Surf Forecasts:
Indicator surf forecast from 13 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 16s period, SW swell with 193 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 5AM (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 Thursday (Aug 13) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 3s. 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 16s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 17s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicator over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the pipeline. Honestly, I’m looking at a pretty flat and quiet run for a while. There’s no real action on the table until Thursday, August 28th, which is a long wait of more than two weeks. The first couple of weeks are basically a write-off for any decent surf—mostly tiny, weak swells with crummy cross and cross-on winds that’ll leave the ocean looking like mess. It’s a tough stretch.
The first real window of hope shows up on the morning of Thursday, August 28th. That’s when we’ll see some life coming from a long-period SW groundswell, bumping the combined swell energy up to a moderate 211. The swell height is still small at 2 ft, but the period is a very long 16 seconds. Up at the Indicator (reef and point), that long-period groundswell from the optimum NW direction will be wrapping in nicely, but with that kind of period, it’ll be at its best on the point, not the beach. The wind will be light and from the S, giving us a clean cross-off breeze, so the conditions will be smooth. This is the standout session of the whole outlook—clean lines, small but with real energy, and since the spot is fairly consistent and crowds are only sometimes an issue, you could get a peak to yourself. It’s not a day for beginners with that period and the reef, but intermediates will find some fun.
The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
Before that, there are scattered glimmers on Monday morning, August 24th, and Tuesday morning, August 25th, where the conditions are clean and there’s some energy (163 and 180 combined swell energy), but the swell is still just 1 ft and 2 ft respectively. You could get a wave, but it’s nothing to get excited about.
So, the only real standout in this 16-day outlook is that Thursday morning, August 28th at Indicator. It’s a long way off, so don’t bet the house on it, but it’s the best thing I see. For the rest of it, you’re better off waiting than paddling out for slop.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sat afternoon, min 18°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Mon afternoon, min 20°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | W 4 | W 5 | W 5 | W 6 | W 5 | W 5 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 7 | W 8 | W 9 | W 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 125 | 124 | 24 | 188 | 104 | 103 | 9 | 7 | 13 | 50 | 19 | 31 | 91 | 48 | 53 | 116 | 82 | 56 | 76 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 9:39PM2.43m | 10:56AM1.85m | 10:24PM2.29m | 11:29AM1.91m | 11:09PM2.08m | 12:03PM1.95m | 11:55PM1.84m | 12:36PM1.95m | 00:45AM1.59m | 1:12PM1.93m | 1:49AM1.36m | 1:53PM1.88m | 3:42AM1.21m | ||||||
Low Tide | 4:34AM0.03m | 4:20PM0.77m | 5:07AM0.17m | 5:09PM0.73m | 5:39AM0.36m | 6:01PM0.73m | 6:08AM0.57m | 6:58PM0.76m | 6:35AM0.78m | 8:04PM0.79m | 6:57AM0.97m | 9:30PM0.80m | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — |
 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 |
Feels °C | 20 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 18 | SW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 14 | W 7 | W 8 | W 9 | W 7 |
| kJ | 125 | 124 | 164 | 188 | 104 | 211 | 223 | 330 | 326 | 318 | 306 | 217 | 53 | 48 | 183 | 116 | 82 | 56 | 76 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 3 | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | SW 14 | SSW 18 | W 5 | S 11 | W 6 | W 5 | S 10 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 |
| kJ | 2 | 21 | 21 | 75 | 137 | 103 | 180 | 7 | 9 | 29 | 19 | 9 | 214 | 186 | 32 | 136 | 146 | 70 | 142 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | SW 12 | SW 12 | S 10 | S 9 | W 11 | W 4 | SW 13 | W 11 | S 11 | S 11 | W 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SW 13 | SSW 17 | SW 19 |
| kJ | 11 | 6 | 24 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 44 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 42 | 111 | 15 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 5 | — | — | SW 9 | — | — | W 5 | W 6 | — | W 5 | W 6 | — | W 6 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 2 | — | — | 31 | — | — | 13 | 50 | — | 31 | 91 | — | 53 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 166 | 8 | 166 | 117 | 8 | 166 | 117 | 19 | 117 | 117 | 9 | 62 | 117 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Los Angeles County | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Indicator surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
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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