Indicator Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.78° N 118.43° W

Indicator Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 am 27 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Indicator sea temperature is
22.1° 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 27 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 27 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 28 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 17s period, SW swell with 414 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 27 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 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 Monday (Jul 27) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 6s. 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 0.9m 17s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 14s period and expected on Friday (Jul 31) at 2AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Mon 27th Jul)3ft (0.9m) 16s
Best Surf11PM (Mon 27th Jul)3ft (0.9m) 16s
Most Powerful 2AM (Tue 28th Jul)3ft (0.9m) 17s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for this stretch of coast. I’ll be straight with you – it’s a quiet spell. The first solid recommendation doesn’t pop up until the morning of Monday, July 27th, and even then, it’s a slow burn. The whole 16-day window is a lean run of small, weak swell, so don’t go expecting any hero sessions. The combined energy readings are all well under 100 (29 to 80), which tells you the ocean is just ticking over, not roaring. The wind, however, is often light or offshore, which is a blessing for the tiny bumps we do get.

Monday, July 27th kicks things off with a morning session. The break is a reef and point set-up, and it’s fairly consistent. The swell is a meek 2 ft from the west, riding on a short 6-second period. The combined energy is only 29 – weak. But the wind is a light 6 mph cross-off from the SSW, which will keep the surface clean. The water temperature is 72°, which is a whopping 7° warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s very unusual, so you can leave the thick steamer at home. It’s small, but it’s the first decent look. The optimum swell direction is from the NW, so this west swell is a bit off, but with the clean conditions, you’ll get a few soft little runners.

Tuesday, July 28th morning offers a slightly cleaner option. The swell is 2 ft from the west, period still 6 seconds, with a combined energy of 41. The wind is offshore from the SSE at 9 mph. This is the best of the early week. It’s not big, but the offshore breeze will groom those weak lines into something rideable for a log or a mid-length.

Wednesday, July 29th morning is similar: 2 ft west swell, 6-second period, light offshore SSE wind at 6 mph. It’s clean, but the energy is still low (28).

Thursday, July 30th through Sunday, August 2nd is a real grind. The swell stays between 1 ft and 2 ft from the west, with periods of 6 to 7 seconds. The combined energy hovers in the teens and thirties. The wind is a mix of light cross-off and cross-on, so the mornings are generally the cleaner window. The best of this stretch is Sunday, August 2nd morning – a 2 ft west swell, 7-second period, with a solid 9 mph offshore from the SSE. The combined energy is 32. It’s the pick of the bunch for that weekend, but still tiny.

Monday, August 3rd morning shows a slight shift. The swell drops to 1 ft but shifts to the SW with a much longer 16-second period. The combined energy climbs to 73 – the highest we’ll see. This is a long-period groundswell, which can be a bit tricky at a beach break, but for a reef and point, it should offer some nice, lined-up, peeling waves. The wind is offshore from the SSE at 9 mph. The sets will be few and far between, but the shape will be better. This is a standout for the period – a real diamond in the rough.

Tuesday, August 4th to Friday, August 7th sees the swell staying small, around 1 ft to 1 ft from the SW, with periods from 13 to 15 seconds. The combined energy is in the 60s, which is moderate for this run. The wind is light and often cross-off or cross-shore, so the mornings are clean. Take Thursday, August 6th morning – 1 ft SW, 13-second period, light cross-off breeze. It’s weak, but it’s clean.

Saturday, August 8th to Tuesday, August 11th is the final fade. The swell drops to 0.3 ft to 1 ft, combined energy down to 1 or 2. The ocean is essentially flat. Monday, August 10th morning has a 0.7 ft west swell with a 5-second period and a combined energy of 2 – it’s barely a ripple. Not worth paddling out for.

So, if you’re itching for a paddle, the standout is Monday, August 3rd morning. That 1 ft SW groundswell with a 16-second period and clean offshore wind will be the most elegant wave of the entire forecast. The other morning to circle is Tuesday, July 28th for the offshore wind and the bigger (relative) 2 ft of west swell. It’s a quiet outlook, but with the water so warm and the wind often glassy, it’s not a bad time to be on the water just floating. Just don’t expect to get your head wet.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Mon afternoon, min 20°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Fri afternoon, min 20°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
Sunday
2
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
2
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)
0.6
W
6
0.5
W
6
0.9
SW
17
0.7
W
6
0.5
W
6
0.6
W
6
0.6
W
6
0.5
W
6
0.4
W
6
0.5
W
6
0.5
W
7
0.4
W
6
0.5
W
6
0.3
SW
15
0.3
SW
15
0.5
W
6
0.5
W
6
0.7
W
6
0.6
W
7
0.5
W
7
0.6
W
6
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
29
19
414
41
21
27
28
18
11
18
21
9
16
34
33
18
18
39
32
25
28
Wind (km/h)
10
SSW
15
W
10
SE
15
SSE
10
WSW
5
SSE
10
SSE
10
SW
10
S
10
S
15
WSW
5
S
10
SSW
15
WSW
5
WSW
10
SW
15
WSW
5
SSE
15
SSE
15
SSE
10
SE
Wind State
cross-off
cross-on
off
off
cross
cross-off
off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
glassy
cross
cross-on
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
High Tide
10:04AM1.51m
8:36PM2.22m
10:29AM1.54m
9:11PM2.25m
10:54AM1.58m
9:44PM2.23m
11:20AM1.62m
10:17PM2.17m
11:45AM1.67m
10:51PM2.06m
12:12PM1.72m
11:27PM1.90m
12:39PM1.78m
00:09AM1.71m
Low Tide
2:23PM1.14m
3:56AM0.20m
2:59PM1.09m
4:25AM0.19m
3:35PM1.05m
4:53AM0.21m
4:12PM1.01m
5:19AM0.27m
4:52PM0.99m
5:43AM0.37m
5:36PM0.97m
6:07AM0.49m
6:27PM0.94m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:01
6:01
6:03
6:03
6:03
6:05
6:05
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:58
7:57
7:55
7:54
7:54
7:53
7:52
 mm
Temp °C
22
23
22
22
22
21
22
23
21
21
22
22
22
23
22
23
23
23
23
23
22
Feels °C
24
23
22
22
22
22
23
24
23
21
22
23
23
23
22
24
22
24
23
23
24
  • 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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