Indicators Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.95° N 122.03° W

Indicators Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 pm 11 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 12 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 17 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 8s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 17 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 8s period, NW swell with 619 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 12 Jul, 5AM (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 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Indicators in the next 16 days are 2.1m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 16s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 18) at 11PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Sun 12th Jul)2.5ft (0.8m) 14s
Best Surf 5AM (Fri 17th Jul)6.5ft (2.0m) 8s
Most Powerful 2AM (Fri 17th Jul)7ft (2.1m) 8s

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


Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about what we've got on the charts for the local stretch.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are looking pretty tough for this spot. We've got a long stretch of small, wind-affected, and generally weak surf coming our way. For a sheltered point break like Indicators that needs a solid WNW groundswell and clean offshore winds, we just ain't getting the magic combo for most of the run.

Let’s start with this coming Sunday, July 12th. Morning and afternoon are a write-off – cross-on southwest wind, and that 14-second swell is just too long and from the wrong direction to wrap in here properly. Combined energy is middling but the quality is just not there.

Monday the 13th is the best we're gonna see for a while, and even that’s a "highlight" only because everything else is so flat. Monday morning is glassy, with the wind going WSW at 3 mph. That's the kind of light offshore that will make the surface clean. We're looking at a 2 ft swell from the SSW, period around 13 seconds. The energy is moderate and for this sheltered point, that long period should line up okay. It’s small – strictly longboard or a fish – but it’ll be clean. If you’re a beginner, 2 ft is fine. Just don't expect much push. The water temp is sitting about average for the time of year, so no wetsuit drama.

After that little blink on Monday, things go flat and messy. Tuesday the 14th pulls in a 5 ft NW windswell with a short 8-second period, but the wind switches, and the quality tanks. The pattern is clear: onshore breezes, junky little waves, and low scores. You’ll see Wednesday, Thursday, Friday all the way through the weekend – it’s a desert. The combined energy values bounce around, but the wind is onshore or cross-onshore almost every session, and for a point break, that’s a death sentence for good waves.

There’s a tiny flicker on Thursday morning July 23rd, where the swell bumps back up to 5 ft from the WNW, period 10 seconds. That’s a more promising direction and a bit more size. But the wind is still onshore from the WSW at 6 mph. It'll be choppy and lumpy. Expert surfers on a step-up might find a couple of closeouts, but it’s not one for the average punter. At 5 ft it’s right on the edge of being too big for beginners, but the poor quality means even experienced guys will be frustrated.

For the very end of the run, July 24th through the 27th, we see some bigger energy readings and very long period groundswell (18 to 24 seconds) – that’s exciting on paper. But again, the wind stays on the nose or cross-on from the south or southwest. That long period stuff is notorious for being hard to handle on a point break when the wind isn’t perfect. It’ll look big and have power, but the shape will be all over the place. The strength of that energy is "moderate to strong", but it's completely let down by the wind.

So, what’s the bottom line? The one standout in this whole 16-day run is Monday morning, July 13th.

Indicators – It’s going to be tiny, with a 2 ft SSW swell, but that glassy WSW wind at 3 mph will give you a silky, clean surface. The long 13-second period will help the swell wrap in and give it a bit of push. It’s the only time where the wind truly cooperates. It’s a small window, a loner’s session, and not a classic day, but compared to the rest of this stretch? It’s your best bet. Crowds are possible – it’s often busy even when it’s small – so don’t expect to have it to yourself.

For everything else, honestly? This setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer on most of those days. The wind is either too strong or from the wrong quarter for clean waves, and the swell just isn't lining up.

We'll keep an eye on it.

- Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Tue afternoon, min 15°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Sat
18
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
0
2
2
1
1
1
1
2
0
0
2
1
0
2
2
1
2
1
1
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
15
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
1.1
WNW
9
0.7
SSW
13
1.1
WNW
8
1.4
NW
8
1.2
WNW
8
1.4
NW
8
1.1
WNW
8
1.4
WNW
8
1.9
NW
8
1.5
WNW
8
1.7
WNW
8
2.1
NW
8
1.9
WNW
8
1.3
WNW
8
1.3
WNW
8
0.7
SW
17
0.6
SSW
18
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
242
229
233
229
187
184
165
232
166
223
145
230
475
280
374
619
481
237
228
309
211
Wind (km/h)
5
S
10
SW
10
SW
5
WNW
5
WSW
10
SW
0
NW
5
WSW
5
W
5
NNW
10
WSW
5
WNW
5
NNW
10
W
15
WNW
5
NNW
10
WSW
10
WSW
0
NNW
10
WSW
10
WSW
Wind State
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
glassy
on
glassy
on
glassy
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross
on
on
glassy
on
on
High Tide
8:01PM1.95m
11:09AM1.26m
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
Low Tide
3:26AM-0.41m
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
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:58
5:58
5:58
6:00
6:00
6:01
6:01
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:29
8:28
8:28
8:28
8:27
8:27
8:25
8:24
 mm
Temp °C
16
20
21
19
20
23
18
23
25
20
23
24
19
21
24
20
20
22
17
20
22
Feels °C
16
19
20
19
19
22
19
22
24
20
22
22
18
20
23
19
19
21
17
19
21
  • 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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