
Surf Forecasts:
Indicator surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 24s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 24s period, SW swell with 273 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 18 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 15s 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 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Indicator in the next 16 days are 0.5m 24s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 15s period and expected on Monday (Jul 20) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sat 18th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 24s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 24s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicator over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let's break this down again but in the old scale. Rusty's back, this time in feet and Fahrenheit.
So we're looking at a long fallow period. Most of the next two weeks is rubbish or flat, so don't get your hopes up until we get much later in the forecast.
The window opens on the morning of Tuesday the 28th of July at Indicator (reef and point). The water temp is about 71°F, which is a hefty 6°F warmer than normal for this time of year – we'll take it. There’s a 3ft swell coming from the SW with a period of 17 seconds. That's a serious, long-period groundswell cranking with an energy reading of 624. The morning wind is a light cross-offshore out of the SW at about 6 mph, so things should be glassy and clean. For a reef and point, this long period is what you want – it’ll wrap in with some real punch. It's a consistent spot but you might have to share the peak as it gets busy sometimes. That's the one session to mark on the calendar.
What about everything else? Nearly two weeks of nothing. Some mornings have light offshore wind but the swell is tiny, like 1ft or less, with weak energy. On the morning of Friday the 24th of July we see a little SE offshore at 9 mph, but it's on a 0.6ft swell with a 6-second period. Not worth suiting up. Even the mornings of the 26th and 27th of July have glassy conditions, but the energy just isn't there.
Right after the Tuesday peak on the 28th, conditions go downhill fast. The afternoon gets messy with cross-onshore winds. The 29th and 30th of July offer some 2ft waves at best with light cross-offshore winds and moderate energy (113-202). It's surfable, but it’s ordinary. Then, from the end of July into the beginning of August, we're back to micro swell, 1ft to 2ft and choppy onshore slop.
Bottom line: you're waiting for that Tuesday the 28th of July morning at Indicator. It's the only day in the next 16 with any real size, decent direction, and clean wind. Everything else is flat or frustrating.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Fri afternoon, min 20°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Tue afternoon, min 20°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the S on Mon night, fresh winds from the W by Wed afternoon). | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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 14 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 13 | SW 17 | SW 17 | W 15 | W 14 | W 4 | SW 13 | W 4 | W 3 | W 4 | W 4 | W 5 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 26 | W 6 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
74 | 76 | 192 | 157 | 27 | 235 | 235 | 17 | 16 | 3 | 87 | 3 | 5 | 18 | 12 | 42 | 48 | 68 | 105 | 62 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 00:15AM2.00m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:22PM0.96m | 7:02AM0.36m | 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 | |||||||
— | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | |
8:04 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 22 |
Feels °C | 22 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSE 11 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 12 | SW 16 | S 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WSW 6 | SSW 13 | W 6 |
11 | 76 | 192 | 157 | 39 | 235 | 235 | 507 | 318 | 251 | 82 | 183 | 199 | 291 | 186 | 183 | 178 | 48 | 102 | 62 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | W 5 | WSW 6 | S 12 | SW 16 | S 11 | S 13 | W 4 | W 5 | S 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | SSE 15 | SW 7 | SSW 14 | S 13 | SSW 13 |
74 | 9 | 10 | 24 | 66 | 57 | 155 | 1 | 4 | 123 | 175 | 220 | 119 | 45 | 24 | 71 | 22 | 123 | 87 | 102 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | W 17 | S 12 | WSW 5 | SW 13 | S 14 | W 15 | W 15 | W 14 | SSW 20 | SW 13 | W 4 | SSE 13 | SW 21 | SSE 14 | SW 7 | S 13 | SSE 12 | SW 26 | SSE 12 |
51 | 22 | 24 | 6 | 27 | 34 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 37 | 87 | 3 | 16 | 18 | 41 | 14 | 87 | 50 | 105 | 47 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 2 | — | — | W 4 | — | — | W 3 | W 4 | W 4 | W 5 | W 6 | W 6 | WSW 6 | — |
1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 5 | 12 | 12 | 42 | 48 | 68 | 48 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 117 | 2 | 0 | 62 | 2 | 166 | 117 | 2 | 2 | 166 | 31 | 67 | 166 | 23 | 62 | 117 | 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.










