Indicator Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.78° N 118.43° W

Indicator Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 pm 23 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Indicator sea temperature is
22.1° C
3.7° 

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


Indicator surf forecast from 24 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 24s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 20s period, SW swell with 552 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 24 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 24s 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 Friday (Jul 24) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 24s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Indicator in the next 16 days are 0.9m 20s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 16s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 30) at 8PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Fri 24th Jul)1.5ft (0.5m) 24s
Best Surf 8AM (Fri 24th Jul)1.5ft (0.5m) 24s
Most Powerful11PM (Sat 25th Jul)3ft (0.9m) 20s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, grab a coffee and listen up. Rusty here.

To be honest, looking at the next 16 days, it’s a tough stretch for this spot. There’s really nothing to get excited about right now. We’ve got a long dry spell of small, weak waves with poor conditions. The first proper surfable day doesn’t show up until Wednesday morning, August 5th, and even then it’s pretty ordinary.

Let’s break it down. From now through the end of July and into the first week of August, it’s a real struggle. The swell is tiny, mostly between 1ft and 2ft, with short periods of 6 to 7 seconds. The combined energy is weak, barely hitting 50 or 60 (like 39 to 54). The wind is mostly light and cross-off or offshore, which keeps the surface clean, but there’s just no power in the water. Saturday afternoon, July 25th, saw a spike in energy to 372, but that was a 21-second period, long-period swell from the SW, which is the wrong direction for this NW-facing reef and point. It’s a long period groundswell, but it’s hitting straight on the wrong angle, so it’s not doing anything for us. The same goes for Monday afternoon, July 27th, with 538 energy and a 19-second period – all that energy, but the direction is all wrong, creating marginal, choppy conditions.

The water temperature is about average for this time of year, nothing to write home about. For the first break I mention, it’s just your typical summer water.

The first real chance of anything comes on Wednesday morning, August 5th. We’ve got a 2ft swell from the SW with a 14-second period and a combined energy of 134. The wind is light and cross-off, so the surface will be clean. It’s surfable, but the conditions are very ordinary. The swell is small and the period is long, which means it’ll be a bit slow and fat on the reef. It’s really only a glimmer, not a standout.

Honestly, for the whole 16 days, there’s not a single standout. The best you can hope for is that early August window, but it’s a long period swell from a dodgy direction, and the size is tiny. The reef and point here (Indicator) needs a decent NW swell and some offshore wind from the SE to really fire. We’re just not getting that. This is a spot where a blank run like this is more normal for the area, so don’t hold your breath. It might be worth checking the beach for a kite session if the wind picks up, but for paddle surfing, it’s a total bust.

Stay patient, mates.
Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

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

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sun night, min 21°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
0
2
0
0
2
0
0
2
0
1
2
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)
1.1
W
7
0.7
W
6
0.6
W
6
0.6
SW
21
0.6
W
6
0.6
SW
21
0.9
SW
19
0.7
W
6
0.5
W
6
0.9
SW
18
0.7
W
7
0.9
SW
19
0.9
SW
17
0.7
W
7
0.5
W
7
0.6
W
7
0.6
W
7
0.5
W
6
0.4
W
6
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
116
39
29
368
26
355
546
41
19
455
44
507
414
43
23
32
34
22
12
Wind (km/h)
10
SSE
15
SSE
10
SSW
5
SSE
10
SSW
15
WSW
10
SSE
10
SSE
15
WSW
15
SE
10
S
15
WSW
10
SE
10
S
10
WSW
10
S
15
SSE
10
S
10
SE
Wind State
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
off
cross-on
off
cross-off
cross
off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
High Tide
8:41AM1.38m
6:37PM2.01m
9:13AM1.43m
7:20PM2.08m
9:40AM1.48m
8:00PM2.16m
10:04AM1.51m
8:36PM2.22m
10:29AM1.54m
9:11PM2.25m
10:54AM1.58m
9:44PM2.23m
Low Tide
1:41AM0.50m
12:05PM1.26m
2:20AM0.39m
1:01PM1.24m
2:54AM0.31m
1:45PM1.20m
3:26AM0.24m
2:23PM1.14m
3:56AM0.20m
2:59PM1.09m
4:25AM0.19m
3:35PM1.05m
4:53AM0.21m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:58
6:00
6:01
6:01
6:01
6:03
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:00
8:00
7:59
7:58
7:58
7:57
7:55
 mm
Temp °C
21
21
22
22
23
23
22
22
23
23
22
23
23
23
23
23
23
22
21
Feels °C
22
22
22
24
24
24
23
23
23
24
23
24
25
24
24
25
23
22
21
  • 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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