Indicator Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.78° N 118.43° W

Indicator Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 am 18 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Indicator sea temperature is
21.6° C
3.3° 

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


Indicator surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 23 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 21s period, SW swell with 368 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 18 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 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 Saturday (Jul 18) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 6s. 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 21s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) 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 0.9m 15s period and expected on Monday (Jul 20) at 8AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11AM (Sat 18th Jul)2ft (0.6m) 18s
Best Surf 2AM (Thu 23rd Jul)4.5ft (1.4m) 6s
Most Powerful 2AM (Sat 25th Jul)2ft (0.6m) 21s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for this stretch of coast.

Straight up, I gotta be honest with you – this 16-day window is a real tough one. We’re looking at a long, dry spell with hardly anything worth paddling out for. The first real chance of a wave comes on Saturday the 19th of July, but even then, it’s pretty ordinary. The standout, if you can call it that, is going to be the reef and point setup on the Saturday morning. We’re looking at a small 2ft swell from the SW, but here’s the kicker – it’s got a long period of 18 seconds. That’s proper groundswell energy, and it’s showing a combined energy of 197 (moderate) which is decent for such a small wave. The water is way warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 71°, which is a hefty 6° above average. That’s pretty unusual. The wind is a light S breeze, making it cross-off, so the surface will be clean. This spot is fairly consistent and takes a NW swell best, but with this long-period SW groundswell wrapping in, it should line up nicely on the reef and point. For a Saturday morning session, it’s about the best you’ll get. The crowds are possible here, so you might have a few others in the water, but for the size, it’ll be manageable.

The rest of the weekend and the following week are grim. Sunday the 19th looks similar in the morning, but that afternoon turns cross-on and choppy. From Monday the 20th through to the end of the month, the swell drops right off and the wind becomes a problem. We’re talking about a run of more than 10 days where the surf is basically flat or junk. There’s a tiny pulse on the 23rd of July Thursday afternoon with a 1ft swell from the SW, but it’s got a 26-second period – that’s a very long period groundswell, but it’s small and the wind is a moderate cross-onshore, so it’ll be a messy, weak wave. Not worth the drive.

Moving into the second week, there’s a glimmer on the 29th of July Wednesday morning. The wind finally swings offshore from the SE, with a moderate breeze of 12 mph, so it’ll be clean. The swell is still only 2ft from the W, with a period of 7 seconds – that’s short period, weak windswell, and the combined energy is only 62 (weak). It’s surfable, but it’s a long call for a small, weak wave. The 2nd of August Sunday morning also shows a clean offshore wind from the SE, with a 2ft W swell, but again, it’s a short period swell and the energy is low. These are promising but not certain this far out.

Honestly, for this whole stretch, the only real standout is that Saturday the 19th morning session. Get on it early, because after that, it’s a long wait for anything decent.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

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

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Tue afternoon, min 20°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
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
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SW
18
0.6
SW
18
0.4
W
5
0.6
SW
17
0.6
SW
17
0.6
SW
16
0.4
W
5
0.4
W
5
0.5
W
5
0.5
W
5
0.7
W
4
1.1
W
6
0.8
W
6
0.8
W
5
1.4
WNW
6
0.8
W
6
0.3
SW
26
1.1
W
6
0.8
W
6
0.3
SW
16
0.6
SW
21
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
192
201
8
235
238
211
7
7
11
13
15
88
41
35
165
40
105
89
44
41
368
Wind (km/h)
10
S
15
WSW
10
S
15
S
15
WSW
5
SSW
10
SSW
20
W
10
SSW
10
S
20
WSW
5
SW
5
S
25
W
5
SW
10
SW
25
W
10
SSE
10
SW
15
WSW
10
S
Wind State
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross-on
glassy
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
1:42PM1.84m
1:09AM1.73m
2:26PM1.87m
2:15AM1.47m
3:13PM1.88m
3:50AM1.29m
4:03PM1.89m
6:02AM1.24m
4:56PM1.91m
7:48AM1.30m
5:49PM1.95m
8:41AM1.38m
6:37PM2.01m
Low Tide
7:30PM0.96m
7:38AM0.58m
8:48PM0.94m
8:14AM0.79m
10:19PM0.87m
8:52AM0.98m
11:46PM0.76m
9:41AM1.13m
00:52AM0.62m
10:52AM1.23m
1:41AM0.50m
12:05PM1.26m
2:20AM0.39m
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:54
5:56
5:56
5:56
5:58
5:58
5:58
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:02
8:02
8:01
8:01
8:00
8:00
8:00
 mm
Temp °C
20
21
20
21
21
21
21
23
22
22
24
22
23
23
23
23
23
23
21
21
20
Feels °C
21
21
20
21
21
21
22
21
20
22
22
20
24
22
21
24
22
21
22
21
20
  • 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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