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, 8AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 18s period, SSW swell with 823 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m 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 1.2m 18s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) 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 0.7m 13s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 17s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicators over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Same region, same 16 days, now in feet and Fahrenheit.
The closest we get to a proper wave is at Indicators, a point break that’s sheltered and needs a WNW swell to really fire. It’s an advanced wave. The first few days are a waste. Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th of August have tiny surf, maybe 2 to 2 feet, with poor conditions and messy wind. The swell is long-period groundswell, but the energy is just moderate—around 226 to 241. The wind is cross-on or onshore, so you’re looking at bumpy, weak lines.
The first real chance comes on the morning of Sunday the 30th of August. The wind goes glassy offshore from the SSW, and the swell is a clean 3 feet from the same direction, with a 16-second period. The combined energy jumps to 968 (moderate), and the forecast calls for good surf. That’s the standout session in the first week. The water is sitting at 62°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year.
After that, the surf drops off. Monday and Tuesday mornings at the start of September are surfable but very ordinary—tiny waves, glassy conditions on the 1st of September morning, but the swell is only 2 feet. The energy drops to 168 (weak). Not worth paddling out for.
The next real highlight shows up on the morning of Saturday the 6th of September. Again, glassy conditions with a 4 feet SSW swell, period around 15 seconds, and combined energy of 573 (moderate). The forecast says “expect good surf conditions.” That’s the best bet in the second week, but it’s a long-range call, so it’s promising but not guaranteed. The wind is clean, the swell is solid, and it’s the best of the run.
So, the window is thin. Big gaps of poor surf. The two mornings to target are the 30th of August and the 6th of September. The 6th of September is the one to keep an eye on.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu morning, fresh winds from the NW by Sat afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | NW 7 | SW 14 | WNW 6 | NW 7 | SSW 17 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | NW 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 155 | 147 | 190 | 181 | 130 | 124 | 169 | 166 | 200 | 103 | 116 | 258 | 340 | 387 | 486 | 697 | 505 | 582 | 463 | 411 | 371 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | glassy | on | glassy |
High Tide | 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 | 12:38PM1.51m | 00:42AM1.32m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 5:53AM0.19m | 6:27PM0.33m | ||||||||
 | |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — |
 | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:38 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 22 | 18 | 22 | 26 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 22 | 24 | 27 | 21 | 21 | 26 | 19 | 19 | 24 | 17 | 16 | 20 | 17 |
Feels °C | 19 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 25 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 21 | 23 | 26 | 20 | 20 | 23 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | S 14 | WNW 8 | SSW 16 | S 13 | WNW 5 | SSW 16 | S 13 | WNW 7 | S 12 | SW 14 | WNW 7 | SSW 17 | SSW 19 | WNW 8 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 15 | WNW 8 |
| kJ | 71 | 150 | 37 | 181 | 87 | 19 | 169 | 171 | 131 | 137 | 103 | 155 | 340 | 387 | 178 | 697 | 505 | 323 | 191 | 411 | 220 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | S 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 13 | SSW 16 | S 12 | SW 14 | S 11 | SSW 14 | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 18 | S 9 | S 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | W 11 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 153 | 147 | 190 | 126 | 130 | 124 | 55 | 166 | 144 | 103 | 61 | 138 | 61 | 53 | 486 | 16 | 17 | 582 | 463 | 10 | 371 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | W 11 | S 13 | W 17 | W 16 | S 13 | SSE 14 | W 13 | SSW 15 | W 11 | S 12 | S 12 | W 10 | SW 14 | S 10 | S 10 | — | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 |
| kJ | 155 | 9 | 92 | 23 | 45 | 84 | 70 | 55 | 146 | 38 | 49 | 98 | 33 | 89 | 30 | 16 | — | 7 | 6 | 1 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WNW 8 | NW 7 | WNW 7 | NW 4 | NW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 4 | NW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | NW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 |
| kJ | — | 66 | 91 | 37 | 40 | 43 | 21 | 38 | 200 | 78 | 116 | 258 | 134 | 163 | 305 | 215 | 253 | 527 | 314 | 161 | 362 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 104 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 368 | 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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