Surf Forecasts:
Indicator surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 18s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 17s period, SW swell with 173 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m 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 17s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 2AM. 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 18s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicator over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Righto, let’s have a look at what’s on offer over the next couple of weeks.
We’re looking at a reef and point setup here, and honestly, I’ve got to be straight with you – the 16-day window is pretty bleak. The swell is tiny, and the energy is weak. There are no real standouts, not a single day where you’d be stoked to paddle out. Let’s just run through what we’ve got.
The water temperature at this spot is sitting at 71°F, which is a full 5°F warmer than usual for this time of year. That’s a lot warmer than normal, so you’ll be in for a surprisingly warm dip.
The first hints of anything surfable come on Sunday the 23rd of August, but it’s barely a ripple. Swell is a measly 1 ft from the SW, with a very long period of 18 seconds, and combined energy is only 124 – weak. Winds are a cross-on 12 mph from the W, so it’s choppy and messy. Not worth getting wet.
Monday the 24th has a morning window with glassy conditions and a light 3 mph SSW wind, but the wave height is still 1 ft. The energy is 125, and the comment says “surfable but very ordinary.” That’s the best we see for a few days, but it’s honestly not good.
Tuesday the 25th morning has glassy conditions again, with a 2 ft SW swell, 16-second period, and energy at 184. Still, the waves are just too weak and small to get excited about.
From Wednesday the 26th through to the end of the first week, we see the swell nudging up to 3 ft on the 30th and 31st, with SE offshore winds on the mornings. That’s the cleanest we’ll see for a while, but the period drops to 7 seconds, so it’s short, weak, and very ordinary. The energy is still only 71–106, which is weak. Not a single day breaks the “poor” or “very ordinary” barrier.
The second week, from 1st September onward, is even worse. The swell drops to 2 ft, period falls to 6 seconds, and the energy is in the teens and twenties. There’s a glassy morning on the 5th of September, but the swell is only 2 ft with 6-second period and energy of 20. It’s not going to give you anything.
Honestly, with such tiny, weak swell and short periods, this setup is more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The reef and point break might normally offer some shape, but there’s no power to work with. Crowds are possible at times, but with conditions this poor, you’ll probably have the water to yourself.
If you’re desperate, the morning of Monday the 24th of August or Tuesday the 25th of August are your best bets – glassy, tiny, and very ordinary. Beyond that, it’s a long wait for any real change.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Tue afternoon, min 22°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Fri afternoon, min 23°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | W 12 | SW 14 | W 10 | W 10 | W 5 | W 7 | W 10 | W 7 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
111 | 112 | 111 | 98 | 173 | 169 | 127 | 124 | 124 | 121 | 104 | 74 | 73 | 91 | 52 | 49 | 14 | 21 | 64 | 91 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | off | off | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 7:02PM2.01m | 9:08AM1.54m | 7:41PM2.10m | 9:26AM1.60m | 8:17PM2.17m | 9:45AM1.66m | 8:52PM2.19m | 10:05AM1.73m | 9:26PM2.16m | 10:26AM1.81m | 10:01PM2.08m | 10:49AM1.89m | 10:39PM1.95m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:27AM0.34m | 1:37PM1.16m | 2:55AM0.27m | 2:12PM1.06m | 3:21AM0.24m | 2:47PM0.96m | 3:45AM0.25m | 3:23PM0.87m | 4:09AM0.30m | 4:00PM0.78m | 4:33AM0.39m | 4:40PM0.71m | 4:56AM0.51m | |||||||
— | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | |
7:30 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 26 |
Feels °C | 25 | 23 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 27 | 25 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | W 5 | S 14 | SW 17 | SW 17 | W 6 | SW 16 | W 6 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 17 | S 9 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | W 7 |
57 | 13 | 106 | 98 | 173 | 15 | 127 | 33 | 212 | 180 | 130 | 112 | 110 | 78 | 186 | 41 | 480 | 373 | 407 | 91 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | S 14 | W 5 | SSW 12 | W 5 | SW 16 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | W 6 | SW 16 | SW 15 | W 6 | W 12 | SW 14 | W 10 | SSW 19 | W 5 | W 7 | S 9 | SSW 16 |
111 | 103 | 14 | 29 | 12 | 169 | 57 | 124 | 25 | 121 | 104 | 11 | 69 | 91 | 52 | 125 | 14 | 21 | 14 | 392 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | SW 18 | SW 18 | S 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSE 13 | S 11 | SW 16 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 14 | SW 14 | W 11 | S 10 | SW 16 | S 10 | S 10 | — | S 8 |
20 | 112 | 111 | 37 | 57 | 57 | 55 | 65 | 124 | 10 | 11 | 74 | 73 | 37 | 44 | 65 | 30 | 30 | — | 12 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | — | — | W 5 | — | — | W 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | — | — | W 10 | — |
13 | — | — | 8 | — | — | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 49 | — | — | 64 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 41 | 0 | 0 | 117 | 0 | 0 | 67 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 0 | 2 | 62 | 0 | 2 | 41 | 1 | 45 | 54 | 1 |
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.











