Indicator Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.78° N 118.43° W

Indicator Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 am 04 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Indicator sea temperature is
22.6°C
3.7° 

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


Indicator surf forecast from 4 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 10 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 17s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 10 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 10s period, SW swell with 309 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 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 Wednesday (Sep 09) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m 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 1.3m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 10) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 14s period and expected on Monday (Sep 07) at 8PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Wed 9th Sep)1.5ft (0.5m) 16s
Best Surf 2AM (Thu 10th Sep)2ft (0.6m) 17s
Most Powerful11PM (Thu 10th Sep)4.5ft (1.3m) 10s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, let me lay it out straight. This is a rough stretch for surf. There's nothing worth paddling out for from now until the morning of Friday the 13th of September, and even then, it's barely going to get you wet.

The only spot that has any chance is a reef and point setup that likes a north-west swell. It’s fairly consistent once the swell shows up, and it's an intermediate wave.

The water is cooking right now, 73°F to start the month, which is 7°F warmer than usual—that's a major anomaly. You won't need hardly any rubber.

On Friday morning the 13th, a tiny 2ft south-west groundswell rolls in with a 13-second period. It'll be clean with a light south-south-west offshore breeze. The combined energy at 171 is moderate, so there's a little something there, but it’s "surfable but very ordinary."

Saturday the 14th morning is cleaner, with a south-south-west cross-offshore breeze, but the swell drops to 3ft from the west and the period falls to 7 seconds. Energy at 82 is weak.

Tuesday the 15th morning gives us a 1ft south-west swell with a decent 16-second period. Energy is 143, which is moderate. Cross-offshore south-south-west breeze keeps it smooth, but again, just ordinary.

Now, the highlight of this whole two-week period is the morning of Saturday the 19th of September. That’s the one. A 2ft south-west swell with a 18-second period—proper groundswell. The wind turns offshore from the south-south-east, light breeze, clean as a whistle. Combined energy is strong at 314. The forecast says "expect good surf conditions," and for this flat stretch, that’s your gold. Just a heads up, that long-period swell might be a bit straight at a beachy setup, but on this reef and point, you’ll find a corner.

Crowds can show up sometimes at this spot, so if that Saturday looks good, get there early.

Thursday the 18th morning is also worth a mention: a 2ft south-west swell, 20-second period, cross-offshore from the south, clean, and energy at 253. It's still "surfable but very ordinary," but it beats most of what’s on the board.

Everything else is hammered by westerly cross-onshore winds. Most of those afternoons look more fun for kite surfing than a paddle board.

So here’s the deal: a long flat start, a few small clean windows, but the morning of Saturday the 19th of September is your play. It's still a ways off, so the details might shift, but right now that’s the one to dream on.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Warm (max 23°C on Sat afternoon, min 20°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed afternoon, min 22°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
4
Saturday
5
Sunday
6
Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
2
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)
0.5
W
5
0.4
WSW
5
0.5
SW
11
0.9
SSW
16
0.4
SW
12
0.3
SW
11
0.8
S
13
0.3
SW
11
0.2
WSW
10
0.5
W
5
0.5
W
3
0.2
W
10
0.3
SW
18
0.6
W
3
0.5
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.7
W
4
0.6
SW
17
0.8
SW
10
0.7
SW
9
1.2
SW
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
12
7
59
0
48
18
0
18
10
12
4
9
49
8
125
90
18
235
108
87
230
Wind (km/h)
15
SE
10
WSW
10
W
5
WSW
15
WSW
15
WNW
5
NNE
5
W
15
W
10
W
25
W
15
W
10
W
20
W
5
W
10
W
15
W
5
S
10
WSW
20
W
15
W
Wind State
off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
3:21PM2.00m
7:21AM1.38m
4:52PM2.05m
7:50AM1.50m
6:07PM2.15m
8:18AM1.63m
7:07PM2.25m
8:46AM1.75m
7:58PM2.29m
9:14AM1.86m
8:45PM2.27m
9:42AM1.96m
9:29PM2.19m
Low Tide
11:45PM0.44m
10:06AM1.32m
00:47AM0.29m
11:54AM1.24m
1:35AM0.17m
1:01PM1.09m
2:15AM0.11m
1:54PM0.92m
2:51AM0.11m
2:41PM0.76m
3:24AM0.17m
3:26PM0.63m
3:55AM0.29m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:28
6:28
6:30
6:31
6:31
6:31
6:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:15
7:14
7:13
7:10
7:09
7:07
7:07
 mm
1
1
Temp °C
21
21
21
22
23
22
23
23
23
24
24
23
24
24
24
24
25
24
24
24
23
Feels °C
21
21
20
23
22
21
23
23
22
23
22
20
23
22
24
24
24
24
24
22
22
  • 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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