
Surf Forecasts:
Indicator surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 16 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period, W swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 17s period, SW swell with 235 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 14 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 18s 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 (Jul 14) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 18s 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 0.6m 17s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 13s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 18) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Tue 14th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Thu 16th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicator over the next 16 days.
Alright, surf crew, Rusty here. Let's dig into this outlook for the next couple of weeks. It’s a tale of two very different halves, that’s for sure.
We’re looking at a classic reef and point break setup here, and honestly, it’s a real bummer of a start. The swell is tiny and inconsistent for the first ten days. It’s the kind of flat spell that has you checking the forecast more than the ocean.
Forget about it until Wednesday, July 26th. That’s when things start looking interesting. Before then, there are just long gaps of ankle-snappers and no real swell to speak of. The water temp is sitting at 69°, which is *much warmer than normal* for this time of year. That’s a pretty wild anomaly, feels like summer came early even if the waves didn't.
The standout session, and the only real one to circle on your calendar, is Monday morning, July 27th. We’ve got a clean, gentle offshore wind from the SSE to keep the surface glassy. The swell is pushing about 2 feet from the southwest with a period of 18 seconds. That’s proper long-period groundswell, which means it’ll have some real push behind it for a point break like this. The combined wave energy is cooking at 355 (moderate wave energy), and the "expect good surf conditions" tag tells the story. It won't be huge, but it'll be clean, lined up, and far better than anything else we've seen. If you can only paddle out once in this period, that’s your window. Expect some company though – crowds are possible here.
The swell sticks around for the afternoon of the 27th, but the wind swings onshore a bit, so the morning is the clear winner. Before that, there’s a decent enough call for Sunday morning, July 26th, with about a 2-foot SW swell, clean offshore winds from the SE, and strong energy at 274. That’s a solid warm-up session, but the Monday morning is the true highlight.
So hang in there through the flat spell. It’s a rough start, but there is a real window of quality surf coming our way.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Tue afternoon, min 18°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Wed afternoon, min 20°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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 21 | W 3 | SW 21 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | W 8 | W 8 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
2 | 18 | 1 | 18 | 59 | 59 | 58 | 49 | 109 | 108 | 95 | 196 | 89 | 88 | 55 | 54 | 54 | 76 | 192 | 157 | 47 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross | off | off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:28AM1.51m | 8:06PM2.53m | 10:13AM1.58m | 8:57PM2.59m | 10:55AM1.64m | 9:47PM2.56m | 11:36AM1.70m | 10:36PM2.45m | 12:18PM1.75m | 11:25PM2.25m | 1:00PM1.80m | 00:15AM2.00m | 1:42PM1.84m | 1:09AM1.73m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:39PM1.10m | 3:35AM-0.12m | 2:36PM1.05m | 4:20AM-0.16m | 3:31PM1.00m | 5:04AM-0.12m | 4:25PM0.97m | 5:45AM-0.01m | 5:22PM0.95m | 6:25AM0.16m | 6:22PM0.96m | 7:02AM0.36m | 7:30PM0.96m | ||||||||
5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | |
— | 8:06 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:02 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 21 |
Feels °C | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 23 | 21 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | W 6 | W 7 | SW 16 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | S 14 | S 13 |
183 | 178 | 107 | 139 | 101 | 44 | 59 | 89 | 36 | 42 | 95 | 196 | 71 | 57 | 35 | 20 | 12 | 214 | 370 | 411 | 417 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | S 15 | W 3 | W 4 | S 13 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 19 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 |
2 | 38 | 1 | 1 | 32 | 59 | 58 | 49 | 109 | 108 | 29 | 90 | 89 | 88 | 55 | 94 | 54 | 76 | 192 | 157 | 41 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | SW 21 | S 14 | SW 21 | SW 19 | S 12 | SSW 15 | W 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 9 | SSW 12 | W 10 | W 11 | SW 19 | SW 14 | SW 18 | WSW 6 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WNW 16 |
25 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 59 | 27 | 21 | 16 | 65 | 33 | 14 | 28 | 34 | 22 | 91 | 54 | 51 | 7 | 28 | 27 | 47 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 2 | — | — | W 3 | W 3 | W 4 | W 3 | — | — | W 7 | — | SE 2 | — | SE 3 | SE 3 | SSE 3 | — | — | WNW 16 | — |
— | 1 | — | — | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | — | — | 42 | — | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 50 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 62 | 2 | 1 | 62 | 31 | 166 | 117 | 0 | 0 | 62 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 62 | 5 |
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.










