Surf Forecasts:
The Inlet and Pier surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 21 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period, NE swell with 42 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 0.9m 5s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Inlet and Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, I'm Rusty, and I've been staring at the charts for this stretch. Look, I'll be straight with you: the outlook for The Inlet and Pier over the next 16 days is a real tough one. We're looking at a long, dry spell with barely a ripple worth paddling for. The first actual chance of something rideable doesn't pop up until Thursday, 3rd September, which is a solid gap of about two weeks from now.
Right off the bat, the water is unusually warm at 79°F, sitting 4°F above the norm for this time of year. That's a rare treat, but it's about the only good news. For most of the run, we're seeing tiny, weak swells and messy wind. Through Wednesday 19th, into the next week, it's all "poor surf conditions" – small waves under 1.0ft, with short periods, mostly from the SE or ENE, and a lot of onshore or cross-shore wind. The wind is often a moderate breeze, adding chop to an already weak lineup. The combined energy stays low, usually under 50 (31), barely a whisper.
There's a slight uptick in swell energy on the weekend of 29th and 30th August, with waves hitting 3ft to 4ft from the ENE with a period of 6 seconds and energy climbing into the low hundreds (105, 112). But the wind is still messy – cross-onshore from the NNE or NE – and those short-period waves are crumbly and weak. It's still "poor surf conditions" across the board.
The one glimmer, and it's a very faint one, appears on Thursday, 3rd September. The morning looks glassy with a light offshore breeze from the ESE, and the swell is holding at 2ft from the E with an 8-second period. The energy is moderate (84). It's described as "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions" – a 1 out of 10. For a spot that's very consistent and exposed to NE swell, this is a real letdown. The Inlet and Pier is a beach/jetty setup, and with this kind of weak, short-period swell and onshore wind, it's more of a kiteboarding zone than a surfing one for most of the forecast.
So, if you're desperate, the Thursday morning glass-off might give you a few small, clean waves, but don't expect much. Otherwise, it's a waiting game. The spot is very consistent, so it won't stay poor forever, but this run is a tough one.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 29mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 28°C on Thu afternoon, min 21°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Sun night. 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 | ||||||||||||||
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 9 | SE 8 | S 4 | ESE 8 | NNE 4 | NE 5 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | SSE 6 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 20 | 18 | 14 | 7 | 18 | 42 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 32 | 14 | 27 | 13 | 23 | 11 | 11 | 22 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | on | glassy |
High Tide | 1:30AM0.82m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:41AM0.21m | 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 | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  | | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — |
 | 7:49 | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | 16 | — | — | 3 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 27 | 28 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 28 | 22 | 22 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
Feels °C | 28 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 22 | 25 | 28 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 22 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | ESE 9 | ENE 5 | NE 5 | SE 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | ESE 12 | S 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | ESE 11 |
| kJ | 20 | 18 | 14 | 13 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 22 | 14 | 22 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 22 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 6 | NNE 3 | ESE 9 | SSE 4 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SSE 6 |
| kJ | — | — | 3 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 27 | 13 | 23 | 11 | 11 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | ESE 8 | E 7 | E 15 | SSE 4 | SE 13 | ENE 5 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | SE 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 7 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 17 | 16 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 4 | NNW 3 | NNE 4 | NE 5 | — | SE 4 | — | — | — | SSE 6 | W 3 | NNW 3 | N 3 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 14 | 1 | 18 | 42 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 32 | 1 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 617 | 216 | 281 | 617 | 2 | 1097 | 347 | 17 | 440 | 190 | 388 | 13 | 172 | 3 | 8 | 32 | 13 | 281 | 275 |
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.
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