Surf Forecasts:
Indicators surf forecast from 8 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 10 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 17s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 8s period, NW swell with 527 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 8 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 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 Tuesday (Sep 08) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 14s 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 2.0m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 13s period and expected on Monday (Sep 07) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicators over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s talk about Indicators.
We’ve got a long stretch ahead, and honestly, the first week is a bit of a grind. We’re looking at a real slow start. From now through the weekend of the 13th, the surf is mostly small, weak, and messy. The swell energy is all over the place, with most days sitting under 300 (moderate wave energy) or barely scratching the surface. Winds are often onshore or cross-onshore, and the swell periods are short, mostly under 10 seconds, which means weak, lumpy waves. If you’re a beginner, it’s almost all surfable, but there’s nothing to get excited about. For the more experienced crew, it’s going to be a frustrating wait.
The standout comes at the very end of the run. On Monday the 21st of September, we finally get a proper window. The morning kicks off with a glassy 3ft SSW swell at 18 seconds, pushing the combined swell energy up to 532 (moderate to strong wave energy). The wind is glassy. That afternoon, it holds: still glassy, a 3ft SSW swell at 17 seconds, with the energy jumping to 669. This is the best on offer. It’s not massive, but for a long-period groundswell like that, Indicators (a sheltered point break) will handle it beautifully. The water is 61°F, which is about average for the time of year.
Tuesday the 22nd shows a jump in size to 5ft WNW, but the period drops to 11 seconds, and the winds go onshore. The energy is high at 821, but the conditions won’t be clean. It’s a bit of a letdown after that Monday.
So, if you can hold out, the 21st is your day. The first week is a write-off. For a spot that’s fairly consistent, this is a slow patch, but it won’t last.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 32°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu morning, fresh winds from the NW by Sat afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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 14 | NW 7 | WNW 8 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 178 | 50 | 37 | 80 | 80 | 69 | 148 | 309 | 267 | 368 | 437 | 430 | 430 | 331 | 314 | 305 | 285 | 463 | 202 | 220 | 223 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 9:36AM1.35m | 7:51PM1.77m | 10:09AM1.41m | 8:53PM1.76m | 10:40AM1.46m | 9:49PM1.71m | 11:09AM1.50m | 10:42PM1.62m | 11:37AM1.54m | 11:33PM1.51m | 12:04PM1.56m | 00:23AM1.38m | 12:30PM1.57m | 1:16AM1.26m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:02PM0.87m | 2:56AM-0.20m | 2:57PM0.69m | 3:39AM-0.20m | 3:46PM0.51m | 4:18AM-0.13m | 4:32PM0.36m | 4:54AM-0.02m | 5:17PM0.24m | 5:28AM0.15m | 6:01PM0.17m | 6:01AM0.34m | 6:44PM0.15m | ||||||||
 | |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — |
 | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:19 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 22 | 18 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 31 | 32 | 24 | 24 | 27 | 21 | 19 | 24 | 18 | 19 | 22 | 16 | 18 | 22 | 17 |
Feels °C | 19 | 21 | 19 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 30 | 30 | 23 | 23 | 26 | 21 | 19 | 23 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 12 | 17 | 20 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | WNW 9 | SW 15 | WNW 8 | SW 14 | SW 14 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 13 | WNW 8 |
| kJ | 426 | 503 | 451 | 295 | 248 | 202 | 98 | 309 | 267 | 368 | 437 | 430 | 190 | 331 | 197 | 305 | 211 | 274 | 202 | 118 | 223 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | NW 7 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | SSW 19 | S 9 | S 10 | WNW 12 | SSW 10 | WNW 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 7 | SW 15 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | WSW 11 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 64 | 50 | 37 | 60 | 39 | 28 | 148 | 61 | 67 | 127 | 146 | 146 | 430 | 9 | 309 | 35 | 34 | 158 | 120 | 23 | 85 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SW 9 | SSW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 13 | WNW 9 | SSW 12 | W 21 | SSW 8 | SSW 7 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | S 10 | S 10 | WSW 12 | WNW 10 | SSW 20 | SW 19 |
| kJ | 178 | 13 | 34 | 80 | 80 | 69 | 103 | 63 | 54 | 77 | 9 | 40 | 18 | 50 | 42 | 7 | 7 | 29 | 33 | 37 | 92 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 4 | WNW 5 | NW 8 | WNW 12 | NW 7 | — | WNW 9 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | — | WNW 8 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 16 | 64 | 177 | 91 | — | 252 | 314 | 213 | 285 | 463 | — | 220 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 175 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Cruz | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Indicators surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
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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