Surf Forecasts:
Indicator surf forecast from 29 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 30 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 8s period, W swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 8s period, W swell with 430 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 30 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 8s 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 Sunday (Aug 30) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 1.5m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Indicator in the next 16 days are 1.9m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) 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 1.3m 16s period and expected on Friday (Sep 04) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicator over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer.
To be straight with you, the next week and a half is pretty grim. There’s a long stretch of tiny, weak swell and mostly onshore or cross-shore wind that’s going to leave the ocean looking like a washing machine. After a blank run of poor surf, we finally see a pulse of energy around the 10th of September, with some proper south-west groundswell starting to show.
The best window in the whole 16-day forecast lands on Friday the 11th of September. The swell is still on the small side at 2 ft, but it’s coming from the south-west with a long period of 15 seconds to 16 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell, and it’s got some moderate energy behind it (200). The wind turns light off-shore on Friday morning, and then goes glassy by Friday afternoon. That’s clean, lined-up surf. For a reef and point break that’s fairly consistent and likes a north-west swell direction, this south-west direction is a bit off, but with such a long period, those waves will bend around the points. Expect clean, rideable waves, and the crowd might be a factor given how rare this window is. Water temp is 74°, which is much warmer than normal for late August – a full 8° above average, so shorts and a spring suit will be plenty.
The days before that, Thursday the 10th, sees the swell start to build. By Thursday afternoon, the combined energy climbs to 259 (moderate), with a 2 ft swell from the south-west at 18 seconds. The wind is cross-shore, so it’s not as clean as Friday, but there’s still some punch in the water. Early on the 10th, the energy is 154, still moderate, but with lighter cross-shore wind.
The rest of the period? Honestly, it’s a whole lot of nothing. Tiny waves, short periods, and onshore chop. From the 28th of August right through to the 9th of September, the waves are mostly under 3 ft, with periods under 8 seconds, and the wind is either cross-on or onshore. The water stays warm, but the surf is just not happening. The 9th of September has a little spike of energy (129) in the morning, but it’s onshore and messy.
So, if you’re hanging for a surf, wait for the 11th of September. That’s your standout. The rest? Save your energy.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Fri afternoon, min 21°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Wed afternoon, min 20°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | ||||||||||||||
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 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 7 | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 6 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | SW 18 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | SW 17 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 19 | 33 | 51 | 55 | 430 | 91 | 58 | 88 | 33 | 21 | 19 | 13 | 49 | 16 | 7 | 16 | 138 | 14 | 13 | 20 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:01PM2.08m | 10:49AM1.89m | 10:39PM1.95m | 11:14AM1.95m | 11:20PM1.78m | 11:42AM2.00m | 00:07AM1.58m | 12:16PM2.03m | 1:10AM1.38m | 12:59PM2.03m | 2:56AM1.23m | 1:58PM2.00m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:00PM0.78m | 4:33AM0.39m | 4:40PM0.71m | 4:56AM0.51m | 5:23PM0.67m | 5:19AM0.65m | 6:13PM0.65m | 5:43AM0.81m | 7:15PM0.65m | 6:07AM0.96m | 8:36PM0.64m | 6:33AM1.11m | 10:17PM0.58m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — |
 | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — | — | 7:19 | — | — | 7:17 | — | — | 7:16 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 |
Feels °C | 26 | 27 | 28 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 23 | 21 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | W 8 | W 7 | SSW 15 | W 7 | W 6 | SSW 14 | W 5 | SSW 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 65 | 475 | 373 | 402 | 248 | 91 | 242 | 88 | 33 | 110 | 19 | 68 | 66 | 141 | 229 | 303 | 273 | 189 | 515 | 321 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 19 | W 6 | W 6 | W 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | W 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 12 | SSW 13 | W 5 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SSE 8 | SW 17 | SW 15 | W 5 | SSW 18 |
| kJ | 125 | 33 | 51 | 15 | 392 | 279 | 15 | 180 | 134 | 75 | 68 | 13 | 45 | 79 | 70 | 13 | 138 | 229 | 13 | 216 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | S 13 | SW 19 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SW 18 | SW 9 | W 11 | W 10 | SSE 9 | W 5 | S 8 | S 13 |
| kJ | 25 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 17 | 15 | 27 | 86 | 14 | 40 | 36 | 49 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 14 | 1 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | — | — | W 7 | W 8 | — | W 7 | — | — | W 5 | — | — | W 3 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | — | — | W 5 |
| kJ | 19 | — | — | 55 | 430 | — | 58 | — | — | 21 | — | — | 8 | 16 | 7 | 16 | 15 | — | — | 20 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 54 | 2 | 3 | 62 | 0 | 2 | 62 | 1 | 2 | 72 | 4 | 166 | 117 | 15 | 30 | 117 | 23 | 62 | 6 | 5 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Los Angeles County | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Indicator surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
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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