
Surf Forecasts:
Indicator surf forecast from 6 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 10 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 17s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 10 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s period, SW swell with 306 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 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 Wednesday (Sep 09) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 5s. 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 0.8m 16s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 10) 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 1.2m 14s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Wed 9th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Thu 10th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicator over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s cut to the chase: the next 16 days are flat-out disappointing. The swell is tiny, the wind is mostly ugly, and there’s no real juice to get excited about. If you’ve got other stuff to do, do it.
Starting Monday the 9th of September, we’ve got a pathetic 2ft west swell with a 5-second period – weak, crumbly energy (12) and a light cross-shore breeze. No good. Tuesday the 10th isn’t any better: 3ft of west swell but with a 4-second period and a moderate cross-onshore. Choppy and useless, combined energy only 30.
Thursday the 12th of September finally offers a glimmer. A 2ft southwest groundswell with a 16-second period – that’s proper energy (354) – and a light offshore from the SE in the morning means clean waves. The swell is still tiny and that long period will make it fat and slow, but it’s the best we’ll see. Surfable but very ordinary.
Friday the 13th and Saturday the 14th of September are similar: 2–2ft of southwest groundswell (14–16 seconds), moderate energy (194–250), and clean morning offshores. Again, surfable but nothing to write home about. Tiny and mushy, for intermediates at best.
From Sunday the 15th onward, it’s a graveyard. 1ft to 3ft swells with constant cross-onshore winds and weak energy. The only faint hope is Sunday the 21st of September morning, where a 2ft southwest groundswell (17 seconds, 200 energy) meets glassy conditions. But that’s three weeks away, so treat it like a rumor.
The water temp is a warm 72° with a 6° anomaly – way warmer than usual, the only thing that’s above average.
Honestly, don’t bother. The lowlight of the bunch is Thursday the 12th and Friday the 13th of September in the morning with that clean offshore wind. It’s not good, but it’s all we’ve got.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Tue night, min 19°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Wed morning, min 22°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | |||||||||||||||
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 11 | W 10 | W 3 | W 4 | W 4 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | W 5 | W 4 | SW 17 | W 6 | SW 16 | W 8 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | W 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
5 | 18 | 17 | 2 | 14 | 14 | 49 | 50 | 94 | 12 | 30 | 232 | 37 | 306 | 133 | 193 | 176 | 171 | 103 | 100 | 304 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-on | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 6:07PM2.15m | 8:18AM1.63m | 7:07PM2.25m | 8:46AM1.75m | 7:58PM2.29m | 9:14AM1.86m | 8:45PM2.27m | 9:42AM1.96m | 9:29PM2.19m | 10:10AM2.04m | 10:13PM2.04m | 10:38AM2.08m | 10:56PM1.86m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:54AM1.24m | 1:35AM0.17m | 1:01PM1.09m | 2:15AM0.11m | 1:54PM0.92m | 2:51AM0.11m | 2:41PM0.76m | 3:24AM0.17m | 3:26PM0.63m | 3:55AM0.29m | 4:10PM0.54m | 4:24AM0.45m | 4:53PM0.50m | 4:50AM0.63m | |||||||
6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | |
— | 7:13 | — | — | 7:10 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:06 | — | — | 7:04 | — | |
mm | 3 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
Feels °C | 22 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 26 | 23 | 24 | 29 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | W 5 | SW 17 | SW 16 | W 8 | W 7 | SW 15 | W 7 | W 6 | W 7 | W 8 |
256 | 501 | 324 | 305 | 398 | 217 | 156 | 298 | 108 | 81 | 73 | 37 | 288 | 306 | 133 | 57 | 176 | 92 | 54 | 57 | 304 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | SW 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SW 19 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 17 | SW 17 | W 6 | SW 9 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 6 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
166 | 18 | 252 | 249 | 14 | 152 | 158 | 50 | 67 | 66 | 184 | 232 | 37 | 26 | 251 | 193 | 28 | 171 | 103 | 100 | 97 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | W 5 | — | SSW 19 | W 11 | SSW 18 | SW 18 | SW 22 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SSW 12 | SW 9 | SW 8 | SSW 12 | SW 8 | SSW 7 | WSW 13 | W 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | SW 21 |
5 | 5 | — | 36 | 2 | 31 | 49 | 18 | 94 | 93 | 31 | 38 | 18 | 27 | 9 | 5 | 17 | 18 | 37 | 34 | 17 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 10 | W 3 | W 4 | W 4 | W 4 | W 4 | W 5 | W 5 | W 4 | — | — | W 6 | — | ESE 3 | — | — | ESE 2 | — | — |
— | — | 17 | 2 | 9 | 14 | 6 | 14 | 21 | 12 | 30 | — | — | 22 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 117 | 19 | 54 | 117 | 0 | 117 | 117 | 0 | 1 | 62 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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.










