Surf Forecasts:
The Inlet and Pier surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period, S swell with 104 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 10s 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 1.3m 6s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) 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 1.1m 5s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Inlet and Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, what’s the story? It’s a tough one, folks. Right now, and looking way out, it’s mostly flat or just plain messy here. We’re not seeing any surf that’s really worth getting wet for. The Inlet and Pier is our only option, and for the next two and a half weeks, the ocean’s just not cooperating.
Let's break it down. The water is a warm 80°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year—a full 4° above average, so that’s a bit weird.
We start off on Sunday, August 16th, but it’s a write-off. A 3ft SSE swell with a period of only 4 seconds is just wind chop, and a strong 19 mph south wind is making it a lumpy, cross-shore mess. Combined energy is a weak 34.
Monday the 17th through Thursday the 27th is pretty much a dead zone. Swell heights are all below 2ft, with periods from 4 to 12 seconds, and the energy levels are consistently low, ranging from 2 to 77. The wind does go light and glassy or clean offshore on a few mornings, like Tuesday afternoon the 18th and Wednesday morning the 19th, which would leave the water flat and perfect, but there’s nothing to ride. So it’s a long stretch of no real surf.
Finally, there’s a tiny glimmer on Thursday afternoon, August 27th. The energy picks up a bit to 106, which is moderate, with a 2ft SE swell at 11 seconds and light NNW cross-offshore wind. It’s described as surfable but very ordinary. That’s the closest we get to anything rideable in the whole window and it's only a 1 out of 10.
For the rest of the run, through to Monday, September 1st, it’s back to tiny, weak swells and mostly cross or onshore winds. Nothing to get excited about. The break is very consistent, but when there’s no swell, that doesn’t matter.
Honestly, the setup here, with the Inlet and Pier being an exposed beach and jetty, and with these conditions, it looks more interesting for a kite surfer on a windy day than for a paddle surfer right now. This is a blank run that’s pretty normal for the area when the swell windows don’t line up. We just need the forecasts to change.
-Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 30°C on Mon afternoon, min 24°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Sun night, calm by Tue night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Thu night. Warm (max 28°C on Sat afternoon, min 23°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 5 | SSW 5 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 12 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 5 | E 9 | NE 5 | ENE 5 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 88 | 0 | 8 | 19 | 20 | 14 | 29 | 24 | 22 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 31 | 24 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 17 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | glassy | off | cross-on | on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-off | glassy | cross | glassy |
High Tide | 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 | 4:14PM1.08m | 4:27AM0.79m | ||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 9:28AM0.25m | 10:53PM0.34m | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | 7:52 | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — |
mm | 14 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 3 | — | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Temp °C | 25 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 22 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 29 | 27 | 30 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 31 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 31 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | S 6 | SSE 5 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | SSE 4 | ESE 8 | SSE 5 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | ENE 5 |
| kJ | 3 | 39 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 9 | 24 | 22 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 16 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SE 7 | E 9 | SE 9 | ESE 12 | SE 11 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | ESE 8 | E 6 | ESE 8 | SSE 5 | — | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 |
| kJ | — | — | 8 | 2 | 3 | 14 | 29 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 2 | — | 5 | 14 | 7 | 11 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SE 9 | — | SE 12 | ESE 9 | — | — | NE 4 | — | E 6 | E 6 | E 9 | E 8 | E 15 | — | SE 4 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 |
| kJ | — | — | 3 | — | 6 | 7 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 4 | — | 1 | 17 | 17 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | SSW 5 | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 2 | — | S 3 | — | SE 5 | — | NE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 4 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 88 | 66 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 3 | — | 5 | — | 31 | 24 | 6 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1321 | 2 | 102 | 168 | 168 | 158 | 3 | 161 | 568 | 190 | 1154 | 1448 | 624 | 304 | 1194 | 230 | 168 | 540 | 355 |
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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