Indian Wells Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for Indian Wells.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a quiet start. Thursday the 23rd morning is actually the first window where it’s worth paddling out. We’ve got a clean 5ft swell from the south, with a light northerly cross-offshore breeze keeping things tidy. The water’s sitting at 68°, which is a solid 4° colder than usual for this time of year, so you’ll want a good wetsuit. The wave energy is moderate at 252, and that south swell is bang on the optimum direction for this sandbar. It’s not massive, but it’s clean and surfable. Crowds are a possibility here, so keep an eye out.

That Thursday morning is the standout for the first few days. The rest of the week is a real struggle. Friday through Sunday we’re dealing with small, weak swells and a lot of cross-onshore wind. The mornings and afternoons are messy – choppy, bumpy, and just not worth the effort. There’s a long gap of poor conditions from Friday the 24th through to Tuesday the 29th.

We get a little spike of energy on Tuesday the 28th afternoon, with a 4ft swell from the SSE and a combined energy of 384, but the wind is straight onshore and the wave comment is poor. It’s a no-go.

Wednesday the 30th morning is a real standout if you can wait. The wind is light from the WNW, almost glassy, and the swell is 4ft from the SSE with a period of 9 seconds, giving it a bit more shape. The energy is solid at 221, and it’s clean. This is your best bet for a proper session.

After that, the pattern gets more mixed. The weekend of the 2nd and 3rd of August shows some promise. Sunday the 2nd morning has a 5ft SSW swell, and the wind is glassy – that’s a rare treat. It’s a bit short-period at 6 seconds, but it’ll be clean and fun for the intermediates. Then Monday the 3rd morning brings a bigger 8ft swell from the south with a 10-second period and a combined energy of 1069 – that’s strong wave energy. This one is for the experienced crew only; it’s too big for beginners. The wind is light cross-onshore, so it’s not perfect, but the power is there. That Monday morning is the other big standout in the second week, though it’s a longer-range call so keep an eye on the forecast.

Beyond that, it drops off again. The last weeks of the outlook are mostly small, weak, and wind-affected. A few clean mornings pop up, like the 7th of August, but the swell is tiny at 2ft.

So, if you’re looking for the best sessions: Thursday the 23rd morning for a clean, modest start, and Wednesday the 30th morning for the cleanest conditions. If you’re an expert, mark Monday the 3rd of August as a potential big-wave day.

Catch you in the water.

- Rusty

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