Indicators Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.95° N 122.03° W

Indicators Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 pm 02 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Indicators sea temperature is
15.8°C
0.8° 

Indicators surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Indicators surf forecast from 3 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 4 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 18s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 5 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 15s period, SSW swell with 670 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 3 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 18s 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 Thursday (Sep 03) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 18s 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 1.2m 15s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 05) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 13s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 2AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Thu 3rd Sep)2.5ft (0.7m) 18s
Best Surf 5AM (Fri 4th Sep)3ft (0.9m) 18s
Most Powerful 5PM (Sat 5th Sep)4ft (1.2m) 15s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a slow start. Thursday and Friday are looking pretty average, with small, messy swell and onshore or cross-onshore winds. The real story starts to build over the weekend. We’ve got a long-period groundswell from the SSW rolling in, with some decent energy. By Friday morning, the 4th of September, things are looking up. The swell is a clean 3ft from the SSW, with a long 18-second period, and it’s dead glassy. That’s the kind of morning you set the alarm for. The combined energy is moderate at 745, so there’s some push behind it.

The standout for the first week, though, is coming up on Saturday the 12th of September. Saturday morning we’ve got a solid 6ft swell from the WNW, with a 9-second period, and it’s glassy as a mirror. The combined energy is chunky at 879. That’s a proper session for the advanced crew, as it’s pushing over 5ft. The spot to have a look at is Indicators, a point break that’s fairly consistent. It’s sheltered from the swell, but the optimum direction is WNW, which is exactly what we’re getting. The wind is light and offshore from the SSW in the morning, so it’s going to be clean. Just a heads up, it’s an advanced wave, and it’s often crowded, so expect company if you paddle out. The water temp is about average for this time of year.

Sunday the 13th is still surfable, but the swell drops a touch to 6ft, and the wind is a light cross-on from the SSW, so it’s not as pristine as Saturday. The swell energy is still moderate at 732.

Then we get a bit of a spike on Monday the 14th of September. The morning shows a 8ft swell from the NW, with a 9-second period. That’s expert territory, over 8ft, so only the keen and the skilled should be out. The combined energy is strong at 1515. The wind is a light cross-on from the SSW, so it’s not perfect, but the size is there for those who can handle it. The period is on the shorter side, so it might be a bit lumpy.

After that, the surf settles down through the middle of the week, with smaller, more manageable waves. There’s a nice little window on Wednesday the 16th of September, with a 4ft WNW swell and glassy conditions from the south. The energy is moderate at 507, and it’s a good option for a cleaner, smaller day.

The final days of the outlook see the swell drop right off, with tiny 1ft to 2ft waves from the SSW. The period is long, over 15 seconds, but there’s just not enough size to make it worthwhile. The morning of the 17th is glassy, but with only 2ft on offer, it’s a very ordinary session. The 18th is similar, with 1ft and glassy, but again, too small to get excited about.

So, if you’re picking your moment, the clear winner is the morning of Saturday the 12th of September at Indicators. It’s got the size, the direction, and the wind. The Monday the 14th is a big-wave option for the experts. The rest of the window is a mix of average, small, or windy conditions.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sat afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
Sunday
6
Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
0
1
2
0
2
1
0
2
1
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
SSW
17
0.8
SSW
19
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
18
1
SSW
18
0.9
SSW
17
1.1
SSW
16
1.1
SSW
16
1.2
SSW
15
1.1
SSW
15
1
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
15
0.8
WNW
6
0.8
WNW
7
0.8
WNW
6
0.9
SSW
14
0.8
WNW
6
0.6
WNW
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
246
415
348
497
582
486
590
596
670
544
405
301
305
49
56
47
336
45
90
Wind (km/h)
5
NE
10
SSW
15
WSW
10
NW
5
SW
20
W
5
NNE
10
SW
20
W
5
N
5
SW
20
WNW
5
N
5
SW
10
W
0
E
5
WSW
25
WNW
5
NW
Wind State
glassy
cross-on
on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
cross-on
cross
High Tide
4:27AM1.04m
3:09PM1.73m
6:57AM1.08m
4:13PM1.73m
8:23AM1.19m
5:26PM1.74m
9:03AM1.28m
6:42PM1.76m
9:36AM1.35m
7:51PM1.77m
10:09AM1.41m
8:53PM1.76m
Low Tide
9:15PM0.16m
7:56AM0.91m
10:34PM0.12m
9:05AM1.05m
11:55PM0.04m
11:23AM1.11m
1:07AM-0.05m
12:56PM1.02m
2:06AM-0.14m
2:02PM0.87m
2:56AM-0.20m
2:57PM0.69m
3:39AM-0.20m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:39
6:41
6:41
6:41
6:43
6:43
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:34
7:31
7:30
7:29
7:28
7:25
 mm
Temp °C
17
18
19
18
18
20
17
18
21
17
18
22
18
18
20
17
17
21
16
Feels °C
17
17
17
18
17
17
14
17
18
14
17
18
15
17
19
16
16
18
13
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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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