Surf Forecasts:
Indicators surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 15s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 15s period, SSW swell with 339 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 15s 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 12s. Another secondary swell of 1.0m 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 0.9m 15s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 14s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicators over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, I’m Rusty, and I’ll be your local surf reporter for this spot. Let’s get into it.
Alright, let’s be straight with you—this stretch of coastline is looking pretty quiet for the next 16 days. The surf window is thin, and we’ve got a long gap of nothing special before anything even remotely interesting pops up. We’re looking at the Indicators (Indicators) area, a sheltered point break that’s best for advanced surfers, and it’s fairly consistent when it does work, but crowds are often around. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, nothing wild.
The first few days are a tough watch. Wednesday morning the 19th has a 0.9m (about 3 ft) SSW swell with a 15-second period, which is a long-period groundswell, but the combined energy is only moderate (450). It’s a marginal call, and the wind is light offshore, so it’s clean, but the swell just isn’t packing enough punch. The 20th is even smaller at 0.7m (2 ft), and by the 21st and 22nd, we’re dropping to 0.4–0.5m (1–2 ft) with poor surf conditions. That’s a solid four-day stretch of nothing worth paddling for.
Then from the 23rd through the 26th, we get a mix of weak NW and WNW swells, but the period is short—8 seconds or less—so it’s weak and messy. The combined energy stays in the 300–400 range, and despite the offshore winds, the waves are just too small and poorly shaped. The 26th afternoon shows a 1.3m (4 ft) WNW swell, still short period, but it’s only marginal. The 27th is similar, with 1.2m to 1.3m (4–4 ft) WNW, but still not breaking clean.
The best window in the whole outlook is the 28th through the 30th, where we get a solid SSW groundswell, periods up to 17 seconds, and combined energy climbing to 655 on the 29th morning. That’s moderate to strong energy, and the swell direction is SSW, which is close to the optimum WNW for this spot. The 29th morning has 0.9m (3 ft) SSW, 17-second period, light offshore wind, and clean conditions. That’s the standout. But it’s still a point break, and with that long period, it might be a bit walled up at the beach breaks, but here it could offer some nice lines. The 30th morning is also worth a look with 0.9m (3 ft) SSW and light offshore wind, but the energy is a bit lower.
After that, the first week of September is a mixed bag. The 1st has a glassy morning with 0.6m (2 ft) SSW, but it’s tiny. The 2nd morning sees a 1.8m (6 ft) WNW swell with 9-second period and moderate energy (683), but the wind is light offshore, so it could be surfable for experts, albeit a bit short-period. The 3rd is similar, with 1.7m (6 ft) WNW and cross-on wind, making it messy.
So, if you’re keen, the 29th of August morning is your best bet: 0.9m (3 ft) SSW groundswell, clean offshore wind, and solid energy. It’s a point break, so shapes should be good for advanced riders. Crowds are often around, so expect some company. The rest of the run is mostly marginal or poor, so don’t get your hopes up too high. This is a quiet spell for the area, but conditions can change.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Thu afternoon, min 15°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sat afternoon, min 14°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
305 | 322 | 256 | 175 | 183 | 183 | 105 | 99 | 99 | 68 | 111 | 113 | 128 | 137 | 157 | 157 | 148 | 193 | 184 | 129 | 124 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 3:45PM1.54m | 8:24AM1.07m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:12AM0.89m | 11:30PM0.31m | 10:39AM1.04m | 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 | |||||||
6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | |
— | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 21 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 17 | 21 | 23 | 19 | 21 | 24 | 18 | 21 | 22 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 16 |
Feels °C | 20 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 17 | 21 | 22 | 19 | 20 | 24 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | WNW 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 6 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 6 | WNW 10 | SSW 13 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 17 | S 13 | WNW 7 |
305 | 322 | 120 | 175 | 183 | 52 | 91 | 65 | 31 | 57 | 65 | 113 | 128 | 137 | 88 | 84 | 58 | 47 | 184 | 125 | 28 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | W 12 | SSW 15 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 19 | SSW 12 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | SSW 17 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | SW 16 |
86 | 78 | 256 | 107 | 109 | 183 | 105 | 99 | 99 | 68 | 111 | 95 | 94 | 51 | 106 | 153 | 150 | 193 | 31 | 29 | 124 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 13 | S 22 | WNW 11 | SSW 19 | SW 19 | WNW 11 | SW 18 | SW 18 | WNW 10 | SSW 18 | WNW 10 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | S 13 | S 13 | SW 16 | S 13 |
59 | 9 | 102 | 36 | 15 | 93 | 80 | 79 | 60 | 61 | 33 | 29 | 50 | 83 | 157 | 157 | 148 | 90 | 89 | 129 | 84 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WNW 7 | — | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | NW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 4 | NW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 104 | — | 98 | 102 | 104 | 35 | 32 | 62 | 35 | 86 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 219 | 0 | 104 | 219 | 0 | 104 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Cruz | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.











