
Surf Forecasts:
Indicator surf forecast from 3 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 4 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 5 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 14s period, SW swell with 102 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 4 Aug, 5AM (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 Tuesday (Aug 04) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m 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 0.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 16s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 08) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Tue 4th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Tue 4th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Wed 5th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicator over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab your wettie and listen up. It’s Rusty here, and I’ve been staring at the charts for the Indicator region, and honestly, it’s a bit of a flat spell we’re wading through.
The next week and a half are looking pretty bleak for any real surf. We’ve got swell showing up, but it’s tiny—we’re talking 1ft to 1.5ft on most days. The energy is weak too, with values mostly in the 50s to 80s range on the combined scale. It’s the kind of surf that’s more for bobbing around than actually catching anything. There’s a glassy moment on Tuesday the 4th and Thursday the 6th mornings with light offshore winds, which will make the ocean look pretty, but with that little swell, you’ll be doing more floating than riding. Water temp is a blistering 72.1°, which is a wild 6.7° warmer than normal for this time of year on the first mention, so a spring suit will cook you.
We do get a bit of a pulse mid-week on Tuesday the 11th, with the swell jumping to 1.5ft and the energy climbing to 171, which is moderate. It's still not going to be epic, but it’s at least something to look at. The following day, Wednesday the 12th, we see similar numbers in the afternoon—1.5ft and energy at 165—but a moderate cross-onshore wind will mess up the surface.
After that, it fades back out again. We’re looking at a few days with tiny, short-period windswell from the 15th on, with the swell direction swinging to the west. The period drops under 8 seconds, which is a bad sign. It’s all just a lot of closeout mush. That west swell does build a little by Monday the 17th to about 3ft, but the period is still short at 7 seconds, so it won't have any punch.
Here’s the thing though: this whole stretch, the break is listed as “fairly consistent” and the overall rating is poor. But with these conditions, I wouldn't even paddle out. Honestly, with the swell being this weak and the wind starting to howl out of the west by the 16th (hitting 19 mph), the setup looks a whole lot more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. You’d be fighting a losing battle on a shortboard.
So, bottom line: don’t get your hopes up for the next couple of weeks. The first truly “surfable” but ordinary day is Friday the 14th, with a 1.5ft swell and clean morning conditions, but that’s about as good as it gets, and it’s not saying much. Sometimes you get a run like this, it’s just a normal part of the rhythm for the area. Hang loose, check the charts again in a few days, because forecasts can and will change.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Tue afternoon, min 19°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Thu afternoon, min 20°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | |||||||||||||||
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 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | W 4 | W 4 | SSW 16 | SW 11 | W 4 | W 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
42 | 41 | 41 | 60 | 56 | 102 | 71 | 70 | 69 | 62 | 61 | 61 | 84 | 59 | 52 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 26 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross | off | off | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross | off |
High Tide | 1:11PM1.84m | 1:01AM1.50m | 1:50PM1.90m | 2:20AM1.30m | 2:41PM1.96m | 4:37AM1.19m | 3:46PM2.02m | 6:58AM1.26m | 5:00PM2.12m | 8:01AM1.37m | 6:08PM2.25m | 8:40AM1.49m | 7:09PM2.37m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:30PM0.91m | 6:57AM0.79m | 8:51PM0.85m | 7:27AM0.94m | 10:28PM0.73m | 8:11AM1.09m | 11:56PM0.54m | 9:38AM1.20m | 1:01AM0.33m | 11:25AM1.23m | 1:53AM0.15m | 12:45PM1.17m | 2:38AM0.01m | ||||||||
6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | |
— | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 21 |
Feels °C | 21 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | SW 13 | W 5 | W 5 | SW 12 | W 5 | W 5 | SW 14 | W 5 | W 5 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
15 | 42 | 13 | 14 | 37 | 11 | 7 | 70 | 17 | 8 | 61 | 61 | 146 | 143 | 174 | 172 | 147 | 223 | 125 | 121 | 120 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 11 | SW 14 | SW 13 | W 5 | SW 18 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SSW 11 | W 12 |
43 | 41 | 38 | 37 | 56 | 102 | 71 | 12 | 69 | 62 | 8 | 81 | 84 | 59 | 52 | 36 | 36 | 37 | 19 | 24 | 26 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | S 11 | SW 16 | SW 15 | — | S 10 | S 13 | S 12 | SW 20 | SSW 20 | SSW 20 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | SSW 13 | W 4 | W 4 | SSW 9 | W 5 | W 4 | SSW 11 |
42 | 9 | 41 | 60 | — | 2 | 13 | 3 | 15 | 37 | 39 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 35 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 12 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 6 | — | — | W 5 | — | — | W 5 | W 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 15 | — | — | 13 | — | — | 11 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 166 | 117 | 2 | 2 | 117 | 0 | 166 | 41 | 2 | 2 | 62 | 1 | 2 | 117 | 1 | 1 | 148 | 1 | 2 | 212 | 1 |
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.











