Indicators surfForecast / CAL – Santa Cruz / USA

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 10 pm Tuesday 16 Sep 2025 PDT
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Indicators surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Indicators sea temperature is
16.5° C
(Which is 1.6°C warmer than normal for this time of year)


Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Indicators this week:

The surf forecast for Indicators over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 17) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Indicators in the next 12 days are 1.9m 13s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 23) at 2AM. 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 16s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 17) at 8AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Wed 17th Sep)2.5ft (0.7m) 16s
Best Surf 8PM (Mon 22nd Sep)5.5ft (1.7m) 11s
Most Powerful 2AM (Tue 23rd Sep)6ft (1.9m) 13s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicators over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Mostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Wed morning, min 15°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Mostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Mon afternoon, min 16°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
17
Thursday
18
Friday
19
Saturday
20
Sunday
21
Monday
22
Tue
23
NightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPM
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
0
2
0
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
1
1
0
2
0
2
3
1
1
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
0.7
SSW
0.7
SSW
0.5
WNW
0.7
SSW
1.3
WNW
1.6
WNW
1.3
WNW
1
WNW
1
WNW
0.8
WNW
0.7
WNW
0.8
WNW
0.8
WNW
0.8
WNW
1
WNW
1.1
WNW
1.1
WNW
1.3
WNW
1.9
NW
0.6
SSW
1.3
WNW
Period(s) (?)161610151010101010109109121211111113168
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)27626956234325490320208186117731201031842853192913521112171173
Wind
(km/h)
5
ENE
5
WSW
5
SW
5
SSW
5
SSW
10
SW
5
SE
10
SW
10
WSW
0
ESE
5
WSW
10
W
0
NE
5
WSW
10
WSW
5
NW
10
W
5
WNW
5
NE
10
NW
10
NW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
glassononglasscross-
on
onglasscross-
on
onglassononglassglassonglassonglassglasscross-
on
cross-
on
High Tide
/ height (m)
9:26AM
1.41
7:48PM
1.65
9:59AM
1.44
8:48PM
1.62
10:29AM
1.46
9:40PM
1.56
10:55AM
1.47
10:27PM
1.48
11:18AM
1.47
11:12PM
1.40
11:37AM
1.47
11:55PM
1.30
11:55AM
1.48
Low Tide
/ height (m)
2:01AM
-0.07
2:07PM
0.84
2:50AM
-0.08
2:58PM
0.67
3:30AM
-0.06
3:43PM
0.52
4:05AM
0.00
4:23PM
0.40
4:36AM
0.10
5:00PM
0.30
5:05AM
0.24
5:35PM
0.23
5:31AM
0.41
6:09PM
0.20
Wednesday
17
Thursday
18
Friday
19
Saturday
20
Sunday
21
Monday
22
Tue
23
Sunrise-6:50--6:52--6:52--6:54--6:54--6:54--6:56-
Sunset--7:13--7:10--7:09--7:07--7:07--7:05--7:02
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
Rain (mm)
--------------------1
Temp. °C192422171820161921182124192123182426202223
Feels °C (?)182322181819161920182123202122192226202120
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder

Eyeball surf reportRecent Eyeball Surf Reports for CAL - Santa Cruz

  1. weather stationWind Update Continuing clean conditions at Indicators (calm at Santa Cruz 2 km from Indicators). 0.7m 8s swell from the WNW with a 0.5m 14s groundswell from the WSW. 2 swells combining to make bigger set waves.

    Indicators
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Actual: 59 min ago

3 km/h
S
Clean
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FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Indicators 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 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 12 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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