
Surf Forecasts:
Indicator surf forecast from 4 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 8 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 8 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period, W swell with 181 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 8 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period with W 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 08) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 7s period. 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 1.3m 7s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 18s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 07) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Wed 8th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Wed 8th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Wed 8th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicator over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this stretch is a tough one. We’re looking at a reef and point set-up that’s fairly consistent, intermediate level, and takes swell from the NW when it’s firing. But honestly, for the next couple of weeks, it’s more about waiting than charging.
Right off the bat, Saturday the 4th of July kicks things off, but there’s almost nothing. Swell’s a tiny 1 ft from the west, period a weak 4 seconds, and combined energy is only 3 – that’s barely a ripple. Winds are light cross-onshore, so it’s messy and poor. That sets the tone for days. Sunday’s not much better – still 1 ft to 2 ft, cross-onshore winds, and energy stuck below 15. Monday the 6th shows a glimmer: morning has clean conditions with a light cross-offshore breeze and swell holding at 2 ft, period up to 6 seconds, energy at 35 – but it’s still small and ordinary. Afternoons get choppy again.
Tuesday the 7th morning has a bump – swell 3 ft, period 7 seconds, energy 55, and light cross-shore wind – but by afternoon it’s blown out. The real tease comes Thursday the 9th of July. Morning brings offshore winds from the SSE at 9 mph, clean as a whistle, with a 2 ft swell from the SW, period 16 seconds – that’s a long-period groundswell. Combined energy hits 162 (moderate), and the water temp is sitting at 68°, which is 5° warmer than normal – that’s much warmer than usual for this time of year, so the water’s feeling like summer. The wave comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions” – it’s a 1/10 but that offshore wind and long period give it some shape. For a reef and point break, that long period suits it well, but 2 ft is still small. Still, it’s the best morning in the first week.
After that, it fades. Friday the 10th to Saturday the 11th has clean winds but swell drops to 1 ft. Sunday the 12th afternoon has a 0.3 ft, 21-second period – just a pulse. There’s a gap from about the 13th to the 16th where swell hangs around 1 ft to 1 ft, mostly cross-on or cross-off, nothing surfable. Then we hit Friday the 17th of July – that’s more than a week away. Morning shows a 1 ft SW swell, period 19 seconds, energy jumps to 263 (moderate to strong), with light cross-offshore winds and clean conditions. The wave comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions” – again a 1/10. Still, that’s a solid energy reading for the size. Saturday the 18th morning bumps up to 2 ft from the SW, period 17 seconds, energy 321 (strong), but winds are cross-shore – light, but not clean offshore. Sunday the 19th holds 2 ft, period 16 seconds, energy 181, but winds get cross-on and then strong in the afternoon.
For a standout, I’d point you to Thursday the 9th of July morning. It’s the first real taste of offshore wind (SSE at 9 mph), clean, with a long 16-second groundswell – that will wrap into a point and reef nicely. The water’s much warmer than normal, so you can ditch the thick rubber. It’s small, but with that period and clean face, it’ll be fun for an intermediate. Later, Friday the 17th of July morning has the best energy (263) and light cross-offshore – that’s promising but further out, so less certain. Crowds are possible at this spot, but on a 2 ft day, you’ll have room.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sun afternoon, min 17°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Wed afternoon, min 18°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 4 | Sunday 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | |||||||||||||||
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 4 | W 3 | W 4 | W 4 | W 4 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 7 | SW 15 | W 7 | W 7 | W 10 | W 7 | SW 16 | W 10 | W 10 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 49 | 35 | 33 | 80 | 55 | 106 | 181 | 56 | 90 | 102 | 124 | 72 | 72 | 18 | 19 | 11 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 1:49PM1.59m | 00:21AM1.79m | 2:23PM1.67m | 1:12AM1.61m | 3:00PM1.76m | 2:25AM1.42m | 3:43PM1.87m | 4:11AM1.28m | 4:31PM2.00m | 6:08AM1.27m | 5:24PM2.14m | 7:37AM1.33m | 6:18PM2.29m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:41PM1.19m | 7:27AM0.54m | 7:52PM1.16m | 7:58AM0.66m | 9:19PM1.06m | 8:34AM0.80m | 10:49PM0.89m | 9:19AM0.93m | 00:04AM0.66m | 10:19AM1.04m | 1:06AM0.41m | 11:29AM1.11m | 1:59AM0.18m | ||||||||
5:47 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | |
— | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 19 |
Feels °C | 19 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 16 | W 6 | W 7 | SSW 18 | W 7 | W 7 | SSW 16 | W 7 | W 7 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 |
120 | 120 | 118 | 207 | 121 | 29 | 35 | 169 | 80 | 55 | 280 | 181 | 56 | 339 | 102 | 38 | 223 | 284 | 209 | 191 | 188 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 19 | SW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 20 | SSW 16 | SSW 18 | SW 15 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | S 11 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | W 10 | W 10 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 |
74 | 96 | 72 | 68 | 68 | 197 | 173 | 154 | 223 | 408 | 106 | 276 | 334 | 2 | 306 | 124 | 72 | 72 | 18 | 19 | 11 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 4 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 24 | SSW 14 | SW 21 | SSW 12 | SSW 20 | S 7 | S 11 | SW 14 | SSW 19 | SSW 13 | S 10 | SSW 18 | S 9 | S 9 | WNW 10 | S 21 | SSE 9 |
3 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 54 | 71 | 117 | 28 | 253 | 1 | 10 | 103 | 123 | 34 | 2 | 174 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 9 | 8 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 3 | W 4 | W 4 | W 4 | W 6 | — | W 6 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 2 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 49 | — | 33 | — | — | 50 | — | — | 90 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 9 | 78 | 31 | 658 | 117 | 2 | 2 | 117 | 2 | 2 | 67 | 0 | 2 | 54 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
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.










