The Inlet and Pier Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.33° N 75.08° W

The Inlet and Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 am 15 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Inlet and Pier sea temperature is
24.8°C
2.7° 

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 15 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 20 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 7s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 21 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 6s period, ENE swell with 171 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 20 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 7s 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 Sunday (Sep 20) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 7s period. 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 1.6m 6s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 21) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 20) at 11AM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5PM (Sun 20th Sep)2.5ft (0.7m) 7s
Best Surf 5PM (Sun 20th Sep)2.5ft (0.7m) 7s
Most Powerful11AM (Mon 21st Sep)5ft (1.6m) 6s

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


The Lowdown

Right, folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's cookin' for the next couple of weeks. Honestly, it's a bit of a flat spell we're looking at here. The first proper recommendation doesn't come until later on, so we've got a long stretch of small, messy conditions to sit through first.

We're kicking off the forecast period and right away it's a struggle. The entire first week is a write-off for any decent surf. From the 15th of September onwards, it's just tiny, poor quality slop. We're talking about swell heights barely making it above 3 ft from the ENE, with periods a short 5 to 7 seconds, and the combined energy is weak, never even hitting triple digits. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, making a real mess of things. The water is a balmy 77°F at the start, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, but that's about the only good news.

The Inlet and Pier just isn't giving us anything to work with. The first hint of something slightly less terrible comes on the 20th of September, Sunday. The swell is still tiny, but the wind swings cross-offshore out of the SW in the morning, cleaning it up a bit. It's not proper surf, but at least the surface is clean. The afternoon even gets a "surfable" tag, but it's a 1 out of 10, so don't get your hopes up.

We get a bump in energy on Monday the 21st. Swell picks up to 5 ft from the ENE, and the combined energy finally hits a moderate 194. The problem is, the wind is howling cross-onshore at 12-15 mph, turning it into a choppy, bumpy mess. That pattern of decent swell heights – 5 ft, 5 ft – but with terrible onshore wind holds through to the 23rd. It's all cross-onshore and lumpy. The period stays a short 6 seconds, so there's no power or shape in it at all. Any break with this setup, a beach/jetty exposed to the east, is going to be more interesting for kite surfers than anyone with a paddle.

Tuesday the 24th of September sees things clean right up with a light SW wind in the morning, but the swell drops to a tiny 2 ft. Clean, but no waves.

Finally, right at the very end of the outlook window, we get the best chance. On Wednesday the 30th of September, a more substantial swell arrives. We're looking at 4 ft from the NE in the morning, rising to 5 ft in the afternoon. The periods are still a bit short at 8 seconds, so it's wind swell, but the combined energy is building strongly, reaching 349. That's a solid moderate energy reading. The wind is cross-shore from the NNE in the morning and then a gentle cross-onshore in the afternoon from the NE. It won't be perfect, but it will be the only window with real, rideable waves. The swell direction from the NE is a touch off the optimum of NE for The Inlet and Pier, but it's in the same ballpark. This is our lone standout. The crowds are likely to be a factor here, as "often" is the word.

Bottom line: Expect a lot of flat, windy days before a late-breaking pulse of energy on the 30th. For the true standout, you're waiting until then.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Thu afternoon, min 19°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 27°C on Sun afternoon, min 22°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
Friday
18
Saturday
19
Sunday
20
Monday
21
AM
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
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)
0.8
ENE
6
0.6
ENE
5
0.6
E
6
0.5
E
5
0.4
E
5
0.4
E
5
0.2
ESE
13
0.4
E
7
0.7
S
4
0.4
E
7
0.4
E
7
0.2
ESE
12
0.4
SE
12
0.9
ESE
6
1
E
7
0.8
ESE
7
0.7
ESE
7
0.7
E
6
1.6
ENE
6
1.5
ENE
6
1.4
E
6
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
34
21
24
13
8
9
17
17
16
15
14
14
35
62
94
63
48
36
171
155
151
Wind (km/h)
15
ENE
10
E
10
SE
10
SE
10
SSE
15
S
15
SSW
25
S
25
SSW
5
WSW
15
ENE
20
ENE
25
E
25
ESE
20
SSE
15
SW
15
SW
10
N
25
ENE
20
ENE
25
E
Wind State
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
on
High Tide
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
3:35PM1.08m
3:52AM0.84m
4:31PM1.12m
4:47AM0.91m
Low Tide
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
8:52AM0.30m
10:06PM0.38m
9:50AM0.28m
10:56PM0.34m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
part cloud
cloud
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:41
6:41
6:43
6:43
6:45
6:45
6:46
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:08
7:07
7:05
7:04
7:01
7:00
6:59
 mm
1
1
Temp °C
20
21
20
20
21
21
22
23
23
25
25
23
22
22
22
25
27
26
22
21
22
Feels °C
17
19
19
20
20
20
20
21
21
26
27
23
21
19
20
26
28
28
22
20
22
  • 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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