
Surf Forecasts:
Indicators surf forecast from 1 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 1 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 9s period, NW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 9s period, NW swell with 904 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 1 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period with WNW 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 Saturday (Aug 01) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 8s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Indicators in the next 16 days are 2.4m 9s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 2AM. 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 13s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 01) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Sat 1st Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Sat 1st Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 9s |
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 menu for the next couple of weeks. It's a pretty quiet stretch ahead, so let's get into it.
Right off the bat, we've got a bit of a wait. The first decent window kicks off on Saturday, the 1st of August, but it's nothing to write home about. The only break that's worth a look is Indicators. It's a sheltered point break that's best with a WNW swell, and it's for advanced crew only as it's fairly consistent. The water temp is about average for this time of year. We'll see a moderate 6 ft swell from the NW on Saturday morning, with a combined energy of 695 – that's a solid moderate amount of grunt, but the period is a short 8 seconds, so it'll be a bit jumbled. The real highlight is Saturday afternoon: the wind goes glassy, coming from the west at only 3 mph, and the swell is a touch cleaner at 5 ft from the WNW. It's still only a short period (8s), but with those clean conditions and the combined energy at 399 (moderate), it's the best wave we'll see all week. It's a marginal call, but if you paddle out Saturday afternoon, you might get a couple of fun ones.
But don't get too excited. From Sunday morning, the 2nd of August, things go downhill fast. We get a cross-on wind that sticks around, and the swell drops. The wave energy weakens and the quality goes from "marginal" to "poor" from Monday afternoon onwards. The period stays short, around 8-10 seconds, and the swell just fades. There's a long gap here with nothing recommended. The wind stays light, but it's always cross-on, which just messes up the face. By Wednesday the 5th, the swell is down to 3 ft and the combined energy is a measly 187 (weak). This lull stretches all the way through to the end of the first week.
We get a little bump around Saturday the 8th, with the swell nudging back up to 4 ft and moderate energy of 548, but it's still cross-on and the period is short. Nothing to plan a trip around. The second week is more of the same: poor conditions, cross-on winds, and small, weak, short-period NW swells.
Then, around Wednesday the 12th, we see a shift in the swell direction to SSW. The period gets long – 16 to 19 seconds – but the swell height is tiny, 2 ft to 3 ft. The combined energy is moderate (378-635), but it's just too small to do anything with. The wind is still cross-on or onshore, so it's a messy, blown-out dribble. The long period means it's groundswell, but there's no size to back it up. This spot is a sheltered point break, so it would need a proper push to get going.
Honestly, this is a tough outlook. The only real standout is the glassy Saturday afternoon session on the 1st of August. After that, it's a long stretch of poor-to-marginal surf with no real quality. The consistency is low, but for the area, these blank runs are pretty normal. If you're desperate, you could scratch around on that Saturday, but otherwise, leave the boards in the shed.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Tue afternoon, min 14°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
328 | 381 | 351 | 904 | 517 | 495 | 590 | 461 | 386 | 248 | 242 | 180 | 134 | 111 | 145 | 133 | 145 | 145 | 154 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 11:56PM1.50m | 1:39PM1.36m | 00:38AM1.39m | 2:04PM1.43m | 1:28AM1.25m | 2:33PM1.52m | 2:28AM1.11m | 3:08PM1.60m | 3:51AM0.99m | 3:50PM1.68m | 5:58AM0.94m | 4:42PM1.75m | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:32AM-0.04m | 6:49PM0.67m | 6:58AM0.09m | 7:38PM0.59m | 7:26AM0.26m | 8:37PM0.49m | 7:57AM0.45m | 9:45PM0.38m | 8:31AM0.66m | 11:01PM0.25m | 9:18AM0.85m | 00:16AM0.10m | |||||||
— | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | |
8:15 | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:09 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 20 | 23 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 17 |
Feels °C | 17 | 20 | 22 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | S 13 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 |
183 | 232 | 90 | 520 | 517 | 495 | 590 | 461 | 386 | 248 | 242 | 180 | 134 | 111 | 145 | 133 | 145 | 145 | 154 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 13 | SW 14 | S 12 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
225 | 89 | 48 | 76 | 74 | 46 | 44 | 67 | 42 | 37 | 61 | 36 | 54 | 52 | 52 | 96 | 85 | 84 | 85 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 21 | SSW 14 | S 10 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 12 | SSW 11 | S 13 | S 12 | SSW 20 | SSW 20 | SW 18 |
9 | 82 | 18 | 53 | 55 | 55 | 30 | 67 | 65 | 40 | 37 | 35 | 36 | 24 | 31 | 12 | 37 | 37 | 80 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
328 | 381 | 351 | 904 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 104 | 317 | 0 | 79 | 37 | 0 | 37 | 150 | 0 | 37 | 219 | 0 | 104 | 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.











