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 15 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Inlet and Pier sea temperature is
26.4° C
2.1° 

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 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 11s period, SE swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 21 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period, NE swell with 77 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 11s period with SE 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 11s period. 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 1.1m 6s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 6s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 8AM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Tue 18th Aug)1.5ft (0.5m) 11s
Best Surf11PM (Tue 18th Aug)1.5ft (0.5m) 11s
Most Powerful11AM (Fri 21st Aug)3.5ft (1.1m) 6s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s get real about the next couple of weeks. It’s pretty bleak out there for a while. We’re looking at a long stretch of tiny, messy waves at The Inlet and Pier (Big Island). The water’s sitting at 80°, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year, so that’s a bit of a silver lining for a swim, but not for a surf.

The next week is going to be a write-off. From the 15th through to the 20th, we've got almost nothing on offer. Swell heights are hovering around that 0.3ft to 2ft mark with periods all over the shop, mostly under 8 seconds. That’s just wind chop stuff. The energy is weak as hell, with combined readings barely getting past 43. Winds are mostly onshore or cross, so it’s going to be gutless and lumpy. Thursday the 20th might get a bit clean with a light offshore, but there’s only 0.7ft of swell. Not worth paddling out for.

Then we get a little pulse around Friday the 21st. The swell bumps up slightly to 3ft from the NE, with a period of 6 seconds. Still short period, but the morning is cross-shore and the afternoon turns offshore and clean. It says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” The combined energy reads 88 in the morning and 64 in the afternoon. That is still weak. It’s the only thing that might get you wet for a wave or two, but don’t expect any kind of quality. It'll be a grovel at best.

After that, we’re back to nothing for the next several days. The 22nd through the 25th are all showing flat to 1ft of swell. The winds are a mix of cross and cross-on, with some clean offshore moments on the 25th. But again, there is no wave to ride. It’s just a lake out there, but the wind may be nice for a picnic.

Now, looking further out, there’s a more interesting pulse arriving around the 29th and 30th of August. The swell finally starts to push up, with the 29th showing 3ft to 4ft from the ESE with an 8-second period. The energy readings jump to 144 and 156, which is finally moderate. Winds are cross-shore, so it’s going to be a bit bumpy. That’s not the standout though. That’s Sunday the 30th. We’re looking at 4ft to 5ft from the ESE with a period of 7 to 8 seconds. The combined energy is up to 181 in the morning and 199 in the afternoon. It’s still a short-period swell, so it’ll be a bit crumbly, but the wind finally swings around to a light cross-offshore, and the afternoon is described as clean. This is the best of the whole window, and it’s not saying much. It’s a punchy, grindy little beach break, not a classic by any means. But after this dry spell, you’ll take it. It’s still under 8ft, but at 5ft, it’s getting a little much for total beginners.

The long-range call for the 30th is promising but less certain. It’s a week and a half away, so don’t book your day off yet. But if that swell fills in and the wind holds, there will be some fun, punchy little waves to be had at The Inlet and Pier. It’ll be crowded if people are as desperate as I think they’ll be.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 31°C on Mon afternoon, min 23°C on Tue morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Sun night, calm by Mon night).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Thu afternoon. Warm (max 27°C on Wed afternoon, min 23°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light.

Sat
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
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
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
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
4
0.3
ESE
4
0.4
SE
5
0.5
SSE
3
1.1
S
5
0.9
SSE
6
0.7
SE
6
0.6
SE
7
0.6
SE
7
0.5
SE
6
0.5
SE
11
0.4
ESE
10
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.2
ESE
8
0.3
ESE
8
1
NE
5
1.1
NE
6
0.9
NE
6
0.5
ENE
6
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
3
3
7
6
54
0
0
37
37
20
56
38
30
20
7
14
48
77
52
18
Wind (km/h)
15
E
10
S
20
SSE
25
S
35
SSW
15
WSW
5
NNW
10
WNW
10
NNE
10
E
10
W
0
SSW
20
S
20
SSW
10
W
15
ENE
5
E
15
SSE
10
WNW
15
N
Wind State
on
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
on
off
glassy
cross
cross-off
off
cross-on
on
cross
off
cross
High Tide
10:26PM1.21m
10:50AM1.19m
11:09PM1.11m
11:36AM1.17m
11:53PM1.00m
12:24PM1.13m
00:39AM0.90m
1:15PM1.09m
1:30AM0.82m
2:12PM1.06m
2:26AM0.77m
3:14PM1.06m
3:28AM0.77m
Low Tide
4:17PM-0.06m
4:42AM-0.03m
5:08PM0.02m
5:25AM0.03m
6:00PM0.11m
6:08AM0.10m
6:54PM0.20m
6:53AM0.16m
7:51PM0.27m
7:41AM0.21m
8:51PM0.32m
8:33AM0.24m
9:53PM0.34m
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
clear
part cloud
rain showers
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
rain showers
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:15
6:16
6:16
6:16
6:18
6:18
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:53
7:52
7:52
7:50
7:49
7:47
7:45
 mm
4
2
1
2
3
2
2
2
14
Temp °C
26
25
25
25
25
27
31
29
26
26
26
26
27
26
26
27
26
27
30
24
Feels °C
27
27
25
23
22
29
34
33
28
28
29
28
26
27
29
31
27
29
33
26
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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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