Surf Forecasts:
Indicator surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 14 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 18s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 18s period, SW swell with 201 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 14 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 18s 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 Tuesday (Jul 14) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m 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 0.6m 18s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) 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 14s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 12) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Tue 14th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Tue 14th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicator over the next 16 days.
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break this down.
Look, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it: the next couple of weeks are looking pretty flat for this spot. The reef and point setup here is a "Indicator" (reef and point) that’s fairly consistent and likes a NW swell, but we’re just not getting the goods. The water is sitting at 69°F, which is *much warmer than normal* for this time of year, which is weird but here we are.
We’ve got a huge dry spell. From the start, it’s all tiny and weak. The 11th of July is a total loss with 1ft of west slop, a 5-second period, and a combined energy of just 5. The 12th and 13th are even worse – barely a ripple. The 14th gives us a bit more energy (62), but still only 1ft and cross-on. It’s dead.
We finally see something on the 15th of July (Wednesday) morning. The wind goes glassy, and the swell ticks up to 1ft from the SW with an 18-second period. The combined energy hits 149 (moderate). It’s surfable, but very ordinary. That’s the best of the first week.
The 16th of July (Thursday) morning is similar with a clean 1ft SW swell, 16-second period, and a gentle offshore from the SSE. Energy is 173. Still small. The 17th and 18th follow the same pattern.
The 19th of July (Sunday) we see the energy bump to 260 (still moderate), but the wind goes cross-on and it’s choppy.
The 20th of July (Monday) morning is a repeat: small, clean, but weak.
Then we hit another dead zone. From the 21st to the 25th of July, it’s mostly flat, with tiny windswell and poor conditions. The 24th of July (Friday) afternoon does show a SW swell of 2ft with a 24-second period – that’s a very long period groundswell – and the energy hits 318 (strong). But the wind is cross-on at 12 mph, so it’s a choppy mess. A real shame.
The standout window – and it’s the only one worth circling – is the 26th of July (Sunday) morning. The swell builds to 3ft from the SW with a 19-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 574 (strong). The wind is a light cross-off from the SSE, and the conditions are clean. That’s the best we’re going to get. The rest of the 26th drops off.
For a spot that’s usually fairly consistent, this is a rough stretch. It won’t stay this bad forever, but this 16-day window is a test of patience. The 26th morning is your only real shot.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Mon afternoon, min 18°C on Sat afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Wed afternoon, min 21°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sat 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | SW 21 | W 3 | SW 21 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | W 7 | SW 16 | W 10 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 5 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 2 | 18 | 59 | 59 | 58 | 49 | 109 | 108 | 95 | 126 | 89 | 88 | 55 | 54 | 74 | 76 | 192 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | off | glassy | cross-on | off | off | cross | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:13PM2.43m | 9:28AM1.51m | 8:06PM2.53m | 10:13AM1.58m | 8:57PM2.59m | 10:55AM1.64m | 9:47PM2.56m | 11:36AM1.70m | 10:36PM2.45m | 12:18PM1.75m | 11:25PM2.25m | 1:00PM1.80m | 00:15AM2.00m | 1:42PM1.84m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:48AM-0.00m | 1:39PM1.10m | 3:35AM-0.12m | 2:36PM1.05m | 4:20AM-0.16m | 3:31PM1.00m | 5:04AM-0.12m | 4:25PM0.97m | 5:45AM-0.01m | 5:22PM0.95m | 6:25AM0.16m | 6:22PM0.96m | 7:02AM0.36m | ||||||||
 |  | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 |
 | 8:06 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:04 | — | 8:02 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 |
Feels °C | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 16 | W 7 | W 7 | W 10 | W 7 | W 7 | W 6 | SW 15 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 193 | 170 | 183 | 178 | 107 | 139 | 71 | 44 | 59 | 89 | 38 | 41 | 95 | 126 | 51 | 87 | 34 | 22 | 20 | 76 | 192 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | S 15 | W 3 | W 4 | S 13 | S 12 | W 5 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 19 | SW 14 | W 6 | W 6 |
| kJ | 5 | 2 | 2 | 38 | 2 | 1 | 56 | 27 | 4 | 49 | 109 | 108 | 29 | 90 | 89 | 88 | 55 | 94 | 74 | 11 | 6 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 20 | S 18 | S 18 | SW 21 | S 14 | SW 21 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 19 | W 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 13 | SSW 12 | W 10 | SSW 12 | SW 19 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 7 | 25 | 25 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 59 | 59 | 58 | 16 | 65 | 33 | 14 | 28 | 33 | 14 | 91 | 54 | 50 | 31 | 27 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | W 2 | — | — | W 4 | — | — | W 4 | — | — | W 6 | — | SE 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 6 | — | — | 39 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 4 | 199 | 41 | 2 | 166 | 62 | 2 | 2 | 117 | 0 | 0 | 55 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
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.
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