Indicator Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.78° N 118.43° W

Indicator Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 am 14 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Indicator sea temperature is
21.1° C
3.1° 

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


Indicator surf forecast from 14 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 18 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 18s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 18s period, SW swell with 252 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 15 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 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 (Jul 15) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 5s. 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 18s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 2PM. 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 16s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 11AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Wed 15th Jul)1.5ft (0.4m) 18s
Best Surf 2PM (Sat 18th Jul)2ft (0.6m) 18s
Most Powerful 2PM (Sat 18th Jul)2ft (0.6m) 18s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, let me break this down. This spot is a reef and point set-up, and you're looking at a 16-day window that's going to test your patience. The water is sitting at a warm 70°, which is about 6° warmer than normal for this time of year. That's a real anomaly, and it's going to feel like a warm bath.

The first few days are a tough go. Tuesday the 14th kicks off with tiny 1ft swells from the SW, a long 19-second period, but the wind is a messy cross-onshore, and the energy is weak (59). It's basically a flat, choppy mess. Wednesday morning the 15th looks a little cleaner with a 1ft SW swell and light cross-offshore winds, but it's still very small and weak (132 energy). Thursday morning the 16th is the first real peek of hope with a clean offshore wind from the SE blowing across 1ft of SW swell. The energy is picking up to a moderate 139, and the waves will be clean, but it's still tiny. You'd be on a longboard and working for it.

Friday the 17th through Sunday the 20th is a mixed bag. Friday morning has clean offshore winds but the energy drops back to weak (74). Saturday the 18th morning is the best of the early run. The swell bumps up to 2ft from the SW with a long 18-second period, and the energy is solidly moderate at 227. The wind is a clean offshore from the SSE. This is the first real standout. It's not huge, but the conditions will be clean and the reef will be working. The crowds are listed as "sometimes" here, so you might not have it all to yourself, but it'll be worth the paddle.

From Sunday the 19th afternoon through the rest of the week, the forecast gets sloppy. The wind swings onshore and the swell drops off. The 20th and 21st see tiny, weak waves (energy down to 10 or 16) and then a long gap of nearly no swell. The energy values are mostly single-digit and two-digit numbers for days. This is a dry spell.

After that gap, the next potential is on Tuesday the 28th of July afternoon. The swell jumps to 3ft from the SW with a 16-second period, and the energy is a very strong 382. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the SSW. This is the other standout. It's the biggest and most powerful pulse in the whole forecast. That 3ft with that long period and the reef set-up will produce some nice, lined-up waves. This is a late-breaking, promising event, but it's a long way out, so keep an eye on it.

The rest of the 29th and beyond is back to tiny, poor conditions.

So, if you're set on this spot, the best bet is Saturday morning the 18th for a clean, fun size wave, and keep an eye on that Tuesday afternoon the 28th for the biggest pulse of the period. The middle of the window is a write-off.

- Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Wed afternoon, min 18°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sat morning, min 20°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
1
1
0
1
1
1
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
SW
19
0.3
SW
18
0.4
SW
18
0.4
SW
18
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
15
0.4
SW
14
0.4
SW
14
0.4
SW
15
0.6
SW
18
0.6
SW
18
0.3
SW
13
0.6
SW
17
0.6
SW
17
0.6
SW
16
0.2
W
14
0.6
SW
16
0.5
W
4
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
58
49
109
108
95
90
89
88
55
54
74
76
192
201
27
232
238
211
16
203
10
Wind (km/h)
10
WSW
25
W
10
SSE
5
S
20
W
20
SE
15
SE
15
SSE
20
ESE
20
SE
15
SSE
15
ESE
15
SSE
10
SW
5
SSE
10
WSW
20
W
10
WSW
10
SW
20
W
10
SW
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
off
off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
off
cross
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross
High Tide
10:55AM1.64m
9:47PM2.56m
11:36AM1.70m
10:36PM2.45m
12:18PM1.75m
11:25PM2.25m
1:00PM1.80m
00:15AM2.00m
1:42PM1.84m
1:09AM1.73m
2:26PM1.87m
2:15AM1.47m
3:13PM1.88m
3:50AM1.29m
Low Tide
3:31PM1.00m
5:04AM-0.12m
4:25PM0.97m
5:45AM-0.01m
5:22PM0.95m
6:25AM0.16m
6:22PM0.96m
7:02AM0.36m
7:30PM0.96m
7:38AM0.58m
8:48PM0.94m
8:14AM0.79m
10:19PM0.87m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:52
5:52
5:54
5:54
5:54
5:56
5:56
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:05
8:05
8:04
8:04
8:02
8:02
8:01
 mm
Temp °C
19
21
22
22
23
22
22
21
20
20
20
20
21
21
20
21
21
20
20
21
20
Feels °C
19
19
20
23
23
22
22
20
20
18
19
20
20
22
20
21
20
18
21
20
19
  • 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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