Surf Forecasts:
Indicator surf forecast from 2 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 6s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 3 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 6s period, WNW swell with 165 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 3 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 6s period with WNW 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 03) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Indicator in the next 16 days are 1.5m 6s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 03) 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 1.2m 14s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicator over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Don’t get too excited—this stretch of coast is in for a long, mellow spell. We’re working with a single reef and point setup that faces NW, and it’s barely breathing for most of the next sixteen days. Nothing worth paddling for until we hit the second week.
The water’s running way warmer than usual for early September, sitting about 5°F above normal at 74°F, so you’ll be fine in trunks or a spring suit if you’ve got one.
Wednesday morning, September 2nd: you’ll find clean little 1ft waves from the SW with a long 16-second period. The combined energy is weak at 117, but the light cross-off SSE breeze keeps the surface glassy. It’s small, but it’s the best early session.
From Wednesday afternoon through the next ten days, it’s a bust. Cross-on west winds, choppy surfaces, swell barely hitting 2ft. The energy mostly sits below 100, and some afternoons have a trash 5-second period. This is kite-surfing country for that stretch—don’t bother with a surfboard.
On Friday, September 11th, the morning shows a 6ft west swell with a short 7-second period. The combined energy finally climbs to 669, but the cross-on winds from the west make it a messy, lumpy wall. The afternoon drops to a 2ft groundswell from the SW with a 15-second period and 350 energy, but the onshore wind kills it again.
The only standout is Saturday morning, September 12th. Clean 2ft groundswell from the SW with a 14-second period, combined energy of 191. The wind turns offshore from the SE at 9 mph, giving you clean, peeling waves at this reef and point. Crowds are “sometimes,” but on waves this size, you’ll have plenty of room. It’s small, but it’s pristine.
Sunday the 13th morning copies the same: 2ft SW groundswell, 13-second period, light cross-off breeze, clean. After that, it’s back to poor, choppy conditions until the 17th evening, when a 2ft, very long 21-second period SW swell rolls in with 374 energy, but the cross-on west wind is ripping at 16 mph. That’s just blown-out junk.
If you want one session, make it Saturday the 12th morning. That’s the only moment this break truly smiles. Otherwise, leave the wetsuit dry and hope the next forecast turns better—this area doesn’t stay flat for long.
Stay salty,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Wed afternoon, min 19°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat afternoon, min 21°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 16 | W 5 | SW 17 | SW 15 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 4 | W 5 | W 5 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 10 | WSW 10 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | W 4 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 95 | 19 | 143 | 83 | 22 | 55 | 22 | 14 | 21 | 14 | 43 | 17 | 16 | 9 | 15 | 8 | 14 | 3 | 49 | 49 | 94 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 12:59PM2.03m | 2:56AM1.23m | 1:58PM2.00m | 6:18AM1.25m | 3:21PM2.00m | 7:21AM1.38m | 4:52PM2.05m | 7:50AM1.50m | 6:07PM2.15m | 8:18AM1.63m | 7:07PM2.25m | 8:46AM1.75m | 7:58PM2.29m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:36PM0.64m | 6:33AM1.11m | 10:17PM0.58m | 7:10AM1.25m | 11:45PM0.44m | 10:06AM1.32m | 00:47AM0.29m | 11:54AM1.24m | 1:35AM0.17m | 1:01PM1.09m | 2:15AM0.11m | 1:54PM0.92m | 2:51AM0.11m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — |
 | — | 7:17 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:14 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:10 | — | — | 7:09 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 |
Feels °C | 21 | 21 | 18 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | W 6 | SSW 18 | W 6 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 14 | S 13 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | SSW 14 | S 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 22 | 121 | 81 | 41 | 207 | 55 | 364 | 343 | 322 | 314 | 253 | 222 | 517 | 602 | 537 | 250 | 402 | 356 | 379 | 121 | 373 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | SW 18 | W 6 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | W 5 | WSW 10 | W 5 | S 12 | SW 19 | W 4 | W 5 | SSW 13 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 64 | 67 | 143 | 74 | 57 | 319 | 22 | 163 | 210 | 189 | 280 | 273 | 5 | 9 | 15 | 180 | 14 | 3 | 8 | 189 | 94 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | W 10 | S 15 | SW 15 | SSW 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 13 | W 5 | W 5 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 10 | W 12 | WSW 11 | W 5 | W 11 | SSW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 95 | 2 | 4 | 83 | 19 | 47 | 49 | 111 | 21 | 14 | 43 | 17 | 16 | 3 | 11 | 8 | 2 | 31 | 49 | 49 | 6 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 5 | W 6 | — | W 6 | — | — | W 4 | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | W 5 | — | W 5 | — | — | W 3 | W 5 |
| kJ | — | 19 | 109 | — | 22 | — | — | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 14 | — | 7 | — | — | 5 | 24 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 62 | 12 | 0 | 41 | 1 | 1 | 41 | 1 | 2 | 72 | 1 | 2 | 72 | 16 | 72 | 41 | 12 | 117 | 62 | 15 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Los Angeles County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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