Surf Forecasts:
Indicators surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 18s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 18s period, SSW swell with 705 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 18s period with SW 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 23) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 13s 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 1.1m 18s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 5AM. 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 13s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicators over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s break this down. Honestly, it’s a slow start. We’re looking at a whole lot of nothin’ for the first week and a half. The real swell doesn’t show up until the end of the second week.
The first real session to get excited about is the morning of Friday, the 28th of August. The swell is 2ft from the SSW, with a long 17-second period. The wind is light offshore from the W, making for clean faces. The combined energy is moderate at 432. But the real moment is that afternoon: the wind goes glassy, the swell holds at 2ft from the SSW with a 19-second period, and the energy jumps to 560. That’s a window of pure, clean, lined-up groundswell. The break is a sheltered point, but it’s a tough one for advanced surfers only, and it’s often crowded.
The next big highlight is a couple of weeks out on the morning of Thursday, the 3rd of September. The swell is 3ft from the SSW with a 20-second period – that’s a very long period groundswell bringing a ton of energy (842). The wind is light offshore from the WSW. With that period, the waves will be powerful and bowly, which is perfect for a point break like this. The afternoon is even better: 3ft, 20-second period, and energy up to 994. The wind stays light offshore from the SW. This is the heaviest, most consistent run of the entire outlook.
By Friday, the 4th of September, the energy is pumpin’ at 1102 in the morning and 1000 in the afternoon, with swell at 4ft from the SSW. The period is still solid at 17-18 seconds. The wind is a light cross-on from the SW, so not perfect, but with that much energy, it’ll be offering some proper waves. The water temp is a touch warmer than normal at 62° for the time of year.
The last window to keep an eye on is the afternoon of Sunday, the 6th of September. It’s glassy, with a 3ft swell from the SSW and a 15-second period. The energy is 411, making for a clean, long-period offering for the sheltered point.
So, the two real standouts are the glassy Friday afternoon on the 28th of August, and the big, long-period groundswell on the 3rd and 4th of September. The first week is a total blank, so don’t get your hopes up until then.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Tue afternoon, min 15°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | NW 7 | SW 14 | WNW 6 | SSW 14 | SSW 17 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 86 | 157 | 155 | 147 | 190 | 181 | 130 | 124 | 169 | 166 | 183 | 103 | 124 | 183 | 336 | 292 | 486 | 697 | 505 | 582 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 7:34PM1.58m | 10:46AM1.29m | 8:23PM1.62m | 11:04AM1.28m | 9:08PM1.62m | 11:20AM1.29m | 9:49PM1.61m | 11:36AM1.32m | 10:29PM1.57m | 11:54AM1.36m | 11:10PM1.51m | 12:15PM1.43m | 11:54PM1.42m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 4:37PM0.64m | 5:03AM-0.03m | 5:11PM0.53m | 5:28AM0.06m | 5:47PM0.43m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — |
 | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 16 | 20 | 23 | 18 | 22 | 26 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 21 | 24 | 28 | 20 | 22 | 26 | 20 | 20 | 26 | 19 |
Feels °C | 21 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 19 | 21 | 25 | 20 | 22 | 26 | 20 | 24 | 26 | 19 | 21 | 24 | 19 | 19 | 23 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | S 14 | WNW 8 | SSW 16 | S 13 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | NW 7 | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 17 | SSW 19 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | SSW 16 | WNW 8 |
| kJ | 51 | 67 | 69 | 150 | 50 | 181 | 87 | 124 | 169 | 166 | 109 | 71 | 94 | 183 | 336 | 292 | 108 | 145 | 505 | 220 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | S 14 | S 14 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | S 13 | SW 16 | S 13 | W 13 | SSE 14 | S 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | S 10 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 83 | 106 | 153 | 147 | 190 | 126 | 130 | 85 | 55 | 62 | 148 | 103 | 103 | 93 | 61 | 52 | 486 | 697 | 17 | 582 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SW 18 | SW 18 | W 11 | S 13 | W 17 | W 16 | W 15 | SSW 12 | W 13 | SSW 15 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | SW 14 | S 10 | S 10 | — | S 9 |
| kJ | 84 | 157 | 155 | 9 | 92 | 23 | 45 | 38 | 49 | 55 | 146 | 38 | 39 | 18 | 33 | 89 | 30 | 16 | — | 7 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | — | — | WNW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | NW 4 | NW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | NW 7 | NW 8 | WNW 7 | NW 8 |
| kJ | 86 | — | — | 76 | 94 | 35 | 32 | 18 | 29 | 46 | 183 | 78 | 124 | 169 | 131 | 123 | 225 | 255 | 196 | 369 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 144 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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.
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