Surf Forecasts:
Indicators surf forecast from 21 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 21s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 19s period, SSW swell with 894 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 16s 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 1.1m 19s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 8PM. 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 13s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 21s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Mon 27th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicators over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here with the lowdown. It’s a slow start, but hold tight – there’s a clean window coming if you’ve got the patience.
Right now, it’s a long, flat run. From Monday the 20th through Saturday the 25th, the waves are tiny – between 0.7m and 1.1m – and the wind is onshore or cross-onshore, leaving it choppy and poor. The combined energy is weak to moderate, with numbers like 301 and 555, but the quality is just plain bad. It’s a proper dry spell.
Things start to stir on Sunday the 26th, with swell building and energy climbing over 700. The real turn comes on Monday the 27th, with a solid energy jump to over 1000 (1081). The waves are still only about 1.0m to 1.1m, but the period is long (18-19 seconds), which is a good sign for a real groundswell.
Now, the standout. The best session on offer is Tuesday morning, the 28th of July. The forecast is glassy, clean conditions with a light breeze from the southwest. The swell is a steady 1.1m from the SSW with a long 18-second period, giving it some real punch. The combined energy is strong (1286), and the water temperature is around 59°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year. This is the one to mark on the calendar. It won’t be big, but it’ll be clean and lined up, perfect for a long session on a point break. The best direction for this break is WNW, but the SSW swell will wrap in nicely.
After that, the surf keeps going through the end of July and into August, but the wind gets messy again. We see a shift to a WNW swell on the 30th at 1.6m, but the period drops to 9 seconds, making it weaker and more wind-swell. The energy is moderate (760). By the first week of August, the swell is smaller and the wind is onshore, making it a tough call.
The only other blip of interest is Monday the 3rd of August, with another push of WNW swell at 1.7m (9-second period) and moderate energy (555). The morning could be worth a look if the cross-onshore wind stays light, but it’s not in the same league as that Tuesday morning clean-up.
So, the highlight is clear: Tuesday morning, 28th July. Get on it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Tue morning, min 16°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sat afternoon, min 14°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 26 | SSW 24 | SSW 24 | SSW 22 | SSW 21 | SSW 21 | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 255 | 314 | 465 | 312 | 249 | 339 | 303 | 321 | 229 | 163 | 263 | 487 | 487 | 412 | 718 | 516 | 596 | 590 | 572 | 491 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 4:16PM1.55m | 5:12AM0.93m | 4:56PM1.57m | 7:41AM0.94m | 5:38PM1.58m | 9:21AM1.06m | 6:24PM1.60m | 10:17AM1.17m | 7:13PM1.63m | 10:57AM1.24m | 8:00PM1.66m | 11:30AM1.27m | 8:44PM1.68m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:12PM0.39m | 10:07AM0.63m | 00:22AM0.28m | 11:10AM0.83m | 1:23AM0.18m | 12:22PM0.96m | 2:15AM0.09m | 1:30PM1.03m | 3:00AM0.01m | 2:26PM1.05m | 3:39AM-0.06m | 3:12PM1.03m | 4:14AM-0.11m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — |
 | 8:23 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:20 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 22 | 25 | 20 | 21 | 25 | 19 | 20 | 26 | 19 | 21 | 24 | 20 |
Feels °C | 20 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 19 | 22 | 24 | 19 | 20 | 23 | 18 | 19 | 24 | 18 | 20 | 23 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 11 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 13 | SSW 13 | S 14 | S 13 | WNW 7 | S 13 | S 13 | WNW 8 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | WNW 8 |
| kJ | 229 | 314 | 465 | 312 | 245 | 143 | 96 | 321 | 229 | 176 | 158 | 264 | 350 | 102 | 259 | 209 | 154 | 590 | 572 | 178 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | S 11 | NW 8 | S 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 8 | SSW 7 | SSW 14 | S 13 | SSW 24 | SSW 24 | S 13 | SSW 21 | SSW 21 | SSW 20 | SSW 12 | S 12 | SSW 18 |
| kJ | 255 | 127 | 33 | 224 | 249 | 339 | 303 | 81 | 41 | 163 | 126 | 487 | 487 | 272 | 718 | 516 | 596 | 195 | 103 | 491 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 13 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 12 | SSE 15 | S 14 | SSW 6 | SSW 26 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SSW 22 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | S 12 | — | — | S 11 |
| kJ | 46 | 46 | 57 | 27 | 18 | 10 | 29 | 71 | 136 | 23 | 263 | 98 | 42 | 412 | 41 | 50 | 139 | — | — | 61 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | NW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 5 | NW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | NW 8 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | 26 | 40 | 61 | 174 | 108 | 80 | 276 | 108 | 159 | 328 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 249 | 0 | 480 | 41 | 0 | 166 | 150 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 86 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 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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