Surf Forecasts:
Indicator surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period, W swell with 107 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m 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 1.1m 7s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) 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 16s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 16) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicator over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim for a proper paddle. We’re at a reef and point setup that needs a solid NW groundswell to wake up, but what we’re getting is a whole lot of nothing for days on end.
Right now, from Sunday the 16th all the way through to Saturday the 22nd of August, it’s basically a write-off. We’re talking tiny, weak swell – barely 1 ft to 3 ft – with lousy cross-onshore winds. The combined energy is weak, like 10 to 68, and the period is all over the place, mostly short and weak. Even the cleaner mornings with a bit of offshore breeze can’t save it. The water temp is about average for this time of year, but that’s the only thing that’s normal.
The whole first week is a no-go. There’s a solid 7-day stretch with nothing worth recommending.
Then we get a tiny flicker of hope. On Sunday morning the 23rd, there’s a slight change. We get a clean, light offshore wind from the S, and the swell bumps up a bit. The combined energy climbs to 163, still weak-ish but the period stretches out to a very long 19 seconds. That's a proper groundswell, but the height is only 1 ft. It's surfable, but you’ll be scratching for anything rideable. It’s very ordinary.
Monday the 24th morning is actually glassy – dead calm. A wisp of swell from the SW, same 1 ft but with a long 18-second period. The energy is 146. Again, it’s clean but tiny. You might get a few long, slow rolls at a point break if you’re patient and on a log.
Tuesday the 25th morning keeps the theme going: light offshore, 2 ft of SW swell with a 16-second period (187 energy). Clean but insubstantial. The wind stays clean through the mornings, but by the afternoons it’s always chopping out with a strong cross-shore.
Through Wednesday and Thursday the 27th, the pattern holds. Mornings are the only window, with gentle offshore winds and a tiny, long-period groundswell. Thursday the 27th morning has a 1 ft SW swell at 14 seconds and a nice clean 9 mph offshore from the SSE. That energy is 109 – weak, but it’s the cleanest wave you’ll find all week.
After that, we’re back to the doldrums. Friday the 28th through to Monday the 31st is more of the same: tiny 1 ft to 3 ft windswell from the W, short periods of 4 to 6 seconds, and mostly lousy onshore winds.
Honestly, if you look at the whole 16-day window, there’s no standout. The only time you could even call it “surfable” is on the mornings of the 23rd, 24th, 25th, and 27th of August. And even then, you’re looking at 1 ft to 2 ft with very long periods. That kind of long-period, tiny swell can be super fun on a point break if the lineup works, but the energy is just too weak to hold much hope. It’s a waiting game.
Stay patient, keep the longboard handy, and hope the next system delivers something with a bit more height.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Tue afternoon, min 19°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Wed afternoon, min 21°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | ||||||||||||||
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 | W 5 | W 4 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 7 | W 8 | W 8 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 19 | W 6 | W 12 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
16 | 8 | 15 | 39 | 76 | 47 | 107 | 72 | 50 | 18 | 26 | 15 | 17 | 56 | 17 | 11 | 50 | 49 | 47 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:55PM1.84m | 12:36PM1.95m | 00:45AM1.59m | 1:12PM1.93m | 1:49AM1.36m | 1:53PM1.88m | 3:42AM1.21m | 2:45PM1.83m | 3:57PM1.81m | 8:34AM1.36m | 5:14PM1.84m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:08AM0.57m | 6:58PM0.76m | 6:35AM0.78m | 8:04PM0.79m | 6:57AM0.97m | 9:30PM0.80m | 7:13AM1.13m | 11:10PM0.74m | 00:27AM0.64m | 10:14AM1.35m | 1:18AM0.53m | ||||||||
— | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | |
— | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — | — | 7:34 | — | — | 7:32 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 |
Feels °C | 18 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | W 6 | SSW 14 | W 7 | W 8 | W 8 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | W 6 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | W 6 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 |
318 | 310 | 217 | 214 | 48 | 186 | 107 | 72 | 50 | 142 | 209 | 217 | 125 | 26 | 120 | 115 | 16 | 68 | 68 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | W 6 | W 6 | W 8 | W 6 | SSW 14 | W 6 | W 5 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | W 6 |
16 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 186 | 32 | 136 | 146 | 107 | 18 | 26 | 5 | 17 | 118 | 17 | 9 | 69 | 49 | 9 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | S 10 | W 10 | S 10 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WNW 8 | SW 20 | W 14 | SW 18 | SW 19 | SW 19 | W 12 | SW 18 | W 10 | SW 17 |
9 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 42 | 44 | 13 | 16 | 4 | 13 | 56 | 14 | 11 | 50 | 8 | 47 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 5 | W 4 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — |
— | 8 | 15 | 39 | 76 | 47 | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 19 | 62 | 148 | 12 | 62 | 62 | 0 | 1 | 117 | 2 | 2 | 117 | 2 | 2 | 54 | 1 | 1 | 41 | 2 |
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.











