Surf Forecasts:
Indicators surf forecast from 29 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 30 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 18s period, SSW swell with 823 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 30 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 16s 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 Sunday (Aug 30) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 1.3m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 1.7m and 8s is also forecast. 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 18s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 12s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 03) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicators over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey, Rusty here. Gotta be honest with you – it’s a pretty flat and funky outlook for a while. The wave energy is low, often under 1000, and the wind is onshore or cross-onshore more often than not. This is advanced-level stuff because the waves are weak; not much for beginners.
First chance is Saturday, August 29th. We’ve got a 4ft swell from the SSW with a very long 18-second period. That’s proper groundswell energy, steering it toward a combined energy of 976, which is moderate. The morning wind is a light breeze from the WSW, described as “on,” but light enough to be okay. This is a point break, exposed to the WNW, which isn’t its optimum direction, so it won’t be perfect, but the long period will help it wrap in. Water temp is 61°, a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. Because of the long period, the waves will likely be cleaner here than on a beach break.
Saturday afternoon and Sunday (Aug 30) see the swell drop to 3-4ft, and the energy falls to the 700s. Wind gets choppier. By Monday Aug 31, we’re at 3ft with an energy of 478 – very marginal.
The first week of September is mostly small and weak. Swell runs 2ft to 2ft, combined energy in the 100s to low 200s, and the wind stays messy. Wednesday Sep 2 morning turns glassy with 2ft and a 16-second period (energy 233), but it’s described as “surfable but very ordinary.” Same story on Wednesday Sep 9 morning – glassy, 2ft, 16 seconds (energy 244). Tiny, clean, but not much push.
The real standout is Thursday Sep 10 afternoon. We get 3ft from the SSW at a 17-second period, combined energy of 638, and the wind goes glassy. That’s your session if you can wait. The optimum direction for this point break is WNW, so the angle isn’t ideal, but the clean wind and long period will make it the best two hours of the entire forecast.
Friday Sep 11 onward is back to cross-onshore slop. Saturday Sep 13 afternoon has a weird spike: 4ft from the NW with a short 6-second period (energy 257). That’s just windswell – messy and weak. Not worth it.
The whole thing is a long wait, but that Thursday Sep 10 window with glassy conditions is the one to circle on the calendar.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Thu afternoon, min 14°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 14 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 823 | 505 | 688 | 554 | 411 | 400 | 325 | 226 | 201 | 154 | 154 | 123 | 181 | 165 | 270 | 241 | 199 | 514 | 433 | 394 | 493 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross | on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 12:15PM1.43m | 11:54PM1.42m | 12:38PM1.51m | 00:42AM1.32m | 1:06PM1.58m | 1:38AM1.21m | 1:39PM1.66m | 2:48AM1.11m | 2:19PM1.70m | 4:27AM1.04m | 3:09PM1.73m | 6:57AM1.08m | 4:13PM1.73m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:47PM0.43m | 5:53AM0.19m | 6:27PM0.33m | 6:20AM0.35m | 7:14PM0.25m | 6:48AM0.54m | 8:09PM0.20m | 7:19AM0.73m | 9:15PM0.16m | 7:56AM0.91m | 10:34PM0.12m | 9:05AM1.05m | 11:55PM0.04m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — |
 | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:34 | — | — | 7:31 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 24 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 22 | 18 | 19 | 23 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 15 |
Feels °C | 18 | 20 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 823 | 505 | 688 | 170 | 159 | 168 | 153 | 87 | 201 | 154 | 154 | 101 | 123 | 165 | 268 | 377 | 359 | 514 | 356 | 323 | 493 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 8 | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | S 11 | SSW 18 | WNW 9 | SSW 19 | WNW 9 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | WNW 10 |
| kJ | 15 | 6 | 6 | 554 | 411 | 400 | 325 | 226 | 44 | 73 | 65 | 66 | 181 | 58 | 270 | 50 | 199 | 113 | 433 | 394 | 122 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 14 | S 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | WNW 7 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | WNW 10 | SSW 16 | WNW 9 | SSW 19 | W 18 | SSW 18 | WNW 10 | W 15 | SSW 12 |
| kJ | — | — | 6 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 33 | 36 | 56 | 30 | 50 | 123 | 52 | 103 | 53 | 241 | 6 | 364 | 127 | 17 | 179 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 7 | — | — | WNW 3 | NW 3 | — | WNW 9 | WNW 4 | — | WNW 10 | — |
| kJ | 153 | 213 | 215 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | — | — | 6 | 4 | — | 99 | 5 | — | 208 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 316 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 321 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1050 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Cruz | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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