Swell Intel

Indian River Surf Forecast, Delaware

Delaware

Bethany Beach2-3ftDewey Beach1-2+ftRehoboth Beach2-3ft
Indian River surf spot

Current Conditions

Poor
Wave Height
2-3ft
knee to waist high
Swell Period
6s
Wind
15mph
S / Gusts 23mph
Conditions
Poor
Active Swells
Primary
0.5ft @ 10sESE
Wind Swell
3.9ft @ 6sS

Nearest Webcam

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Tue, Mar 312-3ft
Poor
6am9am12pm3pm
Wed, Apr 12-3ft
Poor

Skip the dawn patrol — 2-3ft and poor early on. Things come together by the afternoon with 2-3ft at poor - fair.

6am9am12pm3pm
7s SSE|13-17mph SW
Thu, Apr 22-3ft
Poor

Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on ESE swell at 10s with light E winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 14mph, bringing conditions down to poor.

6am9am12pm3pm
8s SE|7-14mph NE
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Sat

Forecast Charts

Indian River Surf Spot Guide

Break
Rivermouth
Bottom
Sand
Level
Beginner
Crowd
Light
Best Swell
NE
Best Wind
NW
Season
Fall

Indian River Inlet offers a unique rivermouth break where freshwater flows meet the Atlantic, creating fun and forgiving sand-bottom waves ideal for beginners and intermediate surfers. The protected bay setting produces smaller, mellower swells with a sandy bottom that's perfect for learning, and the break is less crowded than nearby Delaware beach spots. Water temperature varies seasonally, making fall and spring the most comfortable times to paddle out.

Strong tidal currentsShallow water at low tideRiver boat traffic

Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.

Indian River Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Indian River?
The current wave height at Indian River is 2-3ft with a 6s swell period. Wind is S at 15mph. Conditions are rated Poor.
How accurate is the Indian River surf forecast?
Our Indian River forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable. Extended forecasts show general trends.
What is the breaking wave height at Indian River?
The current breaking wave height at Indian River is 2-3ft, produced by a 0.5ft ESE primary swell at 10s, a 3.9ft S wind swell swell at 6s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
When is the best time to surf Indian River?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Indian River is Saturday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 3ft waves, a 5.6s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.