Indicators Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – this is one of those outlooks where we’re gonna have to be patient. The next couple of weeks are full of marginal calls and poor surf conditions. The Indicators break is a sheltered point, and it’s a pretty consistent spot, so it tends not to stay flat for long, but the forecasts are what they are. Let’s walk through it.

Right now, from this Wednesday, July 22nd, we’ve got a small 3-foot swell rolling in from the SSW, with a period of 15 seconds. That’s long-period groundswell, so it has better shape and more energy, but it’s light cross-onshore wind at 6 mph. The wave energy is moderate (606). The water is sitting at 60°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. The problem is that conditions are marginal, and the morning session is listed as questionable. The afternoon turns poor, with a 9 mph onshore breeze. Not good. Thursday and Friday are much the same story – small SSW swell (2 to 3 feet), cross-onshore winds, and poor surf conditions all round. Friday morning does have a very long period of 24 seconds, and light wind, but the swell is only 2 feet, so it’s not doing much.

Saturday and Sunday (July 25th-26th) are still small, with 3 to 3 feet SSW swell. The mornings have light offshore wind, but the forecast is still “marginal.” The afternoon cross-onshore breeze ruins it. Wave energy picks up a bit to the mid-800s (836 and 853) on the mornings, but still not delivering.

Now, the first half of the following week (July 27th-29th) finally sees the swell tick up to 3 feet from the SSW. The period is long, around 18 seconds, and wave energy is getting solid, hitting 909 and 1140. The mornings keep that light offshore wind, but the afternoons go cross-onshore. It’s still marginal, not clean. This is the best of a weak bunch, but it’s nothing to get excited about.

Then we hit July 30th. Thursday morning is still small at 3 feet, but Thursday afternoon is the shift. The swell jumps to 6 feet from the NW, with a short period of just 8 seconds. That’s a short-period wind swell, and the wave energy is strong (1132). The wind is light cross-onshore. For advanced surfers, this could offer something, but the quality is still listed as marginal. Friday July 31st keeps it going with 5 to 6 feet from the WNW and NW, with light offshore wind, and energy still up (781). Again, short period on the WNW swell at 9 seconds.

A quick word on that period around July 30th and 31st – 6 feet is pushing into the zone where beginners will find it too big. For experts, it could be alright, but the short period means the waves might be a bit fat and crumbling at the point. The optimum swell direction for this break is WNW, so the July 31st Friday morning session with 5 feet from WNW and light offshore wind is honestly the standout of the whole 16 days. The energy is moderate (525), but the direction, wind, and size line up best here.

After that, from August 1st through to August 6th, it fades badly. Swell drops to 4 feet and then down to 1 feet, and every single session is rated “poor surf conditions.” Wind is onshore or cross-onshore, periods are short, and wave energy sinks to under 200. No good. The last few days of the forecast are a complete write-off.

So, the honest take: for the next week and a half, you’re chasing marginal windows. The one session that stands out is Friday morning, July 31st at Indicators – 5 feet from the WNW, light offshore wind, and the right direction. That’s your best bet. But don’t book any time off work just yet; it’s still a long-range call and could change. Everything else is small, blown out, or too messy.

Rusty.

Read more