Surf Forecasts:
Indicator surf forecast from 1 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 5 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 14s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 5 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 14s period, SW swell with 99 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 5 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 14s 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 Wednesday (Aug 05) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Indicator in the next 16 days are 0.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 13s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 01) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Wed 5th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Wed 5th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Wed 5th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicator over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, it’s Rusty here. We’ve got a pretty quiet run ahead for the next couple of weeks. The water’s sitting about average for this time of year, so nothing out of the ordinary there.
The only break that’s doing anything is Indicator (reef and point). It’s a fairly consistent spot that’s exposed to swell from the NW, and it’s an intermediate-level wave. Problem is, for the first 13 days there’s barely any surf to speak of – just tiny, weak dribbles, with combined energy staying under 100 (18 to 3) and mostly poor conditions. The wind is light and often cross-off, which would normally be a positive, but with swell heights barely reaching 2ft, there’s nothing to ride. A few mid-period SW swells pop up around the 12th and 13th of August, with moderate energy around 140 (141), but it’s all cross-on and choppy, so not worth paddling out.
The first real standout shows up on 14 August (Friday morning). A 2ft SW swell with a 14-second period – that’s a proper groundswell – and combined energy of 116 (moderate). The wind is light and cross-off from the S, so it’ll be clean. It’s small, but for a reef and point, that long period should give some shape. It’s a surfable but ordinary day, okay for a session if you’re keen.
The best of the bunch comes on 15 August (Saturday morning). Same swell direction – SW – but the height is still 2ft and period at 17 seconds, very long period groundswell. Combined energy jumps to 223 (moderate). The wind is light from the S, cross-off, so it’ll be glassy and clean. For a point and reef, that long-period energy will wrap in nicely, though it might be a bit too straight for some beach breaks. Crowds are possible here, so get in early. This is the pick of the 16-day window.
After that, it drops off again. The 16th (Sunday morning) shows a tiny 0.7ft W swell with 14-second period and light cross-off wind, but the energy is only 31 – weak. Not worth chasing.
So, a long dry spell, then a couple of small but clean mornings mid-August. The 15th is your best bet.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sun afternoon, min 20°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Tue afternoon, min 20°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 5 | W 5 | W 6 | SW 18 | W 6 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 18 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 49 | 16 | 42 | 41 | 41 | 60 | 56 | 73 | 70 | 70 | 69 | 62 | 61 | 61 | 84 | 59 | 22 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 12:12PM1.72m | 11:27PM1.90m | 12:39PM1.78m | 00:09AM1.71m | 1:11PM1.84m | 1:01AM1.50m | 1:50PM1.90m | 2:20AM1.30m | 2:41PM1.96m | 4:37AM1.19m | 3:46PM2.02m | 6:58AM1.26m | 5:00PM2.12m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:36PM0.97m | 6:07AM0.49m | 6:27PM0.94m | 6:31AM0.64m | 7:30PM0.91m | 6:57AM0.79m | 8:51PM0.85m | 7:27AM0.94m | 10:28PM0.73m | 8:11AM1.09m | 11:56PM0.54m | 9:38AM1.20m | 1:01AM0.33m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — |
 | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 |
Feels °C | 22 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | SSW 13 | SSW 10 | W 6 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 13 | W 5 | W 5 | SW 12 | W 5 | W 5 | SW 14 | W 5 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 |
| kJ | 18 | 99 | 32 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 42 | 20 | 13 | 37 | 17 | 13 | 70 | 12 | 62 | 61 | 61 | 146 | 143 | 174 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | SSW 10 | W 5 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 11 | SW 14 | W 5 | W 5 | SW 18 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 85 | 32 | 8 | 47 | 45 | 44 | 43 | 41 | 38 | 37 | 56 | 73 | 70 | 13 | 69 | 8 | 4 | 81 | 84 | 59 | 22 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | W 5 | SW 14 | SSW 12 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | SW 16 | S 11 | SW 16 | SW 15 | — | S 10 | SSW 12 | S 9 | SW 20 | SSW 20 | SSW 20 | W 4 | W 4 | W 12 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 55 | 9 | 46 | 30 | 49 | 28 | 42 | 9 | 41 | 60 | — | 2 | 13 | 2 | 15 | 37 | 39 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 35 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 5 | — | — | W 5 | — | — | — | — | — | W 4 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 23 | — | — | 14 | — | — | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 62 | 2 | 2 | 62 | 2 | 2 | 41 | 2 | 2 | 117 | 2 | 2 | 166 | 20 | 2 | 117 | 1 | 1 | 117 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Los Angeles County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Indicator surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
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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