Indicators Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.95° N 122.03° W

Indicators Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 am 03 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Indicators sea temperature is
15.8°C
0.8° 

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


Indicators surf forecast from 3 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 4 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 18s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 5 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 15s period, SSW swell with 679 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 4 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 18s period with SSW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Indicators this week:

The surf forecast for Indicators over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Indicators in the next 16 days are 1.2m 15s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 05) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 14s period and expected on Monday (Sep 07) at 11AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Fri 4th Sep)3.5ft (1.0m) 18s
Best Surf 8AM (Fri 4th Sep)3.5ft (1.0m) 18s
Most Powerful 5PM (Sat 5th Sep)4ft (1.2m) 15s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll level with you – this forecast window is a tough one for Indicators. It’s a sheltered point break that needs a very specific swell direction, and while we get a few pulses of energy, the wind and swell alignment are just not playing ball for the most part.

We kick off Thursday, September 3rd, with some long-period groundswell rolling in from the SSW, 3ft at 19 seconds. That’s a beautiful, clean swell line, but the wind is a light cross-on, putting a bit of a crinkle on the face. The combined energy is moderate (501), so there’s some push, but the quality is just marginal. The water temp is 60°, which is about normal for the time of year, so no worries there with a wetsuit.

The pattern continues through Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning with similar SSW swell and light onshore winds. The wave heights bob around the 3ft mark, but the period drops from 19 down to 15 seconds, and the wind always seems to be a problem. Afternoons are a write-off with a moderate cross-onshore breeze and choppy conditions. This is a point break, so it’s holding some shape, but you’re fighting the wind.

Monday, September 7th, is a full write-off – tiny, weak, and short-period slop. Tuesday the 8th is no better, with a small 3ft swell and a messy cross-onshore wind.

Wednesday the 9th morning offers a glimmer. It’s glassy, with a 2ft SSW swell at 12 seconds. The energy is low (199), but those glassy conditions are a treat for a point break, letting you work the little lines. It’s ordinary, but it’s all we’ve got that’s clean.

The real standout, the one you’ve been waiting for, is Friday, September 11th. The morning shows a solid 8ft swell from the SW at 12 seconds, with a massive combined energy of 1874 – that’s strong. The wind is light and onshore, but for a sheltered point, that’s workable. Now, a 8ft swell is expert territory, so this is not for the faint-hearted. The period is just 12 seconds, so it’s a mix of ground and wind swell, but there’s plenty of power. The catch is that the optimum swell direction for this spot is WNW, and this is coming from the SW, so it’s not perfectly groomed. Still, for size and energy, this is the best on offer, and it’s a week away, so keep an eye on it.

After that, we drop back into the 3ft range. Saturday, September 12th, morning is glassy with a 3ft SSW swell, but the energy is low. The rest of the second week fades into a mix of small, messy SSW and SW swells, mostly with cross-onshore winds. The period gets long again, 16 to 20 seconds, but the wave heights are tiny, often 2ft to 2ft. The energy is moderate (around 200-700), but with that size, it’s a long-period dribble that’s not going to get you excited.

The bottom line: there’s no consistent, high-quality run here. The best bet is the bigger swell on Friday, September 11th, but it’s for experts only. For the rest, you’re chasing small, clean windows in the mornings. The gap between the decent Friday morning and the next tiny glassy window is a few days of nothing. It’s a bleak outlook for the average surfer.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sat afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
Sunday
6
Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
1
1
0
2
1
0
2
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
SSW
19
0.9
SSW
19
0.9
SSW
18
1
SSW
18
0.9
SSW
17
1.1
SSW
16
1.1
SSW
16
1.2
SSW
15
1
SSW
15
1
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
15
0.7
WNW
6
0.8
WNW
6
0.8
WNW
6
0.9
SSW
14
0.8
WNW
7
0.7
WNW
6
0.7
SSW
12
0.7
SSW
17
0.7
SW
17
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
415
566
497
582
486
590
554
679
422
405
305
314
32
51
51
313
51
39
160
246
309
Wind (km/h)
10
SSW
15
WSW
10
NW
5
SW
20
W
5
N
5
SW
20
W
5
N
5
WSW
20
WNW
5
N
5
WSW
10
W
5
WNW
5
SW
15
W
5
N
5
SSW
15
W
5
N
Wind State
cross-on
on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-off
on
cross-on
cross-off
on
cross-on
glassy
glassy
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
3:09PM1.73m
6:57AM1.08m
4:13PM1.73m
8:23AM1.19m
5:26PM1.74m
9:03AM1.28m
6:42PM1.76m
9:36AM1.35m
7:51PM1.77m
10:09AM1.41m
8:53PM1.76m
10:40AM1.46m
9:49PM1.71m
Low Tide
10:34PM0.12m
9:05AM1.05m
11:55PM0.04m
11:23AM1.11m
1:07AM-0.05m
12:56PM1.02m
2:06AM-0.14m
2:02PM0.87m
2:56AM-0.20m
2:57PM0.69m
3:39AM-0.20m
3:46PM0.51m
4:18AM-0.13m
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:39
6:41
6:41
6:41
6:43
6:43
6:45
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:34
7:31
7:30
7:29
7:28
7:25
7:24
 mm
Temp °C
18
20
18
19
20
17
18
21
18
18
22
18
18
21
17
18
22
18
17
21
18
Feels °C
17
19
18
18
17
14
17
18
16
17
19
16
17
20
16
17
20
16
17
19
17
  • 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 Indicators Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Indicators provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Indicators can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Indicators 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 (Indicators) 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 Indicators 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.

Indicators is 3 km (2 miles) from Santa Cruz. If you plan a vacation in Santa Cruz, look for hotels and other accommodation in Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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