Surf Forecasts:
Indicators surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period, NW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 7s period, NW swell with 281 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 14s 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 (Aug 21) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 11s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 6s 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 1.6m 7s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 13s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicators over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, I'm Rusty, and let me tell you, it’s a tough run of luck coming up. The next 16 days are mostly a write-off for proper paddle surfing around this spot. We’re looking at Indicators (United States), a point break that’s sheltered and takes a west-northwest swell to really get going. The water’s sitting a touch warmer than normal for this time of year at 61°.
Right off the bat, Thursday the 20th kicks off a long, bleak stretch. The swell is tiny at 3 ft from the south-southwest, which is the opposite direction this break wants. The combined energy is moderate (379), but with poor surf conditions reported, there’s nothing to get excited about. Friday the 21st through to Sunday the 23rd are just grim – more small, wind-affected waves with energy dropping as low as 204 on Sunday morning. We finally see a pulse on Monday the 24th, with a 4 ft northwesterly swell and moderate energy (421), but it’s still a poor quality call, just a marginal look at best. The rest of that week is a snooze-fest of tiny, inconsistent lines.
Then we hit a gap of a few days with no real recommendations until we get to a small window. Thursday the 27th afternoon gives us glassy 1 ft south-southwest swell with a very long 18-second period. The energy is moderate (319), but it’s just surfable waves, very ordinary. Not worth paddling out for.
Friday the 28th afternoon is where it gets interesting, but it’s still not a standout. We get glassy conditions again, a 2 ft south-southwest swell with a very long 19-second period, and the energy jumps to a strong 788. The forecast says “expect good surf conditions” – which is the best we’ll see for a while. This is your best bet in the first week, but the wave height is tiny, so don’t expect much.
Moving into the second week, Saturday the 29th has a morning 4 ft south-southwest swell with very long-period energy, and the combined energy is very strong at 1564. But it’s rated marginal. Sunday the 30th brings a bigger 7 ft northwesterly swell, but with a short 9-second period and strong energy (1428), it’s again a marginal call. This is getting into expert-only territory height-wise, but the poor quality means it’s likely a messy, close-out affair for the beach-break style of a point. Monday the 31st through Tuesday of September 1st sees more onshore winds and choppy conditions, so no good.
Finally, the real standout appears way down the track. On Thursday the 4th of September, 16 days from now, we have a morning session that looks promising. A 4 ft south-southwest swell with a very long 18-second period is expected, and the combined energy is very strong (1012). The winds are glassy and the forecast says “expect very good surf conditions.” For a high-level advanced-only break that’s fairly consistent, this is the one to circle on the calendar. The long-period groundswell might make it break a bit straight at a beach break, but at a point like Indicators, it should set up nicely. This is a long-range call though, so keep an eye on it.
Overall, the first fortnight is terrible. Just sit tight and wait for that glassy Thursday in early September.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sat afternoon, min 14°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Tue afternoon, min 14°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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 14 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 17 | NW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SW 18 | NW 8 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | WNW 7 | NW 7 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
236 | 183 | 105 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 111 | 179 | 110 | 119 | 157 | 173 | 147 | 190 | 184 | 129 | 124 | 124 | 191 | 242 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 4:35PM1.53m | 9:22AM1.18m | 5:34PM1.53m | 9:57AM1.25m | 6:37PM1.55m | 10:24AM1.28m | 7:34PM1.58m | 10:46AM1.29m | 8:23PM1.62m | 11:04AM1.28m | 9:08PM1.62m | 11:20AM1.29m | 9:49PM1.61m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:41AM0.26m | 12:15PM1.10m | 1:40AM0.19m | 1:24PM1.09m | 2:29AM0.11m | 2:15PM1.02m | 3:08AM0.03m | 2:56PM0.94m | 3:42AM-0.03m | 3:32PM0.85m | 4:12AM-0.07m | 4:05PM0.75m | 4:38AM-0.07m | |||||||
— | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | |
7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 18 | 20 | 25 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 17 | 19 | 22 | 18 | 20 | 23 | 18 | 21 | 25 | 19 |
Feels °C | 21 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 18 | 19 | 24 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 18 | 19 | 22 | 18 | 20 | 24 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | SW 18 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | S 14 | WNW 8 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | S 16 | S 14 | WNW 8 |
236 | 183 | 91 | 65 | 99 | 99 | 65 | 108 | 110 | 83 | 116 | 93 | 150 | 51 | 184 | 129 | 124 | 236 | 316 | 138 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | S 16 | SSW 12 | S 14 | S 14 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | S 13 |
109 | 93 | 105 | 99 | 60 | 57 | 111 | 98 | 129 | 51 | 106 | 153 | 147 | 190 | 89 | 87 | 84 | 124 | 122 | 166 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 18 | S 10 | SSW 12 | SW 19 | SSW 16 | SW 18 | SW 18 | W 11 | S 13 | W 16 | W 16 | W 15 | W 13 | W 13 | S 16 |
15 | 15 | 81 | 79 | 30 | 61 | 2 | 50 | 94 | 84 | 157 | 155 | 9 | 92 | 48 | 45 | 109 | 87 | 85 | 181 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 4 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | NW 5 | NW 7 | — | WNW 8 | — | NW 8 | WNW 8 | — | WNW 7 | WNW 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | NW 7 |
19 | 24 | 20 | 32 | 16 | 16 | 70 | 179 | — | 119 | — | 173 | 91 | — | 31 | 19 | 26 | 70 | 191 | 242 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 121 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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.











