Surf Forecasts:
Indicator surf forecast from 1 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 18s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 6 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 15s period, SW swell with 212 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 2 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 17s 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 Wednesday (Sep 02) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Indicator in the next 16 days are 0.7m 15s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 12s period and expected on Monday (Sep 07) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 17s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Sun 6th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicator over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what we’ve got cooking for the next couple of weeks.
We’re staring down a pretty quiet stretch. The water is a bath-like 75°, which is way warmer than usual for this time of year. The problem is, there’s hardly any real swell to go with it. Most of the window is filled with tiny, short-period windswell and messy onshore winds. A few clean windows pop up, but nothing to get too worked up about.
The first real chance to get wet is Wednesday morning, September 2nd. We’ve got a small 1ft swell coming from the southwest with a 16-second period. That 16-second period is a proper groundswell, so it’ll have some shape, but at 1ft, it’s barely a ripple. The wind is light and cross-offshore from the south, keeping the surface clean. Combined energy is moderate at 117. It’s surfable, but you’ll be scratching for every little bump.
Thursday morning, September 3rd, is a bit more promising. The swell picks up to 4ft from the west, with a short 6-second period. The combined energy jumps to 234 (moderate), so there’s a bit more grunt in the water. Winds are light and cross-off from the SSW, so the surface will be clean. It’s still a short-period windswell, so the waves will be a bit lumpy and sectiony, but for a reef and point setup like this, it’s probably the best you’ll get in the first week. Not a standout, but a morning session might be worth it if you’re keen.
There’s a long gap of poor conditions after that. The next small window shows up on Friday morning, September 11th. We’ve got 2ft from the southwest, with a much better 16-second period again. The wind is offshore from the southeast, so it’ll be clean. Combined energy is moderate at 211. Still, at 2ft, it’s tiny. You’ll be on a longboard or a foamie, and you’ll need to be patient.
Saturday morning, September 12th, is very similar — 2ft from the southwest, 14-second period, light cross-offshore winds from the south, and combined energy of 235 (moderate). Clean conditions, but again, small.
Honestly, the standout in this whole 16-day window is Thursday morning, September 3rd. It’s not what you’d call pumping, but it’s the biggest swell at 4ft, with clean cross-off winds and the most energy in the water (234). The swell direction is from the west, which is about as close to optimum as you’ll get. It’s a reef and point break, so it’ll handle the short period better than a beach break. Crowds are possible sometimes, but with surf this small, you’ll have plenty of room. For a beginner, 4ft is fine. For an expert, it’s a small wave day.
After that, the second week fades into a series of tiny, choppy, onshore afternoons and barely-there mornings. The forecast is less certain that far out, so don’t hold your breath.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Wed night, min 19°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 34mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 24°C on Sat night, min 20°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 5 | SW 18 | W 6 | SW 16 | W 5 | SW 17 | W 6 | W 5 | WNW 6 | W 6 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | WSW 10 | SW 15 | S 15 | SW 19 | W 10 | SSE 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
14 | 49 | 66 | 95 | 13 | 145 | 91 | 24 | 170 | 31 | 13 | 13 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 35 | 137 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 0 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | off | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross |
High Tide | 12:16PM2.03m | 1:10AM1.38m | 12:59PM2.03m | 2:56AM1.23m | 1:58PM2.00m | 6:18AM1.25m | 3:21PM2.00m | 7:21AM1.38m | 4:52PM2.05m | 7:50AM1.50m | 6:07PM2.15m | 8:18AM1.63m | 7:07PM2.25m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:15PM0.65m | 6:07AM0.96m | 8:36PM0.64m | 6:33AM1.11m | 10:17PM0.58m | 7:10AM1.25m | 11:45PM0.44m | 10:06AM1.32m | 00:47AM0.29m | 11:54AM1.24m | 1:35AM0.17m | 1:01PM1.09m | 2:15AM0.11m | ||||||||
6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | |
— | 7:19 | — | — | 7:17 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:14 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:10 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 9 | 17 | 3 | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 20 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 28 | 28 |
Feels °C | 20 | 20 | 17 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 20 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 29 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | SSW 13 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 12 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 18 | W 6 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | S 15 | S 16 | S 15 | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 | SSE 12 |
14 | 68 | 41 | 22 | 87 | 94 | 59 | 207 | 97 | 364 | 343 | 322 | 273 | 331 | 522 | 928 | 1010 | 1309 | 960 | 865 | 1840 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | S 11 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SW 12 | SSW 18 | W 6 | SSE 15 | SSE 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | — | SW 19 | W 10 | SSW 14 |
68 | 36 | 43 | 64 | 67 | 81 | 74 | 37 | 491 | 31 | 179 | 288 | 310 | 310 | 236 | 191 | 137 | — | 14 | 7 | 81 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 11 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | S 9 | SW 17 | SW 15 | SSW 10 | SSE 15 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | W 5 | W 5 | SW 11 | W 5 | WSW 10 | W 12 | — | W 11 | — | SSW 18 |
38 | 49 | 79 | 95 | 6 | 145 | 84 | 19 | 42 | 50 | 47 | 13 | 8 | 29 | 5 | 35 | 3 | — | 2 | — | 31 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 5 | W 6 | — | W 5 | WNW 6 | W 6 | W 5 | WNW 6 | — | W 5 | — | — | W 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 20 | 66 | — | 13 | 134 | 91 | 24 | 170 | — | 13 | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 166 | 62 | 3 | 0 | 166 | 31 | 0 | 166 | 0 | 1 | 62 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 31 | 2 |
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.











