Surf Forecasts:
Indicators surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 18s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 18s period, SSW swell with 877 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 25 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 16s period with SW 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 (Aug 25) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 4s. 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 18s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 13s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Tue 25th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicators over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey crew, Rusty here. Been staring at this forecast for our local spot, and I gotta say, it’s lean pickings for a while. There are only a couple of windows that are worth your time, and they’re a solid week and a half out.
The whole pattern is stuck on a SSW groundswell, but the wind is just wrecking it day after day. From Tuesday the 25th of August right through to Monday the 7th of September, it’s a whole lot of nothing. We’re talking poor conditions with cross-onshore breezes making it choppy and unrideable. The combined energy jumps around from weak (241) to strong (1055), but it doesn’t matter when the wind is on it. For a beach-and-reef setup like this, that chop makes it look more like a kiteboarding session than a surf.
There’s a glimmer on Tuesday morning, the 8th of September. The swell swings around to a short-period WNW pulse at 4ft (1.2m) with a light cross-onshore wind. The combined energy is moderate at 481. It’s marginal, but it’s the best we’ve seen in a week. Only for the advanced crew at that size.
The real standout, no question, is Wednesday morning, the 9th of September. The swell drops to a clean 3ft (0.8m) from the SSW, but it's packing a long 17-second period – that’s proper groundswell energy (572). And the wind? Glassy. Dead flat water. For a point break that likes an ENE offshore, having glassy conditions on a long-period SSW swell is a rare treat. The water temp is 62°F, which is a touch warmer than normal, so it’s not too bad. This is your session. The long period will wrap perfectly into that sheltered point, giving you clean, lined-up waves with plenty of time between sets. It’s for advanced surfers, and with those long gaps, paddling out will be easier. Mark that morning on your calendar.
Don’t waste your energy on anything before that. Tuesday the 8th is a maybe, but Wednesday the 9th is the one to chase.
Hang tight,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Wed afternoon, min 18°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | ||||||||||||||
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 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | NW 7 | SW 15 | NW 6 | NW 8 | SSW 17 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 130 | 124 | 169 | 166 | 189 | 133 | 157 | 297 | 336 | 387 | 486 | 823 | 505 | 688 | 554 | 411 | 400 | 297 | 175 | 154 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross |
High Tide | 9:08PM1.62m | 11:20AM1.29m | 9:49PM1.61m | 11:36AM1.32m | 10:29PM1.57m | 11:54AM1.36m | 11:10PM1.51m | 12:15PM1.43m | 11:54PM1.42m | 12:38PM1.51m | 00:42AM1.32m | 1:06PM1.58m | 1:38AM1.21m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:32PM0.85m | 4:12AM-0.07m | 4:05PM0.75m | 4:38AM-0.07m | 4:37PM0.64m | 5:03AM-0.03m | 5:11PM0.53m | 5:28AM0.06m | 5:47PM0.43m | 5:53AM0.19m | 6:27PM0.33m | 6:20AM0.35m | 7:14PM0.25m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — |
 | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 20 | 25 | 29 | 22 | 25 | 27 | 22 | 21 | 24 | 19 | 19 | 23 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 17 |
Feels °C | 24 | 20 | 23 | 27 | 21 | 24 | 27 | 21 | 20 | 23 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | S 13 | WNW 7 | S 11 | S 11 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | SSW 19 | WNW 8 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 87 | 124 | 169 | 171 | 131 | 94 | 61 | 178 | 99 | 387 | 170 | 823 | 505 | 161 | 183 | 411 | 400 | 297 | 175 | 154 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | WNW 5 | S 15 | SSW 16 | S 12 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 17 | S 10 | SSW 18 | WNW 8 | S 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSE 15 | SE 13 | SSE 15 | S 14 | S 13 |
| kJ | 130 | 15 | 112 | 166 | 144 | 104 | 103 | 183 | 336 | 48 | 486 | 135 | 6 | 688 | 554 | 21 | 7 | 78 | 104 | 121 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 16 | S 13 | W 13 | W 13 | SW 15 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | S 12 | S 11 | SW 14 | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 | — | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 16 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 |
| kJ | 45 | 84 | 55 | 55 | 106 | 133 | 131 | 101 | 58 | 89 | 27 | 15 | 7 | — | 2 | 2 | 24 | 17 | 8 | 7 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 4 | — | WNW 6 | NW 5 | NW 7 | WNW 7 | NW 6 | NW 8 | — | WNW 7 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 7 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 5 |
| kJ | 31 | — | 21 | 51 | 189 | 68 | 157 | 297 | — | 124 | 255 | 242 | 169 | 297 | 314 | 253 | 203 | 105 | 83 | 23 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Cruz | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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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