Surf Forecasts:
The Inlet and Pier surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 21 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 5s period, NE swell with 37 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for The Inlet and Pier this week:
The most powerful waves expected at The Inlet and Pier in the next 16 days are 0.8m 5s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 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 0.9m 5s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Inlet and Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
What’s up, it’s Rusty. I gotta tell ya, the outlook for The Inlet and Pier is pretty grim. We’re looking at a long, flat run with no surf worth paddling out for, and it stays that way for the better part of two weeks. There’s a few clean, glassy moments early on, like Sunday the 24th, but the swell is pitiful—just ankle-biters measuring 0.2m to 0.3m with weak energy. You could go for a float, but you won’t be surfing.
The only thing on the horizon is a pulse that shows up around Thursday, September 4th. It brings a jump in size to about 8ft from the east-northeast, and the wave energy gets serious, climbing to 885-947 units. But the wind is light and onshore, putting a bit of bump on the face. At that size, 8ft is a big wave—experts only. The period is short at 8 to 9 seconds, so it’s not a clean, lined-up groundswell. At a beach and jetty like this, that combo of onshore wind and big, short-period swell will probably make it a close-out mess, more interesting for the kite crew than a paddle surfer. It’s the only real event in 16 days, but it’s a long way off and the conditions aren't prime. The water is about 79°F when it starts, and it’s about 4°F warmer than usual for this time of year, so it’s like a hot tub out there.
Rusty, out.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 46mm), heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 28°C on Thu morning, min 21°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 28°C on Sun afternoon, min 19°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | S 4 | ESE 8 | NE 5 | NE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | ESE 13 | E 8 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | SE 5 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | E 5 | E 5 | SE 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 18 | 14 | 7 | 37 | 30 | 19 | 14 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 26 | 23 | 35 | 22 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 9 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | on | on |
High Tide | 2:12PM1.06m | 2:26AM0.77m | 3:14PM1.06m | 3:28AM0.77m | 4:14PM1.08m | 4:27AM0.79m | 5:09PM1.12m | 5:19AM0.84m | 5:56PM1.18m | 6:06AM0.91m | 6:39PM1.23m | 6:50AM0.99m | 7:19PM1.26m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:51PM0.32m | 8:33AM0.24m | 9:53PM0.34m | 9:28AM0.25m | 10:53PM0.34m | 10:25AM0.23m | 11:45PM0.31m | 11:18AM0.19m | 00:26AM0.26m | 12:08PM0.15m | 1:03AM0.21m | 12:54PM0.10m | 1:39AM0.15m | ||||||||
 | |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — |
 | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:38 | — |
mm | — | — | 9 | — | 3 | 22 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 5 | — | — | 18 |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 27 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 28 | 25 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 |
Feels °C | 29 | 27 | 28 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 24 | 19 | 24 | 22 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 5 | S 4 | S 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | ESE 11 | S 5 | SSE 5 | S 6 | E 5 | E 5 | ENE 5 |
| kJ | 18 | 14 | 19 | 9 | 4 | 19 | 12 | 6 | 10 | 22 | 17 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 23 | 42 | 23 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 9 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ENE 5 | E 8 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | E 6 | SE 11 | ESE 11 | E 4 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 7 |
| kJ | — | — | 7 | 8 | 8 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 26 | 1 | 29 | 22 | 6 | 15 | 13 | 7 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 6 | E 15 | E 15 | SSE 4 | SE 13 | ESE 13 | E 8 | ESE 12 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | — | — | E 7 | E 6 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 |
| kJ | — | — | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 17 | 11 | 15 | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 9 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 4 | S 5 | NE 5 | NE 5 | — | SE 4 | S 4 | S 4 | — | W 2 | WNW 3 | NNW 3 | — | SSE 3 | SE 5 | — | — | N 3 | — | SSE 2 |
| kJ | — | 13 | 40 | 37 | 30 | — | 1 | 6 | 14 | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | 7 | 35 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 590 | 617 | 617 | 1060 | 1514 | 304 | 253 | 129 | 180 | 3 | 13 | 172 | 51 | 13 | 168 | 168 | 23 | 3 | 71 | 343 | 297 |
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.
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