
Surf Forecasts:
Indicator surf forecast from 9 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 10 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 17s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 10 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s period, SW swell with 306 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 10 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 17s 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 Thursday (Sep 10) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Indicator in the next 16 days are 0.8m 16s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 10) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 10s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 17s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Thu 10th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicator over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright mate, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the coming weeks. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, so let’s get into it.
First up, the water temp is sitting at 73°F – that’s a solid 7°F warmer than usual for this time of year, so it’s gonna feel like a bath out there. We’re looking at a reef and point set-up, fairly exposed to the swell, with an optimum direction from the NW. The problem is, for the first few days, there’s just not much to get excited about.
Tuesday the 8th and Wednesday the 9th are a write-off – tiny 1ft to 1ft swells, onshore winds, and the combined energy is barely a whisper (52 to 97). The wave comment says it all: poor surf conditions. Thursday morning the 10th looks clean with a light offshore from the SSE, but the swell is still tiny at 2ft and short period (6 seconds) – not enough to push you around. The energy is only 31, so you’re basically bobbing. Thursday afternoon picks up a bit of energy (330) with a 3ft, 16-second SW groundswell, but the wind is cross-shore and the conditions are marginal. Not worth a paddle.
Friday morning the 11th is clean with a 12 mph SE offshore, but the swell is only 2ft with a short period – just a dribble. The real standout might be Friday afternoon: 2ft from the SW, 15-second period, light cross-offshore wind, and 209 combined energy. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. Still, it’s the best we’ve seen.
Saturday the 12th morning has a gentle offshore and 2ft SW groundswell (14 seconds, 164 energy) – clean but small. The rest of that weekend and into Monday the 14th is a mix of tiny swells and cross-on winds. Nothing to write home about.
Now, the first real glimmer comes on Friday the 18th of September. The morning session is glassy – dead calm, 3 mph from the SW – with a 2ft SW groundswell running at 19 seconds and a combined energy of 208. That’s a long-period groundswell, so it’ll be clean and lined up, but it’s only 2ft. For a reef and point break, that long period means the waves will be fat and slow, but it’s still the cleanest window we’ve got. The afternoon gets chopped up by a 12 mph cross-on, so get out early.
Monday the 21st of September shows a bit more push: 3ft from the SW, 17 seconds, and a combined energy of 350. That’s moderate energy, but the wind is cross-on in the morning, making it messy. The afternoon is the same story – 3ft, 16 seconds, 326 energy, but again cross-on. It’s marginal. If you’re desperate and the tide lines up, you might get a couple, but it’s not a standout.
The best bet for the whole outlook? Honestly, I’m struggling to find a true standout. The Friday 18th morning is the cleanest, with glassy conditions and that very long-period groundswell, but it’s small. The Monday 21st has the most size, but the wind is against it. If I had to pick one, I’d say Friday the 18th morning for the pure, clean conditions – even if the waves are small, it’ll be a beautiful session on the point. The crowds are listed as “sometimes,” so you might have a few others with the same idea, but it’ll be worth it for the glassy water.
For the rest of the second week, it’s the same pattern: small SW groundswells, cross-on winds, and poor conditions. The energy stays moderate (200-350 range), but the wind is a constant problem. Wednesday the 23rd morning has a light cross-offshore and 2ft swell (209 energy), which is clean but still small.
Overall, it’s a tough stretch. The energy is there at times, but the wind is rarely on our side. If you’re a kite surfer, the cross-on winds and moderate swells on the 21st might look interesting, but for a paddle surfer, it’s a grind. Keep an eye on the Friday 18th morning – that’s your best chance.
Stay patient, keep checking the forecasts, and I’ll see you in the water.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Tue night, min 21°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Fri afternoon, min 20°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | SW 16 | W 4 | SW 17 | W 6 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 6 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | W 7 | W 7 | SW 19 | W 7 | W 7 | SW 18 | SW 17 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
50 | 94 | 91 | 21 | 232 | 23 | 306 | 295 | 24 | 176 | 171 | 103 | 100 | 96 | 63 | 58 | 76 | 43 | 108 | 106 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | off | off | cross | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-on | off | off | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:58PM2.29m | 9:14AM1.86m | 8:45PM2.27m | 9:42AM1.96m | 9:29PM2.19m | 10:10AM2.04m | 10:13PM2.04m | 10:38AM2.08m | 10:56PM1.86m | 11:06AM2.08m | 11:41PM1.67m | 11:34AM2.05m | 00:31AM1.48m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:51AM0.11m | 2:41PM0.76m | 3:24AM0.17m | 3:26PM0.63m | 3:55AM0.29m | 4:10PM0.54m | 4:24AM0.45m | 4:53PM0.50m | 4:50AM0.63m | 5:38PM0.51m | 5:14AM0.81m | 6:26PM0.56m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | |
7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:06 | — | — | 7:04 | — | — | 7:02 | — | — | 7:01 | — | |
mm | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 20 |
Feels °C | 25 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SSW 17 | W 5 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 |
75 | 75 | 46 | 184 | 35 | 288 | 306 | 295 | 245 | 176 | 36 | 24 | 18 | 96 | 63 | 34 | 76 | 43 | 30 | 24 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SSW 8 | SW 17 | W 6 | W 5 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 |
96 | 94 | 93 | 28 | 232 | 23 | 14 | 37 | 24 | 16 | 171 | 103 | 100 | 96 | 46 | 45 | 44 | 78 | 108 | 106 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SSW 12 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SSW 11 | S 11 | WSW 13 | W 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | W 12 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 |
50 | 68 | 91 | 30 | 16 | 15 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 17 | 17 | 37 | 35 | 15 | 25 | 58 | 57 | 44 | 25 | 23 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 4 | W 4 | W 4 | W 4 | — | — | — | — | SE 3 | — | — | SE 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
9 | 7 | 7 | 21 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 62 | 6 | 6 | 166 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 62 | 0 | 1 | 62 | 0 | 1 | 117 | 0 |
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.










