
Surf Forecasts:
The Inlet and Pier surf forecast from 3 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 4 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, SE swell with 168 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 1.4m 7s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 7s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Tue 4th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Inlet and Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – the next 16 days are looking pretty grim for a paddle. Let’s break it down.
The main spot we’re looking at is The Inlet and Pier. It’s a beach and jetty setup that’s very consistent for swell, but the problem is that almost all of that swell is tiny and weak. The water temp is sitting at 76°, which is just about normal for this time of year, so nothing weird there.
We kick off on Sunday, August 2nd, with a weak 2 ft SSE swell carrying a period of just 5 seconds – that’s short-period, wind-slop junk. The combined energy is a measly 36 (weak energy), and with a cross wind from the south at 12 mph, it’s choppy and messy. The whole first week is a write-off. We see a couple of afternoons, like Thursday the 6th, where the swell bumps up to 4 ft from the south, but it’s still a short 5-second period and the wind is cross, so it’s just a lumpy, weak wave. The combined energy on that Thursday afternoon is only 68 (weak energy). Every single day in the first week gets a “poor surf conditions” tag.
The second week offers no relief. The swell stays tiny, mostly under 2 ft, with short periods. The wind does occasionally go clean and cross-off, like on the morning of Saturday the 8th with 2 ft from the SE and a 12 mph SW cross-off, but there’s just no power in the water. The combined energy on that morning is just 30 (weak energy). The best looking afternoon is Wednesday the 12th, with a 3 ft S swell and a 6-second period, but the wind is a gentle cross-onshore from the NE, making it choppy. The energy is 60 (weak energy). It’s just not surfable.
For the whole 16 days, the biggest swell we see is 4 ft, and that’s with a terrible period. The combined energy never even gets close to 100. There’s simply nothing to get excited about. Given the setup is a beach and jetty, and the wind is often cross or onshore with these tiny, weak waves, honestly, this looks more like a stretch for a kite surfer than a surfer right now.
The forecast is pretty reliable this close in, so don’t hold your breath. Sometimes it stays poor for a while here, but it won’t last forever. Keep an eye on it, but I’d avoid waxing the board for a while.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 34mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 27°C on Wed afternoon, min 24°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Sun night, light winds from the WNW by Mon night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sat afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Fri afternoon, min 25°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | E 13 | NE 4 | NE 4 | SE 7 | NE 4 | E 10 | SSE 6 | E 9 | SSE 5 | E 11 | S 6 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | E 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 16 | 125 | 1 | 2 | 67 | 2 | 69 | 2 | 71 | 42 | 37 | 21 | 28 | 1 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off |
High Tide | 11:03PM1.16m | 11:30AM1.14m | 11:45PM1.09m | 12:17PM1.16m | 00:31AM1.01m | 1:10PM1.19m | 1:25AM0.94m | 2:10PM1.21m | 2:27AM0.88m | 3:16PM1.25m | 3:33AM0.86m | 4:22PM1.30m | 4:39AM0.88m | ||||||
Low Tide | 5:19AM0.08m | 5:43PM0.13m | 6:01AM0.09m | 6:38PM0.16m | 6:49AM0.09m | 7:38PM0.19m | 7:41AM0.09m | 8:42PM0.20m | 8:39AM0.08m | 9:49PM0.19m | 9:41AM0.05m | 10:57PM0.15m | |||||||
— | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | |
8:08 | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:02 | — | |
mm | 11 | 5 | 5 | 8 | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 11 |
Temp °C | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 27 |
Feels °C | 26 | 26 | 26 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | — | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SSE 6 | E 9 | SE 8 | S 6 | SE 8 | SSE 6 |
— | — | — | 86 | 47 | 49 | 125 | 81 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 36 | 2 | 10 | 23 | 28 | 72 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | E 13 | E 12 | — | ENE 4 | NE 4 | E 10 | — | E 9 | — | E 11 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SE 8 | E 9 | E 8 |
— | — | — | 3 | 3 | — | 7 | 1 | 2 | — | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 21 | 2 | 1 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | E 8 | E 9 | — | E 8 | E 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 9 | — | E 8 |
— | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | — | NE 4 | NE 4 | SSE 7 | — | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | S 6 | S 6 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | S 6 | S 5 | SSW 6 |
280 | 291 | 270 | — | 12 | 16 | 286 | — | 85 | 67 | 42 | 69 | 108 | 71 | 42 | 37 | 52 | 25 | 65 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1052 | 1099 | 241 | 2 | 297 | 176 | 176 | 23 | 50 | 102 | 176 | 438 | 255 | 228 | 438 | 43 | 32 | 50 | 2 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Maryland | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.











