
Surf Forecasts:
Indicators surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 20s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 21s period, SSW swell with 871 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 17s 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 (Jul 19) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Indicators in the next 16 days are 1.0m 21s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 8AM. 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 Friday (Jul 24) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 17s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Sat 25th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 20s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 21s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicators over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty.
First up, let's be real. The indicators point to a sheltered point break, and that's about all we've got to work with for the next couple of weeks. It's a pretty quiet run for the most part.
We get a little pulse of energy kicking off on the morning of Sunday the 19th. The swell is small, around 3ft, coming from the SW. The period is a very long 17 seconds, which is proper groundswell, but it's hitting a sheltered spot, so it's going to be weak. The combined energy is only 678 (moderate). The water temp is sitting at 59°, which is about 2° warmer than normal for this time of year, so it's a touch milder than usual.
The real standout, the only one worth getting excited about, is the morning of Tuesday the 21st. We get a jump in swell to 4ft from the SSW, with a 14-second period. The combined energy is 561 (moderate). The wind is forecast to be glassy, which is a huge positive. This is surfable, and it’ll be clean. The wind stays light and offshore for the rest of that week, but the swell is too small and inconsistent to really get going.
There's a big spike in swell energy on the 24th, with a 24-second period, but the swell height is only 2ft. The afternoon of that Friday the 24th will be glassy, but it's just not enough push. Then on the 25th, the combined energy hits 1045 (strong), but the wind is cross-on and the swell is still small. It feels like a lot of energy with nowhere to go.
Into the second week, from the 27th of July, the swell is a bit more consistent, around 3ft to 4ft from the SSW, but the wind is mostly cross-on or onshore. The energy is strong (over 1000), but the conditions are just not lining up. This spot is a point break, so that long-period groundswell will wrap in nicely, but the wind is going to be messing it up.
The 29th of July afternoon sees a shift to a short-period, 6ft WNW swell, but that's only for experts and the wind is still onshore. It looks more interesting for a kite than a paddle.
After that, it's all downhill. The beginning of August has tiny, weak swell. The combined energy drops to 99 on the 2nd of August (weak). There's a 2ft, 18-second period swell on the 3rd of August afternoon, but it's weak (323 energy) and the wind is a brisk 9 mph onshore.
Overall, it's a lean period. The only decent window is the morning of Tuesday the 21st. Otherwise, you're waiting for a lucky break in the clouds that isn't coming.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Tue afternoon, min 14°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Wed afternoon, min 14°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | ||||||||||||||
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 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 26 | SSW 24 | SSW 24 | SSW 22 | SSW 21 | SSW 21 | SSW 20 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
439 | 268 | 255 | 255 | 314 | 471 | 321 | 252 | 339 | 303 | 321 | 289 | 207 | 263 | 487 | 487 | 412 | 718 | 516 | 596 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | glassy | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 3:39PM1.52m | 3:30AM1.06m | 4:16PM1.55m | 5:12AM0.93m | 4:56PM1.57m | 7:41AM0.94m | 5:38PM1.58m | 9:21AM1.06m | 6:24PM1.60m | 10:17AM1.17m | 7:13PM1.63m | 10:57AM1.24m | 8:00PM1.66m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:59PM0.48m | 9:18AM0.41m | 11:12PM0.39m | 10:07AM0.63m | 00:22AM0.28m | 11:10AM0.83m | 1:23AM0.18m | 12:22PM0.96m | 2:15AM0.09m | 1:30PM1.03m | 3:00AM0.01m | 2:26PM1.05m | 3:39AM-0.06m | |||||||
— | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | |
8:24 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:21 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 16 | 20 | 21 | 17 | 22 | 25 | 19 | 23 | 24 | 19 | 22 | 24 | 18 | 21 | 23 | 18 | 20 | 23 | 18 |
Feels °C | 18 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 21 | 23 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 18 | 19 | 22 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 17 | SW 16 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 10 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 13 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | SSW 14 | WNW 8 |
439 | 268 | 187 | 229 | 314 | 471 | 321 | 147 | 339 | 303 | 321 | 289 | 207 | 171 | 260 | 345 | 335 | 300 | 189 | 197 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 15 | S 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | S 11 | NW 8 | S 12 | SSW 15 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 7 | S 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 24 | SSW 24 | WNW 7 | SSW 21 | SSW 21 | S 12 |
163 | 168 | 255 | 255 | 127 | 33 | 169 | 252 | 83 | 52 | 29 | 16 | 153 | 154 | 487 | 487 | 59 | 718 | 516 | 299 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 12 | NW 8 | SSE 13 | SSW 7 | SSW 26 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SSW 22 | SSW 14 | S 12 | SSW 20 |
68 | 62 | 47 | 46 | 46 | 57 | 34 | 26 | 16 | 29 | 14 | 58 | 15 | 263 | 151 | 42 | 412 | 201 | 98 | 596 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 8 | — | — | WNW 8 | — | WNW 11 | NW 4 | WNW 4 | NW 10 | NW 5 | NW 7 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 |
76 | — | — | — | — | — | 61 | — | — | 24 | — | 47 | 21 | 8 | 98 | 49 | 118 | 126 | 248 | 364 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 104 | 144 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 125 | 144 | 0 | 144 | 368 | 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.










