.3
ESE
9
0.4
ESE
9
0.5
E
9
0.8
SSE
5
0.5
ESE
9
0.9
SSE
6
0.7
SSE
6
0.7
SSE
6
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.5
SE
8
0.3
ESE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.9
SSE
4
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
26
23
22
22
11
17
25
41
39
43
56
34
33
17
16
28
13
25
17
34
Wind (km/h)
10
WSW
5
N
15
NNW
5
SSE
5
NW
10
SSE
20
S
25
S
20
S
20
S
20
SW
15
SW
25
SSW
15
NNW
20
NE
15
ENE
15
SE
15
SSE
20
S
20
SSW
Wind State
off
cross
cross-off
cross
glassy
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-off
High Tide
5:56PM1.18m
6:06AM0.91m
6:39PM1.23m
6:50AM0.99m
7:19PM1.26m
7:33AM1.06m
7:58PM1.29m
8:14AM1.13m
8:38PM1.29m
8:55AM1.19m
9:17PM1.26m
9:37AM1.24m
9:56PM1.22m
Low Tide
00:26AM0.26m
12:08PM0.15m
1:03AM0.21m
12:54PM0.10m
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
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
rain showers
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:22
6:24
6:24
6:24
6:26
6:26
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:42
7:40
7:38
7:37
7:36
7:35
7:32
 mm
2
2
5
1
4
1
Temp °C
29
27
23
25
24
23
25
25
26
26
26
26
28
25
24
24
24
25
25
26
Feels °C
27
25
21
25
25
23
24
24
26
26
27
27
27
28
23
23
24
25
24
27
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

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