Indicator Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.78° N 118.43° W

Indicator Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 pm 05 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Indicator sea temperature is
22.3° C
3.6° 

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


Indicator surf forecast from 6 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 6 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 13s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 11 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 18s period, SW swell with 154 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 6 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 13s 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 (Aug 06) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 4s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Indicator in the next 16 days are 0.5m 18s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 16s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 08) at 11PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Thu 6th Aug)1.5ft (0.4m) 13s
Best Surf11PM (Thu 6th Aug)1.5ft (0.4m) 13s
Most Powerful 5PM (Tue 11th Aug)1.5ft (0.5m) 18s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you: the next couple of weeks are looking pretty flat and pretty ugly for the most part. We've got a long stretch of nothing on the horizon, and it's going to test your patience. The swell window is just not lining up, and when there is a pulse of energy, the wind is going to be all over it. We're looking at a real waiting game.

The first few days, from Thursday the 6th through to the 10th, are basically a write-off. We're talking ankle-biters at best, with the swell barely registering. The energy is weak, with values in the single digits to low 20s, and the wind is mostly cross or cross-on, chopping up what little is there. There's a bit of a clean window on the Sunday morning, with a light cross-offshore breeze, but there's just no swell to push through. It’s a dry spell.

Then we get a little tease. On Tuesday the 11th, the swell direction swings around to the southwest and the period jumps to 18 seconds, which is a proper groundswell. The energy picks up to 85 in the morning, and the wind is light and cross-offshore. That morning looks clean, but the swell is still only about 1 foot. It's a sign of life, but not enough to get excited about. The afternoon gets messier as the wind turns cross-on.

Wednesday the 12th is the first day that actually starts to look like surfing. The morning has a clean 2 ft of southwest swell, with a period of 17 seconds, and light cross-offshore winds. The energy is up to 170, which is moderate. It's the first surfable wave of the window, but “very ordinary” is the word. It’s not going to be firing, but you could get a few if you're desperate. The afternoon gets chopped up again by the cross-on breeze.

After that little blip, it's back to the doldrums. From Thursday the 13th through to Tuesday the 18th, we're back to tiny, weak swells and mostly onshore winds. There are a few clean mornings with light winds, but the swell is just pitiful, with energy values mostly below 30. This is a long, flat stretch that's going to feel like an eternity.

Now, for the second week, things get a little more interesting, but it's still not great. Around Wednesday the 19th and Thursday the 20th, we finally get a bigger pulse of swell. The height climbs to around 4 to 4 ft, with the energy jumping into the 150s and 240s. The problem is that the wind is forecast to be cross-on from the west, which will make it messy and lumpy. The period is a short 6 to 7 seconds, so it won't have any punch. This looks more like a blown-out mess than a clean day of surf. And with 4 ft and a short period, it could be a bit of a handful for the less experienced, whilst not offering much for the rest of us.

Honestly, the pick of the whole window is that Wednesday morning, the 12th of August. It’s the only time we get a clean, light offshore wind with a decent, long-period swell. It won't be big, but it should be clean. Everything else is a gamble with the wind or just not worth the paddle. The conditions are so poor for the most part that if you see a strong west wind and a rising swell, like on the afternoon of the 18th, the beach breaks might be more interesting for the kite surfers than us.

Keep your head up, though. The longer the flat spell, the closer the next proper swell is. Forecasts change, so we'll keep an eye on it.

Rusty, out.

Short Range Forecast

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

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Mon afternoon, min 21°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
6
Friday
7
Saturday
8
Sunday
9
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
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
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
14
0.4
SW
13
0.4
SW
13
0.4
SW
13
0.4
SW
12
0.4
SW
13
0.4
SW
12
0.3
W
4
0.4
W
3
0.5
W
4
0.3
SW
11
0.3
W
4
0.3
SW
11
0.2
W
4
0.2
W
5
0.2
W
5
0.3
SW
18
0.5
SW
18
0.5
SW
18
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
69
62
61
60
53
59
52
3
3
9
19
3
19
1
2
2
52
154
152
Wind (km/h)
5
WSW
10
S
20
WSW
5
SSE
10
SW
20
WSW
10
W
10
SW
20
W
5
SW
10
S
15
WSW
5
SSE
10
S
15
SW
5
SSW
10
SSW
15
WSW
10
WSW
Wind State
cross
cross-off
cross-on
off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross
glassy
cross-off
cross
glassy
cross-off
cross-on
cross
High Tide
4:37AM1.19m
3:46PM2.02m
6:58AM1.26m
5:00PM2.12m
8:01AM1.37m
6:08PM2.25m
8:40AM1.49m
7:09PM2.37m
9:15AM1.59m
8:03PM2.46m
9:49AM1.69m
8:52PM2.49m
Low Tide
10:28PM0.73m
8:11AM1.09m
11:56PM0.54m
9:38AM1.20m
1:01AM0.33m
11:25AM1.23m
1:53AM0.15m
12:45PM1.17m
2:38AM0.01m
1:46PM1.06m
3:19AM-0.06m
2:40PM0.94m
3:58AM-0.05m
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:07
6:09
6:09
6:11
6:11
6:11
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:49
7:47
7:46
7:45
7:45
7:44
 mm
Temp °C
20
20
21
20
21
22
21
22
23
22
22
22
21
22
23
21
23
22
21
Feels °C
21
20
21
20
22
22
21
22
22
21
22
22
21
22
23
22
24
21
21
  • 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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