
Surf Forecasts:
The Inlet and Pier surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 21 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 6s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 21 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 6s period, S swell with 183 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 21 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 6s period with S 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 (Jul 21) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 11s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 11s 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 1.7m 6s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.2m 9s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Tue 21st Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Tue 21st Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Tue 21st Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Inlet and Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s cut to the chase – this is a pretty grim 16 days for The Inlet and Pier. The window starts on Friday the 17th of July, and we’re looking at a long, flat run with nothing worth wetting a board. The combined wave energy is in the toilet, with readings as low as 12 (Friday morning) and 20 (Friday afternoon). The water is sitting at 78°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year.
We’ve got a massive gap of poor surf stretching through the first week. The only real pulse comes on Saturday the 18th, when the swell reaches 3 ft from the S with a tiny 5-second period, but the wind is screaming at 22 mph from the S, making it lumpy and messy. That’s a kite-surfing setup, not a paddle. The rest of the week is tiny dribbles under 3 ft, with weak energy (mostly under 30 to 40), and the wind is either cross-on, onshore, or just plain wrong. Even when the wind turns cleanly offshore on Tuesday the 21st, the swell is only 2 ft from the SE with a 4-second period – that’s wind chop, not a wave.
Into the next week, from the 23rd of July onward, it’s more of the same. The swell never tops 3 ft, and the energy stays weak, hovering around 40-70. Sunday the 26th afternoon sees a tiny 3 ft bump from the ENE, but it’s a 5-second period with rain showers and a cross-shore wind. Not a standout. The only glimmer of hope is on Tuesday the 28th afternoon, when the wind goes glassy at 3 mph from the NNE, but the swell is a pathetic 2 ft from the ESE with a 5-second period. You’d be lucky to get a knee-high ripple.
The final days into early August are more of the same: clean wind, but no power. The energy is in the single digits and low teens. There is no standout session in this entire 16-day window. The swell is too weak, the periods are too short, and the quality is just not there. The Inlet and Pier needs a good NE swell, and we’re not getting it. This is a flat spell best spent doing something else.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 29°C on Sat afternoon, min 23°C on Mon morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Sat afternoon, light winds from the S by Sun night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 35mm), heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 29°C on Wed afternoon, min 18°C on Thu morning). Mainly strong winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 4 | S 5 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | SE 7 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SSE 4 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
7 | 7 | 9 | 52 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 27 | 29 | 19 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 29 | 35 | 23 | 23 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 10:55PM1.27m | 11:21AM1.09m | 11:42PM1.16m | 12:12PM1.08m | 00:30AM1.04m | 1:04PM1.06m | 1:19AM0.92m | 1:59PM1.05m | 2:12AM0.84m | 2:57PM1.05m | 3:08AM0.78m | 3:54PM1.06m | 4:05AM0.76m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:38PM-0.10m | 5:20AM-0.06m | 5:34PM-0.02m | 6:07AM-0.01m | 6:31PM0.07m | 6:54AM0.04m | 7:29PM0.14m | 7:40AM0.09m | 8:29PM0.21m | 8:27AM0.14m | 9:31PM0.25m | 9:16AM0.17m | 10:34PM0.26m | |||||||
— | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | |
8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:17 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 25 | 1 | 2 | 5 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 28 | 25 | 28 | 29 | 25 | 21 | 24 | 24 |
Feels °C | 26 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 27 | 28 | 24 | 27 | 29 | 23 | 17 | 21 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | E 13 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | E 12 | NE 4 | ENE 4 | E 4 | SSE 7 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 |
7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 44 | 23 | 18 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 188 | 287 | 108 | 32 | 35 | 23 | 23 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | E 13 | SE 13 | E 13 | E 13 | N 3 | E 12 | — | E 12 | SE 8 | SE 8 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | SE 9 | SSE 7 | NE 4 | S 7 |
4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 29 | 10 | 3 | 8 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 14 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | — | E 12 | — | SE 8 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 8 | S 7 |
4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 4 | SSE 3 | S 4 | S 5 | SSE 7 | — | N 3 | — | NE 3 | SE 7 | SE 5 | SE 4 | SSE 4 | NW 3 | — | NNW 3 | N 4 | NNE 4 | NE 4 | — |
5 | 3 | 9 | 52 | 96 | — | 1 | — | 1 | 27 | 29 | 19 | 13 | 2 | — | 4 | 10 | 7 | 6 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2431 | 1060 | 1068 | 1514 | 107 | 39 | 3 | 104 | 13 | 304 | 410 | 626 | 2268 | 456 | 95 | 576 | 2 | 71 | 70 | 32 |
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.










