Surf Forecasts:
Indicators surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 16 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s period, SSW swell with 481 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 16 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s 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 (Aug 16) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 5s 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 1.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) 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 0.2m 10s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 16) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicators over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, it’s Rusty here. The outlook at Indicators is pretty quiet for most of the period, with mostly small, onshore wind swell and low quality. Saturday afternoon, August 15, kicks off with a 3ft swell from the SSW at 16 seconds – a nice long-period groundswell, but the cross-on wind from the west at 9 mph and “poor surf conditions” mean it’s not worth paddling out. The water’s at 62° which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – a nice bonus if the waves ever show.
Sunday morning, August 16, offers 3ft WSW swell, but it’s onshore and marginal. Honestly, from August 15 through Thursday August 20 it’s pretty poor – onshore or cross-onshore winds, choppy, and not surfable. The first real chance is Tuesday afternoon, August 18, when winds go glassy with a 3ft SSW swell at 16 seconds and moderate energy (568). Clean but small, ok for a log if you’re keen.
August 22 Saturday afternoon goes glassy again with 4ft WNW swell (10-second period, moderate energy at 369). The wind is perfect but the quality is “very ordinary”. Not a standout.
Now the one to save for. Thursday afternoon, August 27 and Friday afternoon, August 28 show some life. On the 27th afternoon, we get 6ft WNW swell, glassy, and “expect good surf conditions” with strong energy (642). Then Friday the 28th afternoon is the pick: a nice 5ft WNW swell (10 seconds), zero wind – totally glassy – and “expect very good surf conditions” with strong energy (1097). That’s clean, punchy, and manageable size for advanced surfers. The direction is WNW, close enough to the optimum WNW for this sheltered point.
August 29 Saturday afternoon also cleans up with 4ft SSW swell at 17 seconds, glassy, with good energy (998) – a long-period option that could work nicely on the point.
First week is a washout – mostly onshore and small. The real standout is Friday August 28 afternoon at Indicators: head-high WNW groundswell, glassy, and calm air. That’s your session. The 29th and 30th offer a follow-up but with more breeze.
Patience pays off.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Tue afternoon, min 15°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | WNW 11 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | SW 18 | WNW 11 | NW 7 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 493 | 481 | 469 | 362 | 334 | 334 | 334 | 236 | 259 | 366 | 163 | 305 | 322 | 259 | 156 | 193 | 223 | 105 | 346 | 171 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | cross | cross-on | glassy | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 1:14AM1.37m | 1:59PM1.54m | 2:12AM1.19m | 2:31PM1.55m | 3:25AM1.04m | 3:05PM1.55m | 5:30AM0.98m | 3:45PM1.54m | 8:24AM1.07m | 4:35PM1.53m | 9:22AM1.18m | 5:34PM1.53m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:13PM0.39m | 7:14AM0.23m | 8:08PM0.37m | 7:49AM0.46m | 9:09PM0.35m | 8:26AM0.69m | 10:17PM0.34m | 9:12AM0.89m | 11:30PM0.31m | 10:39AM1.04m | 00:41AM0.26m | 12:15PM1.10m | 1:40AM0.19m | |||||||
 |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — |
 | 7:59 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 17 | 18 | 22 | 19 | 20 | 24 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 17 | 20 | 24 | 18 | 21 | 26 | 20 |
Feels °C | 18 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 23 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 17 | 20 | 24 | 18 | 21 | 25 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | WNW 6 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 15 | WNW 8 | WNW 11 | WNW 12 | WNW 7 | WNW 11 | SSW 13 | WNW 8 |
| kJ | 493 | 481 | 469 | 362 | 334 | 334 | 334 | 41 | 259 | 366 | 107 | 145 | 322 | 149 | 148 | 145 | 111 | 91 | 99 | 117 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | S 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | SSW 14 | W 13 | W 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | W 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 11 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 20 | 85 | 57 | 8 | 50 | 62 | 26 | 236 | 3 | 19 | 163 | 305 | 78 | 259 | 156 | 183 | 130 | 105 | 79 | 99 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 12 | S 10 | SW 10 | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 10 | WNW 9 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 17 | WNW 13 | S 22 | WNW 11 | SSW 19 | SW 19 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | S 10 | W 10 |
| kJ | 22 | 24 | 19 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 26 | 2 | 2 | 96 | 59 | 9 | 100 | 36 | 15 | 183 | 81 | 2 | 50 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 4 | NW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 10 | — | — | WNW 7 | NW 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | — | NW 8 | WNW 8 | — | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 11 | NW 7 |
| kJ | 19 | 17 | 21 | 75 | — | — | 50 | 98 | 120 | 183 | — | 262 | 187 | — | 145 | 193 | 223 | 79 | 346 | 171 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 4 | 0 | 104 | 121 | 0 | 104 | 5 | 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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