Indicator Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.78° N 118.43° W

Indicator Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 pm 28 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Indicator sea temperature is
22.6° C
4.1° 

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


Indicator surf forecast from 29 Jul 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 5 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 14s period, SW swell with 73 kJ wave energy.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Indicator this week:

The most powerful waves expected at Indicator in the next 16 days are 0.4m 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 16s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 5AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful 2AM (Wed 5th Aug)1.5ft (0.4m) 14s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s get into it. The outlook is a bit of a slow burn, but there’s a little something to work with if you’ve got patience.

We’re looking at a long stretch of small, weak swell for the next couple of weeks. The first real chance for a wave doesn’t pop up until Wednesday the 12th of August, so you’re staring down a solid gap of nearly two weeks with nothing worth paddling out for. From the 29th of July right through until the 11th of August, it’s all poor surf conditions – tiny, weak, and mostly onshore or cross-shore. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing wild.

The first faint glimmer of hope comes Wednesday morning, the 12th of August. The swell bumps up a touch to 2 ft from the SW, with a very long period of 18 seconds – that’s a proper groundswell. The combined energy is moderate at 163, and with light cross-offshore winds from the S, it’ll be clean. This is a reef and point break (Indicator), so that long-period energy will wrap in nicely without just walling up. It’s “surfable but very ordinary conditions” – not a stand-out, but it’s the first wave in a long time. Crowds are possible here, so expect a few others with the same idea.

Thursday the 13th of August morning is similar, with 2 ft from the SW, 16-second period, moderate energy at 256, and clean conditions with light cross-off winds. Again, it’s not pumping, but compared to the nothingness before it, it’s a glimmer.

The true standout – if you can call it that – is the Tuesday afternoon of the 11th of August. The swell jumps to 2 ft from the SW, with a very long period of 18 seconds, and the combined energy hits 203 – moderate. But here’s the catch: the wind is cross-onshore at 12 mph from the W, making it choppy. The forecast says “poor surf conditions.” For a reef and point, the long period and cross-onshore wind will make it messy, so this one’s really for the die-hards or the kite surfers looking for wind. Not a paddle-friendly option.

Honestly, the best on offer is the Wednesday morning the 12th of August. Clean, light winds, a bit of groundswell energy. It’s not going to be epic, but it’s the most surfable window in the whole 16 days. The rest is a waiting game.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Fri morning, min 20°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sat afternoon, min 21°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
Sunday
2
Monday
3
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
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)
0.6
W
6
0.6
W
6
0.5
W
6
0.4
W
6
0.4
W
6
0.4
W
6
0.4
W
6
0.5
W
6
0.5
W
7
0.3
SW
15
0.6
W
6
0.5
W
7
0.6
W
6
0.6
W
6
0.5
W
7
0.3
SW
18
0.3
SW
16
0.3
SW
16
0.3
SW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
30
27
18
11
11
10
10
17
21
34
27
21
29
28
26
49
42
41
41
Wind (km/h)
15
SE
15
SSE
10
WSW
5
SSE
10
S
15
W
5
S
10
SSW
20
W
10
S
10
SSW
15
WSW
5
S
10
SSE
10
SW
5
SE
10
S
10
SW
5
SE
Wind State
off
off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
glassy
cross-off
cross
glassy
High Tide
9:11PM2.25m
10:54AM1.58m
9:44PM2.23m
11:20AM1.62m
10:17PM2.17m
11:45AM1.67m
10:51PM2.06m
12:12PM1.72m
11:27PM1.90m
12:39PM1.78m
00:09AM1.71m
1:11PM1.84m
1:01AM1.50m
Low Tide
4:25AM0.19m
3:35PM1.05m
4:53AM0.21m
4:12PM1.01m
5:19AM0.27m
4:52PM0.99m
5:43AM0.37m
5:36PM0.97m
6:07AM0.49m
6:27PM0.94m
6:31AM0.64m
7:30PM0.91m
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:03
6:03
6:03
6:05
6:05
6:05
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:55
7:54
7:54
7:53
7:52
7:52
 mm
Temp °C
21
21
21
21
22
22
22
23
23
22
23
24
22
23
23
22
22
23
21
Feels °C
22
21
21
22
23
21
23
24
23
22
24
24
22
24
23
24
23
23
22
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
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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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