Delaware
Patience pays off today — morning is fair with 2-3ft.
Patience pays off today — morning is fair with 2-3ft.
Best window·Monday 6AM–9AM·3-4ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Indian River, Delaware. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Fair. Hold off if you can — morning starts out poor with 1-2ft waves. Afternoon shapes up better with 2-3ft and fair conditions.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 1-2ft with light winds out of the NW. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Skip the dawn patrol — 1-2ft and poor early on. Things come together by the afternoon with 1-2ft at poor.
Sun, Sep 6: 3–4ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on NNE swell at 4s with 15mph out of the NNE. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Mon, Sep 7: 3–4ft, 10s period, rated Good. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on ENE swell at 7s with light winds out of the N. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
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Check Indian River from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Indian River is 2-3ft with a 5.5s swell period. Wind is WNW at 9mph. Conditions are rated Fair - Good. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Indian River is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.5ft ENE wind swell swell at 6s, a 1.4ft ESE secondary swell at 9s, a 0.8ft SSW wind swell swell at 2s. 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.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Indian River is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 7.1s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Indian River works best with a NE swell and NW winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Indian River. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Indian River is a rivermouth with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. 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.
The prime season at Indian River is fall, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Indian River include strong tidal currents, shallow water at low tide, river boat traffic. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
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. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
