Surf Forecasts:
Indicator surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 30 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period, W swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 8s period, W swell with 367 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 30 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period with W 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 Sunday (Aug 30) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 7s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Indicator in the next 16 days are 1.8m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 15s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 03) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicator over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim. The swell window just isn't cooperating, and we're staring down a long stretch of small, weak waves and messy winds. The combined energy is barely registering, mostly sitting under 100 for days on end, which tells you all you need to know. This is a classic flat spell for our area.
We're looking at a real dry patch from Friday the 28th of August right through until at least the morning of Thursday the 10th of September. That's nearly two weeks where nothing is worth paddling out for. You'll see tiny little 2ft to 3ft slop on the charts, but with short periods (5 to 8 seconds) and onshore or cross-on winds, it's just choppy, gutless junk. The best we get in that stretch is a few glassy or clean mornings, but without any real swell to push through, it's a lake.
Now, there's a little flicker of life right at the end. Thursday the 10th of September afternoon shows a long-period groundswell starting to fill in – we're talking 18 seconds from the SW, which is proper. The combined energy jumps to a moderate 265, so there's some real power behind it. But the winds are still cross-on from the WSW at 9 mph, keeping things choppy.
The real standout, and I mean the *only* standout in this whole outlook, is Friday the 11th of September morning. The conditions finally line up. We've got a clean 2ft SW groundswell with a 15-second period pushing in, and combined energy of 191 – moderate, but with that period, it'll have some punch. The wind is a light cross-offshore breeze from the SSE at 6 mph, keeping the surface glassy. It's small, but for a reef and point set-up, that long-period groundswell and clean wind will produce some proper, lined-up waves. You won't need a big board. Saturday the 12th of September morning is a backup, with similar 2ft SW groundswell and 14-second period, and a gentle offshore from the SE at 9 mph keeping it clean (combined energy 136). Just be aware that the long period might make it close out a bit on the straighter sections.
The water temperature is sitting at 74°F, which is a massive 8° warmer than normal for this time of year. It's way warmer than usual, so a shorty is all you'll need, if that.
Crowds might be an issue at this break – it's listed as "sometimes" busy – but when it's been this flat for so long, everyone will be out chasing that Friday morning window.
So, mark your calendar for Friday the 11th of September morning. That's your one chance. For everything else, save your energy. It won't stay this way forever, forecasts can change, but for now, it's a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Fri afternoon, min 21°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Tue afternoon, min 20°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 17 | W 8 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | W 5 | W 5 | SW 18 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | SW 17 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
0 | 31 | 26 | 26 | 39 | 367 | 113 | 55 | 107 | 33 | 21 | 28 | 12 | 49 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 138 | 15 | 15 | 57 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | off | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:26AM1.81m | 10:01PM2.08m | 10:49AM1.89m | 10:39PM1.95m | 11:14AM1.95m | 11:20PM1.78m | 11:42AM2.00m | 00:07AM1.58m | 12:16PM2.03m | 1:10AM1.38m | 12:59PM2.03m | 2:56AM1.23m | 1:58PM2.00m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:00PM0.78m | 4:33AM0.39m | 4:40PM0.71m | 4:56AM0.51m | 5:23PM0.67m | 5:19AM0.65m | 6:13PM0.65m | 5:43AM0.81m | 7:15PM0.65m | 6:07AM0.96m | 8:36PM0.64m | 6:33AM1.11m | 10:17PM0.58m | ||||||||
6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | |
— | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — | — | 7:19 | — | — | 7:17 | — | — | 7:16 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 |
Feels °C | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 23 | 22 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 17 | W 8 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | W 7 | W 7 | SSW 14 | W 7 | W 6 | SSW 14 | W 5 | W 5 | S 11 | SSW 13 | S 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 |
186 | 31 | 475 | 373 | 402 | 210 | 113 | 239 | 107 | 33 | 111 | 28 | 12 | 36 | 33 | 119 | 168 | 147 | 152 | 178 | 277 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | SW 16 | W 6 | W 6 | W 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | W 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 10 | W 5 | SW 16 | W 6 | SSW 15 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 |
41 | 65 | 26 | 26 | 14 | 392 | 279 | 15 | 180 | 136 | 75 | 99 | 68 | 68 | 17 | 12 | 67 | 16 | 154 | 207 | 273 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SSW 19 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | S 13 | SW 19 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | S 9 | SW 17 | W 6 | S 11 | S 8 |
44 | 125 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 17 | 15 | 27 | 86 | 14 | 40 | 38 | 49 | 79 | 69 | 6 | 138 | 15 | 58 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | W 6 | W 8 | — | W 7 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 5 | W 5 | — | W 5 | — | — | W 6 | W 6 |
— | — | — | — | 39 | 367 | — | 55 | — | — | 21 | — | — | 11 | 11 | — | 13 | — | — | 15 | 57 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 62 | 1 | 1 | 54 | 9 | 3 | 54 | 0 | 2 | 62 | 9 | 2 | 62 | 19 | 166 | 62 | 5 | 2 | 62 | 8 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Los Angeles County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











