
Surf Forecasts:
Indicators surf forecast from 28 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 28 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 17s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period, NW swell with 1,157 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 28 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 17s 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 (Jul 28) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 12s. Another secondary swell of 1.1m and 7s 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 2.5m 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 1.0m 14s period and expected on Friday (Jul 31) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Tue 28th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 17s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Tue 28th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicators over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what we’ve got coming up. Honestly, for a stretch here, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The main issue is that our standout break, Indicators, is a pretty sheltered spot needing a specific window, and the swell and wind aren’t lining up for most of the run. We’ve got a decent pulse of energy coming through mid-week, but the conditions are just messy. Let’s break it down.
Starting off on Monday the 27th of July, we’ve got a long-period groundswell rolling in from the SSW at 4ft with a period of 19 seconds. That’s some serious energy in the water, pushing combined swell energy to 987 (moderate). The problem? A cross-onshore wind from the WNW at 9 mph is going to chop it up. Poor surf is the name of the game, so don’t get your hopes up.
Tuesday the 28th is a write-off through the morning with marginal conditions, and the afternoon isn’t much better despite a bump in size to 4ft. The period drops to 18 seconds, and we’ve still got a cross-onshore breeze. The energy is now a bit stronger at 1091 (moderate), but the shape is no good.
Wednesday the 29th looks similar – clean skies but the wind stays cross-onshore from the west at 6 mph. The swell holds at 4ft with a 16-second period, but the guidance is clear: these are marginal surf days. You could get wet, but it won’t be pretty.
Here’s the standout. Thursday the 30th of July afternoon. The swell drops a little to 3ft from the SSW, period 15 seconds, and the combined energy is 821 (moderate). But the wind goes glassy from the WNW at 3 mph. That’s the good stuff. If you’re surfing Indicators, that’s your window. Clean, glassy surface, and that longer period means the waves will have some push. The water is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year at 60°F, a notable little anomaly of plus 3°.
Friday the 31st of July morning is marginal again, but the afternoon flips. The swell jumps to 4ft from the WNW, but the period drops to a short 8 seconds. The wind goes glassy again, so it’ll look clean, but that short-period swell is going to be a bit fat and weak. It’s surfable, but very ordinary.
Then things get a bit more interesting, but not necessarily good. Saturday the 1st of August brings a pulse of NW swell at 6ft, with a short 8-second period. That’s on the bigger side for a beginner, but the combined energy is only 788 (moderate) because of the short period. The morning has light offshore wind (WSW at 3 mph), which is promising, but the afternoon turns cross-onshore. Expect some size, but sloppy.
Sunday the 2nd of August through Monday the 4th is a steady run of WNW swell around 6ft to 4ft, with periods slowly building from 9 to 10 seconds. The wind stays light and cross-onshore or onshore the whole time. It’s a real struggle. By Monday afternoon, it’s officially “poor surf conditions” again. Honestly, from Sunday the 2nd right through to Tuesday the 5th, it’s a grim run. A solid 6-day stretch with nothing really recommended.
We get a little flare up on Wednesday the 6th of August, but it’s still cross-onshore and poor. The swell is from the WNW at 4ft with a 10-second period, but the constant light S to SSW wind just kills it.
Looking into the second week, from the 7th of August onward, it’s more of the same. Thursday the 7th has 5ft swell from the WNW, but it’s cross-onshore or onshore. The energy is moderate (654). That’s too big for beginners and not clean enough for anyone else. Friday the 8th and Saturday the 9th are similar stories – onshore wind and marginal or poor conditions. The best long-range prospect is a weak, long-period SSW pulse on Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th of August, but the swell is tiny (1ft to 2ft) and the wind is still cross-onshore. Not worth planning for.
So, to sum it up: your best bet, the only real standout, is Thursday afternoon the 30th of July at Indicators. That glassy window with a 15-second swell is your chance for some clean, lined-up waves. Everything else is a fight against the wind.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | ||||||||||||||
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 19 | SSW 17 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
876 | 580 | 751 | 877 | 619 | 612 | 604 | 567 | 527 | 402 | 302 | 284 | 197 | 408 | 467 | 423 | 1157 | 554 | 578 | 638 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 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 | 1:39PM1.36m | 00:38AM1.39m | 2:04PM1.43m | 1:28AM1.25m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 6:32AM-0.04m | 6:49PM0.67m | 6:58AM0.09m | 7:38PM0.59m | |||||||
— | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | |
8:19 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:16 | — | — | 8:16 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 20 | 19 | 24 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 18 | 21 | 23 | 18 | 20 | 23 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 17 |
Feels °C | 22 | 19 | 19 | 24 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 18 | 20 | 23 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 18 | 20 | 23 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 16 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 15 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | S 14 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | S 13 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | SSW 12 | WNW 10 |
876 | 580 | 751 | 877 | 248 | 237 | 604 | 347 | 290 | 402 | 302 | 207 | 388 | 232 | 284 | 209 | 614 | 554 | 52 | 638 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | S 19 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSE 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSE 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 14 | S 12 | SSW 13 | SW 14 | SW 13 |
55 | 36 | 35 | 7 | 619 | 612 | 45 | 475 | 527 | 41 | 288 | 284 | 138 | 284 | 272 | 81 | 137 | 102 | 46 | 44 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSE 16 | S 18 | SSE 14 | S 11 | SW 15 | S 14 | S 13 | — | SW 21 | SW 15 | SW 19 | SW 14 | S 10 | S 9 | SSW 10 |
2 | 9 | 8 | 31 | 19 | 24 | 155 | 40 | 2 | 76 | 94 | 126 | — | 17 | 37 | 15 | 53 | 17 | 15 | 18 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 5 | NW 7 | WNW 7 | NW 7 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | — | — | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 9 | — | WNW 10 | — |
56 | 106 | 164 | 183 | 408 | 456 | 343 | 567 | 479 | 343 | — | — | 197 | 408 | 467 | 423 | 1157 | — | 578 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










