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 am 23 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Inlet and Pier sea temperature is
26.1°C
2.2° 

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 23 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 6s period, S swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s period, S swell with 61 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 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 Sunday (Aug 23) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at The Inlet and Pier in the next 16 days are 1.0m 6s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 5s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 11AM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Sun 23rd Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 6s
Best Surf11PM (Sun 23rd Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 6s
Most Powerful 2AM (Sat 29th Aug)3.5ft (1.0m) 6s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, I’m lookin’ at the whole 16-day window for The Inlet and Pier, and I gotta be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch. We got a long run of flat-to-tiny, rubbish waves with almost nothing worth paddlin’ out for. The first recommendation doesn’t show up until Friday the 28th, and even then it’s barely a ripple. There’s a solid gap from now all the way through Thursday the 27th with zero surf worth mentionin’.

Honestly, the best on offer looks like September 3rd, but that’s a long way out and still just marginal. Let’s break it down.

The whole first week is poor. Sunday the 23rd and Monday the 24th have tiny 0.7ft to 1ft swell from the ESE with cross-off winds, but the energy is weak – only single-digit combined energy (7 to 30). It’s clean but there’s nothing to ride. Tuesday the 25th afternoon goes glassy with a 0.7ft ESE swell at 11 seconds, but still no power (energy only 11). Wednesday the 26th morning stays glassy with 1ft, period 10 seconds, but energy’s still puny at 23. Thursday the 27th sees a tiny bump to 3ft ESE with a horrible 4-second period, making it close to unsurfable.

Finally, on Friday the 28th (morning), we get our first glimmer. Swell bumps to 2ft from the ESE, 9-second period, with a clean cross-off wind from the SSW. Energy climbs to a moderate 65. It’s still only *surfable but very ordinary*. The afternoon gets messy with 16 mph southerly winds choppin’ it up.

Saturday the 6th of September is another potential standout in the long-range. The Inlet and Pier (Region_URL) sees a 3ft ESE swell, 10-second period, but the wind turns cross-onshore from the ENE at 16 mph, making it choppy. Energy hits 130 (moderate), but the conditions aren’t clean enough to get excited about.

The real standout, if you can wait, is Thursday the 3rd of September. Both morning and afternoon show 4ft swell from the ESE/E with a 10-second period, clean cross-off winds from the NW and NNW. Combined energy jumps to 329 (moderate-to-strong). That’s the biggest, cleanest window in the whole run. The swell size is under 5ft, so it’s fine for intermediates, and with that northwest flow it’ll be clean. The direction is a little off from the optimum NE, but it’s the best we’ve got. The water temp is about average for this time of year.

Overall though, the first week-plus is a write-off. The Inlet and Pier is very consistent here, but that just means it’s givin’ us consistent tiny waves. Keep an eye on that 3rd of September window – it’s a glimmer of hope.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Sun morning. Warm (max 28°C on Sun afternoon, min 21°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 27°C on Fri afternoon, min 23°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
AM
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
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
E
8
0.2
ESE
12
0.2
ESE
12
0.2
ESE
12
0.3
ESE
12
0.3
ESE
11
0.2
ESE
11
0.2
ESE
11
0.2
ESE
11
0.3
ESE
10
0.3
ESE
9
0.4
ESE
8
0.7
SE
5
0.8
ESE
5
0.4
ESE
9
0.4
ESE
8
0.5
ESE
8
1
S
6
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
5
14
14
14
26
23
11
11
11
22
16
22
21
29
32
28
39
61
17
20
15
Wind (km/h)
15
WSW
20
WNW
10
NW
10
NNE
10
ENE
15
N
10
NNW
10
S
10
W
5
SE
15
S
20
SSE
15
SE
20
SE
15
SW
10
SW
20
SSW
15
NNW
25
NE
15
ENE
15
ESE
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross
off
glassy
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
on
cross-on
High Tide
5:09PM1.12m
5:19AM0.84m
5:56PM1.18m
6:06AM0.91m
6:39PM1.23m
6:50AM0.99m
7:19PM1.26m
7:33AM1.06m
7:58PM1.29m
8:14AM1.13m
8:38PM1.29m
8:55AM1.19m
9:17PM1.26m
Low Tide
10:25AM0.23m
11:45PM0.31m
11:18AM0.19m
00:26AM0.26m
12:08PM0.15m
1:03AM0.21m
12:54PM0.10m
1:39AM0.15m
1:37PM0.06m
2:14AM0.10m
2:20PM0.04m
2:50AM0.07m
3:03PM0.03m
3:26AM0.05m
thunderstorm
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
rain showers
thunderstorm
clear
thunderstorm
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:20
6:22
6:22
6:24
6:24
6:24
6:26
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:43
7:42
7:40
7:38
7:37
7:36
7:35
 mm
1
1
1
1
Temp °C
25
28
27
24
25
25
23
25
25
24
26
25
25
25
25
24
27
27
22
23
24
Feels °C
26
28
28
24
25
25
22
25
23
25
25
24
26
26
27
27
27
30
21
21
23
  • Map Icons:
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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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