Surf Forecasts:
Indicator surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 16 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SW swell with 362 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 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 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 11s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s is also forecast. 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 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy 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+) | 2AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicator over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here.
Well, I’ll be honest, the next couple of weeks look pretty darn lean. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak, and mostly messy conditions ahead, but there is a little glimmer of something towards the end of the second week. Let’s break it down.
For the first week, from Tuesday the 11th of August right through to Sunday the 23rd of August, it’s a real struggle. Mostly tiny swells, weak energy, and onshore winds chopping everything up. You’ll see days with light cross-offshore breezes in the mornings, which will make the surface clean, but the waves themselves are barely there. Thursday the 13th, Friday the 14th, and even Saturday the 15th have a few morning windows with clean conditions and small 1ft to 2ft swell, but the energy is pitiful – in the low double digits or even single digits (7 to 106). It’s not really surf you can get excited about. The water temperature is a notable 71°F on Tuesday morning, which is 5°F warmer than usual for this time of year.
We’ve got a big gap with no real recommendations for days on end. The only real standout in this whole 16-day window pops up on Friday the 21st of August. The morning session looks like the best we’re gonna get. We’re looking at a gentle offshore breeze out of the southeast at 9 mph keeping things clean at the break. The swell will be 4ft from the west with a period of 6 seconds. It’s not huge, and the energy is moderate (204), but paired with that offshore wind, it should offer up some tidy little waves. For a Friday morning session, it’s your best bet.
After that, we slide back into tiny, weak conditions again through the last few days of the month. Tuesday the 25th and Wednesday the 26th of August show a similar pattern of small SW swells with light cross or cross-off winds, but nothing that screams ‘go-time’. It’s a long blank run for the most part.
Hang in there. It won’t stay this quiet forever. Keep an eye on the charts.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Tue afternoon, min 19°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Sat afternoon, min 19°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | W 3 | SW 14 | W 5 | SW 11 | W 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 52 | 154 | 152 | 143 | 127 | 161 | 124 | 24 | 186 | 104 | 103 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 18 | 19 | 5 | 301 | 12 | 43 | 53 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 9:49AM1.69m | 8:52PM2.49m | 10:23AM1.78m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:40PM0.94m | 3:58AM-0.05m | 3:30PM0.84m | 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 | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — |
 | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 22 |
Feels °C | 22 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 18 | SW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | W 6 |
| kJ | 56 | 154 | 152 | 143 | 127 | 161 | 124 | 164 | 186 | 104 | 211 | 223 | 330 | 326 | 318 | 306 | 272 | 301 | 214 | 138 | 53 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SSW 12 | W 3 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 11 | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | SW 14 | SSW 18 | W 5 | S 11 | W 5 | W 5 | S 10 | W 5 | W 10 | SW 11 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 33 | 29 | 2 | 27 | 28 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 75 | 137 | 103 | 180 | 7 | 9 | 18 | 8 | 2 | 24 | 2 | 43 | 136 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 15 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 12 | S 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | S 10 | W 5 | S 9 | S 11 | SW 13 | W 11 | S 11 | S 11 | W 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 18 | SW 10 |
| kJ | 52 | 54 | 28 | 27 | 11 | 12 | 6 | 24 | 8 | 2 | 15 | 10 | 44 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 32 | 25 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 2 | — | — | SW 12 | W 9 | — | W 5 | — | — | W 3 | W 5 | — | W 5 | — | W 5 | W 3 | — | W 5 | W 4 | — |
| kJ | — | 1 | — | — | 35 | 14 | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | 10 | — | 8 | — | 19 | 5 | — | 12 | 21 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 166 | 117 | 25 | 166 | 72 | 0 | 0 | 148 | 12 | 0 | 67 | 12 | 2 | 41 | 31 | 166 | 117 | 15 | 62 | 166 | 31 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Los Angeles County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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