Surf Forecasts:
Indicator surf forecast from 7 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 12 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 18s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 16s period, SW swell with 196 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 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 Wednesday (Aug 12) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 18s 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 0.6m 16s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 16s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 08) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicator over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty again, with the same rundown in feet and miles per hour.
Right, folks, let's size this one up. This reef and point spot is in for a pretty flat spell.
Honestly, the next week and a half is a struggle. We've got days of tiny, weak swell and messy wind that won't give us much. The swell is tiny, mostly under 2 feet, and the periods are all over the shop. You'll spot a few clean mornings, but the wave energy is pitiful. From Thursday the 6th through until about Tuesday the 12th of August, it's a real grind – poor surf conditions are all we're seeing.
There is a small glimmer for Wednesday morning, the 12th of August. Conditions are described as 'surfable waves but very ordinary', with a light, clean cross-off wind from the SSW and the swell coming from the SW at 2 feet. The combined wave energy is weak, but it's the best we've got. It's not going to be the day you call in sick for, but you could probably scratch out a few grovelers if you're desperate.
After that, we slide back into the doldrums. From Thursday the 13th right through to the end of the third week of August, it's more of the same – tiny swell, onshore winds, and very poor conditions. Honestly, this stretch looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, because the wind is up and the waves are all chop and windslop.
The one standout, and I mean the only one worth circling on the calendar, is Friday the 21st of August. We get a proper offshore wind from the SE – that's about 9 mph of clean, offshore breeze. The swell height is still small at just over 2 feet from the west, with a short period, but that offshore wind will groom it. The combined energy is still weak, but with that wind and clean conditions, it'll be the best wave of the whole run. Crowds are possible here, just so you know. It's still not going to be pumping, but if you need a paddle and the surf is clean, that's your session. That's two weeks away, so keep an eye on it – forecasts can change, but for now, it's the only real hope on the board.
Stay patient and keep the log waxed for that 21st.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat afternoon, min 19°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sun afternoon, min 21°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | W 12 | WSW 4 | WNW 4 | W 3 | W 4 | SW 11 | W 4 | SW 11 | W 4 | W 5 | W 5 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 61 | 60 | 53 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 19 | 3 | 30 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 52 | 154 | 152 | 143 | 127 | 125 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 3:46PM2.02m | 6:58AM1.26m | 5:00PM2.12m | 8:01AM1.37m | 6:08PM2.25m | 8:40AM1.49m | 7:09PM2.37m | 9:15AM1.59m | 8:03PM2.46m | 9:49AM1.69m | 8:52PM2.49m | 10:23AM1.78m | 9:39PM2.43m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:56PM0.54m | 9:38AM1.20m | 1:01AM0.33m | 11:25AM1.23m | 1:53AM0.15m | 12:45PM1.17m | 2:38AM0.01m | 1:46PM1.06m | 3:19AM-0.06m | 2:40PM0.94m | 3:58AM-0.05m | 3:30PM0.84m | 4:34AM0.03m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — |
 | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:43 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 |
Feels °C | 19 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 19 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 61 | 60 | 146 | 65 | 174 | 172 | 147 | 223 | 172 | 121 | 120 | 105 | 101 | 68 | 55 | 154 | 152 | 143 | 127 | 125 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 20 | WSW 4 | SW 12 | SSW 19 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | W 4 | W 4 | SSW 11 | SW 11 | W 4 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 11 |
| kJ | 39 | 6 | 53 | 143 | 37 | 36 | 36 | 9 | 4 | 24 | 30 | 1 | 97 | 96 | 33 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 11 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | SW 18 | W 4 | W 12 | S 13 | W 4 | S 9 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SSW 21 | SSW 21 | SSW 20 | SSW 16 | W 5 | SW 18 | SW 15 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 12 |
| kJ | 3 | 81 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 37 | 19 | 45 | 44 | 38 | 25 | 2 | 52 | 54 | 28 | 27 | 14 | 11 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 3 | — | — | W 2 | WSW 4 | WNW 4 | W 3 | — | — | W 4 | — | — | W 5 | — | — | W 5 | — | — | W 2 | — |
| kJ | 2 | — | — | 1 | 2 | 6 | 5 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 5 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 166 | 62 | 1 | 166 | 148 | 19 | 166 | 117 | 1 | 2 | 117 | 1 | 2 | 166 | 12 | 2 | 78 | 20 | 0 | 62 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Los Angeles County | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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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