Surf Forecasts:
Indicators surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 26 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 20s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 26 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 20s period, SSW swell with 932 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 26 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 20s 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 Sunday (Jul 26) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 20s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 12s. Another secondary swell of 0.9m 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 1.1m 20s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 26) 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 1.2m 14s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 01) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 20s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 20s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 20s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicators over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what’s coming up for Indicators. We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks. The water temp is running a touch warmer than normal for the time of year, sitting at about 61°, which is always nice.
Right off the bat, we have a gap with no real surf to get excited about. The first few days from the 25th are surfable in a technical sense, but the conditions are getting in the way. The winds are mostly onshore or cross-on, kicking up chop, and the wave quality just isn't there.
Things start to get a bit more interesting around Tuesday the 29th, but it’s still a bit of a struggle for consistency. The swell picks up, but it's a short-period affair. You'll see some waist-high sets but it's not going to be any kind of classic.
The one period that stands out as the best on offer is Thursday morning, the 30th. We get a jump in the swell size to about 6 ft, from the NW. It’s got the strongest wave energy of the period at 1284, so it won't be lacking for power. The wind is light and blowing directly onshore. That’s a bit of a bummer for conditions, and with a period of only 8 seconds, it's going to feel a bit disorganised and lumpy. This will be a big, challenging, and not particularly clean wave. It's definitely an experts-only affair if you're going to paddle out; for everyone else, it might look more interesting for kite surfing.
From the 1st of August right through to the 9th, the outlook tails off. We’re looking at a lot of days with small, weak, short-period swell and mostly unfavourable wind. The consistent cross-on/onshore flow will keep things choppy. There are pockets of slightly bigger energy in the second week, like the 2nd of August or the 6th of August, but the quality remains poor or marginal. It’s a real grind for the second week.
So, to cut to it: the standout, for better or worse, is that Thursday the 30th. It has the size (6 ft NW) and energy, but the wind and crummy period keep it from being a true classic.
Stay tuned, things can always change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Tue afternoon, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | ||||||||||||||
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 21 | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | NW 8 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 578 | 790 | 782 | 566 | 491 | 785 | 876 | 580 | 751 | 877 | 667 | 604 | 604 | 553 | 534 | 408 | 242 | 192 | 188 | 149 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 8:00PM1.66m | 11:30AM1.27m | 8:44PM1.68m | 11:58AM1.27m | 9:25PM1.69m | 12:20PM1.26m | 10:03PM1.69m | 12:40PM1.26m | 10:40PM1.66m | 12:58PM1.27m | 11:17PM1.59m | 1:17PM1.30m | 11:56PM1.50m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:26PM1.05m | 3:39AM-0.06m | 3:12PM1.03m | 4:14AM-0.11m | 3:50PM1.00m | 4:46AM-0.15m | 4:25PM0.95m | 5:15AM-0.17m | 4:57PM0.89m | 5:41AM-0.16m | 5:30PM0.83m | 6:07AM-0.12m | 6:06PM0.76m | |||||||
 |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — |
 | 8:21 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:16 | — | — | 8:16 | — | — | 8:15 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 20 | 20 | 26 | 21 | 20 | 26 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 18 | 19 | 22 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 18 |
Feels °C | 22 | 19 | 20 | 23 | 19 | 20 | 23 | 18 | 20 | 23 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 21 | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 19 | WNW 7 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 16 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 15 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | S 14 | S 14 |
| kJ | 578 | 790 | 782 | 566 | 491 | 785 | 876 | 169 | 751 | 877 | 287 | 270 | 604 | 347 | 309 | 408 | 237 | 192 | 496 | 549 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 17 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSE 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSE 14 | SSW 15 | S 14 | SW 15 | WNW 8 |
| kJ | 58 | 56 | 46 | 46 | 40 | 23 | 55 | 580 | 35 | 31 | 667 | 604 | 43 | 475 | 441 | 40 | 242 | 320 | 55 | 149 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 11 | SSW 22 | NNW 11 | — | SW 12 | SSW 9 | SW 11 | S 17 | SSE 16 | S 18 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | S 15 | S 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 21 | 17 | 17 | 2 | 91 | 11 | — | 36 | 8 | 30 | 6 | 24 | 155 | 41 | 17 | 172 | 203 | 180 | 37 | 102 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | NW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | — | — | WNW 8 | — |
| kJ | 51 | 61 | 43 | 61 | 88 | 85 | 120 | 285 | 173 | 224 | 486 | 456 | 343 | 553 | 534 | 351 | — | — | 188 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 0 | 86 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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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