Indian Wells Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again, talking in feet and miles now.

Look, it's gonna be a lean stretch for a while. We've got a solid 16-day window here, but honestly, the first week or so is looking pretty grim. We're staring down a lot of small, weak swell and tricky winds that are just gonna make a mess of things. There's a gap of several days where you'd be better off doing pretty much anything else.

The kicker is the water temp – it's sitting at 73° right now, which is about spot on for this time of year, so at least the water won't bite.

Wednesday the 19th morning might be your best early look. You've got a tiny 2ft south-east swell rolling in – real weak, combined energy is only 68 – but with a clean, cross-off wind from the WNW, it's at least rideable. It won't be any kind of epic, but it'll be surfable and clean for a few. The afternoon goes onshore and choppy, so that's a write-off.

Thursday the 20th morning is pretty much a repeat of Wednesday – same small 2ft south-east swell, light WNW cross-off, clean but ordinary. Again, combined energy is a measly 51. After that, it really goes downhill. We've got days of onshore winds, rain, and tiny lumpy waves. Friday the 21st through to Thursday the 27th of August is pretty much a bust.

Now, there's a pulse of bigger energy on Thursday the 27th morning, with a 5ft south swell but the period is a short 7 seconds. Combined energy jumps to 445, which is moderate-strong, but the wind is a fresh 22 mph cross-shore from the SSW. It's gonna be lumpy, messy, and not really the kind of thing you paddle out for in good spirits. That afternoon gets even stronger onshore wind and it's a no-go. Friday the 28th is similar – 6ft south-southwest swell, but same story: strong, lumpy cross-shore winds. Over 5ft, so it's not for beginners, but the quality is shot. This window looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, to be fair.

Finally, on Saturday the 29th of August, things start to clean up. The swell drops back to a clean 2ft from the SE with a moderate cross-off wind from the W. Combined energy is 133, so moderate. Then Sunday the 30th morning looks like the actual standout. It's a 2ft SE swell, but you've got a light offshore from the NW, making it clean, and the combined energy is the same 133. It's small, but glassy and clean. That's your window. Monday the 31st and beyond is back to marginal cross-shore winds and lumpy conditions.

So, if you're itching for a wave, keep your eyes on Wednesday 19th morning for a small clean one, or if you can wait, the standout is Sunday morning the 30th of August at Indian Wells for that clean, offshore, tiny but rideable wave.

Rusty.

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