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 23 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Inlet and Pier sea temperature is
26.1°C
2.2° 

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 23 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s period, ESE swell with 46 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 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 Friday (Aug 28) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 6s. 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 0.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 5AM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Fri 28th Aug)1.5ft (0.5m) 9s
Best Surf 5AM (Fri 28th Aug)1.5ft (0.5m) 9s
Most Powerful 5AM (Fri 28th Aug)1.5ft (0.5m) 9s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Inlet and Pier over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for The Inlet and Pier over the next couple of weeks.

First off, I gotta be straight with you—this is a tough stretch to start. We’re looking at some really quiet, weak conditions for the better part of the next week and a half. The water is sitting at 79°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s a bit of a trippy feeling paddling out, like summer’s hanging on too long.

The first ten days or so are pretty much a write-off for any proper surf. We’ve got tiny swells, mostly around 0.7ft to 1ft, with short periods and next to no energy—the combined swell energy barely cracks 59 at its best early on. There’s a lot of cross-shore and onshore wind throwing little ripples across the surface. It’s all getting labelled “poor surf conditions,” and I can’t argue with that. The morning of August 28 might give you a clean 2ft waves from the ESE at 8 seconds, but it’s still pretty weak. By the end of August, we get a glassy morning on August 31 with a 0.7ft swell but a very long 18-second period—energy’s still only 35 though, so it’s not doing much.

Then we roll into the first week of September, and things finally start to wake up. On September 3, Thursday afternoon, we’ve got a jump in energy to 598, with a clean 3ft swell from the ESE at a solid 13 seconds. The wind is light offshore from the WNW, so it’s gonna be glassy. That’s the first standout window—a real chance for some fun, lined-up waves at The Inlet and Pier. It’s a very consistent spot, so if there’s swell, it’ll handle it, but keep in mind it’s exposed to NE swell and this is coming from the ESE, which isn’t its absolute optimum direction. Still, clean and three foot of swell? I’d be out there.

September 5 is another potential highlight, especially the afternoon. We’re looking at 5ft from the ENE at a short 8 seconds, but the combined energy is 519—moderate to strong—and the wind goes glassy. That’s clean, punchy little beach waves. It might be a touch too big for total beginners at that size, but it’s well within the fun zone for everyone else.

After that, the swell stays around the 3ft to 5ft mark through to September 7 Monday morning, with some clean offshore winds from the west. The energy starts to drop off, but there’s still a few surfable windows. The final Monday afternoon shows 5ft from the east but with a sloppy 6-second period and cross-off wind, so it’s not going to hold together great.

Overall, the standout is Thursday September 3 afternoon for clean, glassy, chest-high waves, and Saturday September 5 afternoon as a close second for clean, punchy shoulder-high stuff. Don’t expect much before that—just a waiting game.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sun afternoon, min 21°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Warm (max 29°C on Fri afternoon, min 23°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Sun
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
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
1
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)
0.2
ESE
12
0.2
ESE
12
0.2
ESE
12
0.3
ESE
12
0.3
ESE
11
0.3
ESE
11
0.2
ESE
11
0.2
ESE
11
0.3
ESE
10
0.4
ESE
9
0.4
ESE
8
0.7
SSE
5
0.4
ESE
9
0.4
ESE
9
0.5
ESE
8
0.5
ESE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
14
14
14
26
23
22
11
11
18
25
21
25
25
32
40
39
17
26
17
17
Wind (km/h)
15
NW
10
W
10
NNE
10
ENE
15
NW
10
NNW
10
SSW
10
NW
10
E
20
S
25
S
15
SSE
15
S
15
SW
15
SW
15
SSW
10
WSW
10
S
10
SE
10
SSW
Wind State
cross-off
off
cross-on
on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
on
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
5:09PM1.12m
5:19AM0.84m
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
Low Tide
11:45PM0.31m
11:18AM0.19m
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
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
clear
clear
clear
clear
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:22
6:22
6:24
6:24
6:24
6:26
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:43
7:42
7:40
7:38
7:37
7:36
7:35
 mm
2
2
2
1
2
Temp °C
28
27
25
25
25
23
26
26
23
25
25
26
26
26
25
29
28
28
28
27
Feels °C
26
28
25
25
25
22
25
26
24
24
24
28
28
27
27
30
29
31
29
28
  • 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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