Indicator Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.78° N 118.43° W

Indicator Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 pm 15 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Indicator sea temperature is
21.1° C
3.0° 

Indicator surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Indicator surf forecast from 16 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 16 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 16s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 18s period, SW swell with 252 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 16 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 16s period with SW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Indicator this week:

The surf forecast for Indicator over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 16) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Indicator in the next 16 days are 0.6m 18s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 14s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 19) at 11PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Thu 16th Jul)1.5ft (0.4m) 16s
Best Surf 8AM (Thu 16th Jul)1.5ft (0.4m) 16s
Most Powerful 2PM (Sat 18th Jul)2ft (0.6m) 18s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicator over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what we’ve got cookin’ for this little corner of the world—this reef-and-point setup. I’ll be straight with ya, it’s a lean run for a while, but there is a glimmer of hope later on.

The forecast kicks off Thursday the 16th of July with tiny 1ft swell out of the southwest, pushing a moderate 136 combined swell energy. Morning has a gentle offshore breeze from the southeast, so it’s clean but man, it’s small. Not gonna get your heart racing. Afternoon switches to a light cross-off southerly, still clean but again, just 1ft. It’s surfable, but ordinary—you’d be scratching for a ride.

Friday the 17th is more of the same: 1ft southwest swell in the morning with a moderate offshore, giving clean little lines, but the energy drops to 75. Afternoon cleans up a bit with a gentle cross-off, energy back to 146. Still, it’s not much to write home about. Saturday morning the 18th sees a bump to 2ft southwest swell, with an 18-second period and combined energy jumping to 257—that’s moderate wave energy now. Gentle offshore in the morning, so the reef should be offering up some clean, drawn-out lines. That 18-second period is a proper groundswell, so expect longer gaps between sets and some shape to ‘em. This is the best part of the first week, but Saturday afternoon turns ugly: cross-shore wind, light, but the quality falls off a cliff.

Sunday the 19th morning is back to clean conditions with a light cross-off breeze and 2ft southwest swell (198 energy). It’s okay, but nothing special. From Sunday arvo through to Thursday the 23rd, we hit a dry spell. Swell drops to 0.7ft or 1ft, periods get short and weak, and the combined energy plummets into the teens and single digits. Winds are mostly onshore or cross-off, but there’s just no push. That’s nearly five days where you’d be better off doing something else.

Then, on Friday the 24th of July, things finally wake up. Morning brings a solid 2ft southwest swell with a 24-second period—very long period groundswell. The combined energy hits 444, which is solid moderate wave energy. Winds are light from the south-southwest, so it’s clean. This is the standout. The 24-second period means the swell will wrap in nicely, but at a beach break it might race and close out—for this reef-and-point setup though, it should be lined up and offering some excellent, patient waves. It’s not huge, but the quality and energy are there. The only downside is the afternoon goes to mush with a moderate cross-onshore, so get on it early.

Saturday the 25th morning has an offshore but no swell at all—zero energy. Arvo has a 2ft southwest swell (218 energy) but with a gentle cross-onshore chop. Not worth it.

From Sunday the 26th right through to the end of the month on Thursday the 31st, it’s back to small, weak westerly swells: 2ft to 2ft, periods between 5 and 7 seconds, and combined energy mostly in the 20s and 40s. Winds are generally light and clean in the mornings but turn cross-on or cross-off in the afternoons. There’s nothing there to get excited about—just small, weak, short-period slop.

So here’s the takeaway: if you’ve got patience, the only real window is Saturday morning the 18th (decent clean 2ft groundswell with 18-second period) and especially Friday morning the 24th (2ft, 24-second period groundswell, clean, moderate energy). That Friday is the pick of the whole 16 days. The rest is mostly flat or messy. For this area, a blank run can happen, but forecasts can change, so keep an eye out.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Wed night, min 19°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Tue afternoon, min 19°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
15
0.4
SW
14
0.4
SW
14
0.4
SW
15
0.6
SW
18
0.6
SW
18
0.4
W
5
0.6
SW
17
0.6
SW
17
0.7
W
6
0.2
W
14
0.2
W
14
0.7
W
5
0.6
W
5
0.6
W
5
1
W
6
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
90
89
88
55
54
74
76
246
201
8
188
243
30
16
16
28
20
18
75
Wind (km/h)
15
SE
15
SE
10
S
15
SE
20
SE
15
SSE
15
SE
15
SSE
10
SW
5
S
10
S
15
W
10
SSW
10
SSW
20
W
10
S
5
SSE
20
WSW
5
SE
Wind State
off
off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
off
off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
off
cross-on
off
High Tide
10:36PM2.45m
12:18PM1.75m
11:25PM2.25m
1:00PM1.80m
00:15AM2.00m
1:42PM1.84m
1:09AM1.73m
2:26PM1.87m
2:15AM1.47m
3:13PM1.88m
3:50AM1.29m
4:03PM1.89m
Low Tide
5:45AM-0.01m
5:22PM0.95m
6:25AM0.16m
6:22PM0.96m
7:02AM0.36m
7:30PM0.96m
7:38AM0.58m
8:48PM0.94m
8:14AM0.79m
10:19PM0.87m
8:52AM0.98m
11:46PM0.76m
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:54
5:54
5:54
5:56
5:56
5:56
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:05
8:04
8:04
8:02
8:02
8:01
8:01
 mm
Temp °C
22
22
22
21
21
21
20
20
20
20
21
21
21
21
22
22
22
23
22
Feels °C
23
22
22
21
20
21
20
20
20
21
22
21
21
21
20
20
23
21
20
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Indicator Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Indicator provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Indicator can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Indicator 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 (Indicator) 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 Indicator 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.

Indicator is 5 km (3 miles) from the city of Rancho Palos Verdes. If you plan a vacation in Los Angeles County, look for hotels and other accommodation in Rancho Palos Verdes. Rancho Palos Verdes has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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