Surf Forecasts:
Indicator surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 19s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 18s period, SW swell with 155 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 19s 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 Sunday (Aug 23) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 19s 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 0.5m 18s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 14s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 19s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 19s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicator over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, I’m looking at this reef and point setup here. It’s a fairly consistent spot that needs a good NW swell to work, and we’ve got light offshore winds from the SE when conditions are right. The water temp is sitting at 71°, which is a whopping 5° warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s much warmer than normal, so you might not even need a spring suit.
Right now, we’re in a pretty flat spell. The first week or so is looking grim. There’s really nothing doing until we get to Sunday the 23rd of August. That morning, we finally see a tiny bump of energy – a 1ft swell from the SW with a super long 19-second period. The combined energy is only 127 (moderate wave energy) but those long-period lines will feel clean with the light cross-off wind. It’s surfable, but it’s very ordinary. The afternoon cleans up even more with a light offshore from the S, same tiny 1ft swell at 18 seconds, and energy up to 141 (moderate wave energy). It’s not going to blow you away, but for a spot that’s been dead, it’s a start.
The next real standout doesn’t roll in until Friday the 28th of August. Friday morning looks glassy – absolute glass, with no wind at all from the S. The swell is 2ft from the SW with a 16-second period, and the combined energy is 151 (moderate wave energy). That glassy surface is a major positive for a break like this, and with that long period, the waves will have some shape and push. This is probably the best on offer across the whole outlook. It’s not big, but for clean, lined-up waves on a point, you could have a real fun session.
After that, Saturday the 29th of August morning brings a 3ft swell from the W with a short 6-second period, but the wind is offshore from the SSE at 6 mph. The energy is low at 83 (weak wave energy) and that short period means the waves will be a bit weak and crumbly, but it’ll be clean.
Honestly, there’s a huge gap of no real surf from the start all the way until the 23rd. Then it’s a few small days, one glassy morning that’s worth a look, and then it fades again. No big swell on the horizon, just small, clean windows for a patient surfer.
Stay keen, the glassy morning on the 28th is your best bet.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Wed afternoon, min 19°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sat afternoon, min 22°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | W 6 | W 5 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 5 | SW 19 | W 12 | W 12 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 23 | 27 | 59 | 51 | 84 | 50 | 26 | 17 | 14 | 56 | 14 | 11 | 50 | 49 | 47 | 50 | 50 | 58 | 127 | 111 | 112 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 1:12PM1.93m | 1:49AM1.36m | 1:53PM1.88m | 3:42AM1.21m | 2:45PM1.83m | 3:57PM1.81m | 8:34AM1.36m | 5:14PM1.84m | 8:37AM1.43m | 6:15PM1.92m | 8:52AM1.49m | 7:02PM2.01m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 8:04PM0.79m | 6:57AM0.97m | 9:30PM0.80m | 7:13AM1.13m | 11:10PM0.74m | 00:27AM0.64m | 10:14AM1.35m | 1:18AM0.53m | 12:01PM1.32m | 1:56AM0.42m | 12:56PM1.25m | 2:27AM0.34m | |||||||||
 | |  | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — | — | 7:34 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 23 |
Feels °C | 21 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 14 |
| kJ | 186 | 186 | 59 | 51 | 37 | 50 | 26 | 217 | 125 | 118 | 120 | 115 | 69 | 68 | 68 | 42 | 42 | 120 | 57 | 57 | 103 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | SSW 18 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | W 8 | W 5 | W 6 | SW 19 | W 5 | SW 18 | W 5 | W 5 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | W 10 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 23 | 32 | 180 | 146 | 70 | 142 | 209 | 5 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 5 | 50 | 5 | 2 | 50 | 29 | 18 | 127 | 111 | 112 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | W 10 | S 10 | SW 13 | SSW 17 | SW 19 | SW 20 | W 14 | SW 18 | SW 19 | W 12 | W 12 | W 5 | SW 18 | SW 17 | W 5 | SW 18 | SW 19 | S 16 | S 16 | S 10 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 2 | 42 | 109 | 15 | 16 | 4 | 13 | 56 | 12 | 11 | 5 | 49 | 47 | 2 | 50 | 58 | 46 | 20 | 8 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 5 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 5 | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | — | — | W 10 | WSW 4 |
| kJ | — | 27 | — | — | 84 | — | — | 17 | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | 32 | — | — | 30 | 5 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 117 | 117 | 2 | 2 | 41 | 1 | 2 | 117 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 117 | 2 | 2 | 62 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 31 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Los Angeles County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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