Indicators Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.95° N 122.03° W

Indicators Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 pm 31 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Indicators sea temperature is
15.0°C
0.1° 

Indicators surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Indicators surf forecast from 1 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 18s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, SSW swell with 604 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 13s 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 Tuesday (Sep 01) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 7s. 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 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 13s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 5AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Tue 1st Sep)2.5ft (0.7m) 13s
Best Surf11PM (Thu 3rd Sep)3ft (0.9m) 18s
Most Powerful11PM (Fri 4th Sep)3.5ft (1.1m) 16s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicators over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next 16 days. Straight up, it’s gonna be a lean stretch. We’ve got a long gap of mostly poor to marginal conditions, with a few brief windows of something that might get you wet.

The forecast starts with a long run of onshore winds and weak, short-period swell. From Tuesday the 1st through to Monday the 7th, it’s mostly cross-onshore or onshore, with swell heights barely scraping 3 ft to 3 ft. The combined wave energy is mostly weak to moderate (173 to 867), but the winds are just ruining any chance of quality. The best you’ll see in that first week is a couple of glassy mornings on Monday the 7th and Sunday the 13th, but even then the swell is tiny and weak.

The only spot worth mentioning, and it’s a real stretch, is Indicators. It’s a sheltered point break, rated for advanced surfers, and it’s fairly consistent. It needs a WNW swell to work, and the forecast is delivering a persistent SSW and SW swell – not a great match. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual.

The standout window, if you can call it that, is a tiny blip on Monday the 8th of September. The morning shows a clean, offshore wind from the NE at 6 mph, with a 1 ft swell from the SW at a long 18 seconds. It’s a long-period groundswell, which can be a bit straight at a beach break, but at a point break like Indicators, it might wrap in okay. The combined energy is weak (150), but the clean conditions are a major positive. Crowds are possible at Indicators, so you might have a few others with the same idea.

After that, we’re back into onshore slop, with the next glimmer of glassy conditions coming on Sunday the 13th of September. Again, a glassy morning with 2 ft of SSW swell, but the period is a short 13 seconds, and the energy is a weak 181. It’s a skinny, gutless wave.

The real kicker? From the 15th and 16th, the combined wave energy drops to two-digit numbers (89, 135, 173). That’s next to nothing. It’s a long, dry spell for most of the period.

So, bottom line: don’t get your hopes up. The best offer is that Monday the 8th morning for a clean, if tiny, long-period swell at Indicators. Get it while you can, because it’s a desert out there.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
Sunday
6
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
1
2
1
0
2
1
0
2
1
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
SSW
13
0.7
SSW
13
0.7
SSW
13
0.4
SSW
18
0.5
SW
17
0.6
SSW
13
0.7
SSW
17
0.7
SSW
19
0.8
SSW
19
0.9
SSW
18
1
SSW
18
0.9
SSW
17
1.1
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
1
SSW
15
1
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
156
154
154
123
137
131
246
325
411
497
582
394
597
469
451
434
334
301
239
Wind (km/h)
5
NW
10
SSW
15
WSW
5
E
5
S
15
WSW
0
NNE
10
S
5
WSW
5
N
5
WSW
15
W
5
N
10
WSW
15
W
5
NE
5
SW
15
WNW
5
NNE
Wind State
glassy
cross-on
on
glassy
cross-on
on
glassy
cross-on
on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
High Tide
1:38AM1.21m
1:39PM1.66m
2:48AM1.11m
2:19PM1.70m
4:27AM1.04m
3:09PM1.73m
6:57AM1.08m
4:13PM1.73m
8:23AM1.19m
5:26PM1.74m
9:03AM1.28m
6:42PM1.76m
Low Tide
6:48AM0.54m
8:09PM0.20m
7:19AM0.73m
9:15PM0.16m
7:56AM0.91m
10:34PM0.12m
9:05AM1.05m
11:55PM0.04m
11:23AM1.11m
1:07AM-0.05m
12:56PM1.02m
2:06AM-0.14m
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:37
6:39
6:39
6:41
6:41
6:41
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:37
7:35
7:34
7:31
7:30
7:29
 mm
Temp °C
15
16
18
16
18
19
17
17
18
17
18
20
17
17
20
17
18
21
17
Feels °C
13
14
15
14
17
17
17
16
17
17
17
18
15
16
18
15
17
18
15
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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