Surf Forecasts:
Indicator surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 30 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 7s period, W swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 5 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, W swell with 205 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 30 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 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 Sunday (Aug 30) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 7s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Indicator in the next 16 days are 1.4m 7s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 05) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 16s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicator over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you—this stretch of coast is looking pretty flat and pretty ordinary for a good while. We’ve got a long, boring gap ahead before anything worth paddling out for shows up.
The next week is basically a write-off. From Saturday the 29th right through to Wednesday the 9th of September, the swell is tiny, the wind is mostly cross-onshore or just messy, and there’s no energy to speak of. The odd morning might look clean, but the waves are small and weak, not enough to get excited about. That long stretch of nothing will test your patience. We’re talking a solid ten days of barely rideable slop.
Now, the first real sign of life shows up on Thursday the 10th of September. The wind swings offshore—light, clean, and glassy—and we finally get some proper swell direction out of the southwest. It’s not big, around 2ft, but the period stretches out to 16-17 seconds, which is a proper groundswell. The combined energy jumps to 313-317 (moderate), which tells you there’s finally some push behind it. This is the standout of the whole window, and it’s not even close. The conditions look clean all day, and a reef and point set-up like Indicator (North Shore) is going to handle that long-period energy well. The swell direction from the SW is right in the pocket of the optimum direction too. This is your window if you’ve been jonesing for a surf. Crowds are possible here, so get out early.
Friday the 11th and Saturday the 12th are still surfable, with the swell still holding around 2-2ft from the SW, but the energy drops off and it’s a bit more ordinary. Still clean in the mornings, but the magic is gone. After that, it fades away again into the following week, with smaller waves and more cross-onshore junk. There are some longer-period pulses showing up around the 13th, but the wind turns against us, so it’s not worth chasing.
Water temp is sitting around 74°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year—by over 7 degrees. That’s a standout, so at least you’ll be warm while you’re staring at the flatness.
So, the call: wait it out. The 10th and 11th of September are the only real options on offer, and even then, it’s small but clean. One good day, maybe two. If you can’t wait, you’ll be fighting chop and whitewater for nothing. Keep the board waxed for Thursday the 10th.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sat afternoon, min 20°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Tue afternoon, min 21°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | ||||||||||||||
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 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | W 5 | W 5 | SW 18 | W 5 | SW 16 | W 5 | W 6 | SW 15 | SW 15 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 7 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
37 | 142 | 93 | 58 | 88 | 32 | 22 | 28 | 13 | 49 | 16 | 95 | 30 | 88 | 112 | 104 | 75 | 25 | 29 | 205 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 6:18AM1.25m | 3:21PM2.00m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 7:10AM1.25m | 11:45PM0.44m | |||||||
— | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | |
7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — | — | 7:19 | — | — | 7:17 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 |
Feels °C | 26 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 23 | 21 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | W 7 | W 7 | SSW 14 | W 7 | W 6 | SSW 14 | W 5 | W 5 | S 11 | S 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 12 | W 6 | SW 13 | SSW 16 | W 7 |
402 | 142 | 93 | 239 | 88 | 32 | 127 | 28 | 13 | 57 | 115 | 160 | 145 | 55 | 36 | 123 | 75 | 172 | 343 | 205 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | W 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | W 5 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 11 | SSW 16 |
15 | 392 | 279 | 15 | 180 | 134 | 75 | 101 | 68 | 69 | 80 | 21 | 103 | 223 | 111 | 128 | 280 | 252 | 85 | 322 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 8 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | S 13 | SW 19 | S 11 | S 11 | SW 18 | SW 9 | SW 16 | — | S 11 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 11 | W 6 | S 13 | SW 11 |
5 | 5 | 17 | 15 | 27 | 89 | 14 | 63 | 61 | 49 | 3 | 95 | — | 59 | 112 | 104 | 87 | 25 | 13 | 55 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | — | — | W 7 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 4 | W 5 | — | W 5 | W 6 | — | W 6 | — | — | W 6 | — |
37 | — | — | 58 | — | — | 22 | — | — | 12 | 16 | — | 30 | 88 | — | 31 | — | — | 29 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 41 | 9 | 2 | 54 | 2 | 2 | 62 | 14 | 2 | 117 | 31 | 54 | 166 | 15 | 62 | 166 | 1 | 1 | 62 | 12 |
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.











