Indicator Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.78° N 118.43° W

Indicator Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 am 15 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Indicator sea temperature is
21.2° C
3.2° 

Indicator surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Indicator surf forecast from 16 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 15 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 17s period, SW swell with 241 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 15 Jul, 8PM (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 (Jul 15) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m 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 0.6m 17s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 14s period and expected on Monday (Jul 20) at 5AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Wed 15th Jul)1.5ft (0.4m) 16s
Best Surf 8PM (Wed 15th Jul)1.5ft (0.4m) 16s
Most Powerful11AM (Sun 19th Jul)2ft (0.6m) 17s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicator over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s coming for this reef-and-point setup that gets a fair bit of swell. The water’s a warm 70°F, which is about 6°F warmer than usual for this time of year—that’s a noticeable difference, so leave the thick suit behind.

It starts slow. The first session worth mentioning is the morning of Wednesday, 15 July. It’s puny, with 1ft of southwest swell, but the period is a long, glassy 18 seconds, making it a true groundswell. That long period will give it some shape, but with only 120 units of combined wave energy (weak), it’s not cracking. The saving grace is the clean, glassy conditions with a light cross-off breeze. Rideable, but just.

The rest of that first week is more of the same—1ft to 2ft of southwest swell with periods of 14 to 18 seconds. The energy peaks at 246 units on Sunday morning, so moderate at best. Winds stay light and offshore or cross-off, keeping it clean, but the waves are very ordinary. Nothing that’ll get your heart pumping.

Then we hit a flat spell from Sunday afternoon (19 July) all the way through 26 July. The swell drops to nothing—0.7ft to 2ft of weak westerly windswell with periods as short as 4 to 6 seconds. The energy falls into single digits. It’s a week of tiny, choppy slop, more interesting for kite surfers than paddle surfers.

Here’s the one to watch. On Monday morning, 27 July, a new southwest groundswell pushes in at 3ft with an 18-second period and a big jump in energy to 471 units (moderate to strong). Conditions are cross-shore and a bit bumpy, so it’s marginal. But the real standout is Tuesday morning, 28 July. The swell holds at 3ft from the southwest, period at 16 seconds, energy at 409 units, and the wind turns glassy—dead calm, like a lake. This is the best on offer. Small but clean, with that long period giving proper shape on the point. The optimum swell direction is NW, so this southwest swell is a bit off, but it’ll still wrap. Crowds are listed as “sometimes,” so expect a few others, but it’s not packed. The break is fairly consistent, so there’s life in it.

After that, it’s back to weak westerly leftovers. The morning of 30 July has clean conditions and moderate offshore wind, but the swell is weak and the energy is low. Not worth the drive.

Bottom line: it’s a long flat wait, but Tuesday the 28th morning is your shot. Glassy, clean, and small but fun on a longboard or a fish. Be there.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Wed afternoon, min 19°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Mon afternoon, min 18°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
1
1
1
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SW
18
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
15
0.4
SW
14
0.4
SW
14
0.4
SW
15
0.6
SW
18
0.6
SW
18
0.4
S
16
0.6
SW
17
0.2
W
15
0.6
W
5
0.4
W
5
0.4
W
5
0.8
W
6
0.6
W
6
0.6
W
5
1
W
6
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
108
95
90
89
88
55
54
74
76
192
201
0
241
17
21
8
8
44
25
20
83
Wind (km/h)
5
S
20
WSW
15
SE
15
SSE
15
SSE
20
SE
20
SE
15
SSE
15
SE
10
SSE
15
SW
5
S
10
S
15
WSW
10
S
10
SSW
10
WSW
5
S
5
SSW
20
WSW
15
SE
Wind State
cross-off
cross-on
off
off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross
glassy
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
off
High Tide
11:36AM1.70m
10:36PM2.45m
12:18PM1.75m
11:25PM2.25m
1:00PM1.80m
00:15AM2.00m
1:42PM1.84m
1:09AM1.73m
2:26PM1.87m
2:15AM1.47m
3:13PM1.88m
3:50AM1.29m
4:03PM1.89m
Low Tide
4:25PM0.97m
5:45AM-0.01m
5:22PM0.95m
6:25AM0.16m
6:22PM0.96m
7:02AM0.36m
7:30PM0.96m
7:38AM0.58m
8:48PM0.94m
8:14AM0.79m
10:19PM0.87m
8:52AM0.98m
11:46PM0.76m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:52
5:54
5:54
5:54
5:56
5:56
5:56
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:05
8:04
8:04
8:02
8:02
8:01
8:01
 mm
Temp °C
21
23
22
22
22
20
20
20
19
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
21
20
21
22
21
Feels °C
22
22
22
22
21
19
19
20
19
20
20
21
21
19
20
20
21
19
22
21
21
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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