Indicators Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.95° N 122.03° W

Indicators Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 pm 12 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Indicators sea temperature is
15.5° C
1.9° 

Indicators surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Indicators surf forecast from 13 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 16 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 9s period, NW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 16 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 9s period, NW swell with 580 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 12 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s 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 12) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Indicators in the next 16 days are 2.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 16) 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 15s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 19) at 5AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Sun 12th Jul)2.5ft (0.8m) 14s
Best Surf 8AM (Thu 16th Jul)6.5ft (2.0m) 9s
Most Powerful 8AM (Thu 16th Jul)6.5ft (2.0m) 9s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicators over the next 16 days.


Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for this stretch of coast. Gotta be straight with you, it’s a bit of a slow start, but there are a couple of glimmers if you’re patient.

The forecast kicks off on Sunday the 12th and the run-up through to Wednesday the 15th is a real struggle. The swell is tiny, mostly around 3 ft to 5 ft, but the problem is the wind is all wrong – cross-on, onshore, and generally messy. The water’s sitting at a warm 60 °F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s the only nice thing about it. You’re looking at poor surf conditions and light wind ripples. Not worth paddling out.

Things look a little more possible on Tuesday afternoon the 14th. The wind goes glassy for a bit with a WNW swell of 4 ft. It’s a short-period 8-second swell, so nothing with real grunt, but with clean glassy conditions, it might just be surfable. It’s ordinary, but it’s something.

Then we get a bit of a lull again until Saturday the 18th. The whole week in between is mostly onshore winds with small swell. Nothing to write home about.

Saturday the 18th is where it gets interesting. After lunch, the wind goes glassy again, and we’ve got a 2 ft swell coming from the WNW with a period of 16 seconds. That’s a proper long period groundswell. The combined swell energy is a moderate 527. This is the standout window. The waves will be clean, but that long period means it’ll be breaking a bit straight at beach breaks. If you can find a point or a reef, you’ll be in for a treat. It won’t be big, but the shape should be there. This is your best bet.

Now, lookin’ way out, there’s a promising blip on Monday the 27th. The morning shows a 6 ft NW swell with an 8-second period and combined energy of 1006, which is strong. The wind is offshore from the W. But we’re talking more than a week away, so keep your expectations in check. That’s a lot of energy, and at 6 ft it’s getting into the solid zone. If it holds together and the wind plays ball, it could be a cracker, but that’s a long way off.

For the local spot you want to keep an eye on is Indicators. It’s a point break, best for advanced crew, and fairly consistent. It’s sheltered from the swell here, with its optimum direction being WNW. That lines up with the Saturday afternoon swell. It can get crowded, so expect some company if you head out. Most of the other days are just flat or too messy to bother.

So, to sum it up: Don’t bother until Saturday the 18th afternoon. That’s your one true standout. The long-range Monday the 27th looks promising, but don’t get too attached to that forecast just yet. Everything else is a write-off.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Tue afternoon, min 14°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Sun
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
0
0
1
1
1
2
0
0
2
1
0
2
1
0
2
1
2
1
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
13
0.7
SSW
13
1.2
WNW
8
1.4
NW
8
1.2
WNW
8
1.5
NW
8
1.1
WNW
8
1.3
WNW
8
1.9
NW
8
1.5
WNW
8
1.8
NW
8
1.6
WNW
8
1.3
WNW
8
0.6
W
17
0.6
W
16
0.7
SW
17
0.7
WNW
16
0.6
W
16
0.6
SSW
17
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
233
229
187
184
175
255
162
255
149
192
467
309
428
351
215
215
188
309
263
174
195
Wind (km/h)
10
SW
5
NNW
5
SW
5
SSW
5
WNW
10
WSW
5
WNW
5
N
10
WSW
10
WNW
5
NNW
10
W
15
WNW
5
NNW
10
WSW
10
WSW
5
E
10
WSW
5
WSW
5
NW
5
W
Wind State
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
on
glassy
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
glassy
glassy
on
High Tide
8:57PM2.01m
11:51AM1.33m
9:52PM2.02m
12:31PM1.37m
10:45PM1.98m
1:10PM1.40m
11:37PM1.87m
1:48PM1.42m
00:29AM1.70m
2:25PM1.45m
1:22AM1.49m
3:02PM1.49m
2:20AM1.26m
Low Tide
2:47PM0.98m
4:16AM-0.50m
3:46PM0.93m
5:03AM-0.54m
4:42PM0.86m
5:48AM-0.51m
5:38PM0.79m
6:32AM-0.41m
6:37PM0.71m
7:14AM-0.26m
7:39PM0.64m
7:55AM-0.06m
8:46PM0.56m
8:35AM0.17m
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:58
5:58
6:00
6:00
6:01
6:01
6:03
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:28
8:28
8:28
8:27
8:27
8:25
8:24
8:24
 mm
Temp °C
21
18
20
22
19
23
25
20
21
24
20
19
24
19
18
21
17
20
21
19
21
Feels °C
20
17
19
21
19
21
24
19
20
22
19
18
22
18
17
19
17
19
20
19
20
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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