Surf Forecasts:
Indicators surf forecast from 25 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 30 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 16s 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, 8PM (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 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m 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+) | 8PM (Tue 25th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicators over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here with the Imperial version.
First up, the water is sitting at 62°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so that's a little bonus.
The outlook starts off pretty quiet. The first few days from Tuesday the 25th through Thursday the 27th are a write-off for anything decent. Winds are cross-on, the swell is tiny and messy, so just leave the board in the car. We're looking at a gap of a few days with no real recommendations.
Friday morning the 28th is where things start to look a bit more promising. It's still small, with a 3ft SSW groundswell, but the wind is glassy and the energy is building (478). For a break like Indicators, that glassy morning session is your best bet. The long period (17 seconds) means the waves will have some shape but might be a bit straight on the beach, so hunt for a bank. The afternoon messes up again.
Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th are marginal. There's a bit more size – up to 4ft on Saturday morning – but the wind is onshore or cross-on, and the energy is moderate (940). It's not going to be clean.
The real standout is Monday morning, the 31st of August. We've got a clean 3ft SSW groundswell, a 14-second period, and the wind is dead calm and glassy (432). This is the best chance for a clean, fun session at Indicators. The wind state is perfect, the crowds are "often" there, so it will be a bit of a scrap, but it'll be worth it for the clean conditions.
The first week of September is a bit of a mixed bag. Tuesday the 1st has a glassy morning, but the swell is dropping. Thursday the 3rd morning has a 2ft swell with a very long 19-second period and glassy conditions (380), but the energy is weak. It's a surfable opportunity for the patient.
The second week is a bit of a blur. From the 4th through the 9th, it's constant small, messy SSW swell with cross-on winds. Honestly, there's nothing to get excited about. The energy stays moderate (in the 500-700 range) but the quality is poor. It's a long stretch of ordinary, workable conditions, not a single standout day.
So, to wrap it up: Don't bother until Friday morning the 28th. The best session on offer is Monday morning the 31st of August. After that, it's a long grind of small, choppy days.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Wed afternoon, min 17°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | |||||||||||||||
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 16 | 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||
181 | 130 | 124 | 169 | 166 | 228 | 133 | 152 | 369 | 340 | 387 | 486 | 823 | 505 | 688 | 554 | 411 | 400 | 325 | 223 | 151 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 11:04AM1.28m | 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 | ||||||||
6:31 | — | — | 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 | 22 | 26 | 20 | 25 | 28 | 22 | 26 | 27 | 24 | 23 | 26 | 19 | 20 | 24 | 19 | 18 | 22 | 18 | 18 | 22 | 19 |
Feels °C | 22 | 25 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 21 | 25 | 27 | 22 | 22 | 25 | 18 | 19 | 22 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | S 13 | WNW 5 | SSW 16 | S 13 | WNW 7 | S 12 | S 11 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 19 | WNW 6 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | NW 7 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 |
181 | 87 | 19 | 169 | 171 | 131 | 96 | 59 | 187 | 138 | 387 | 66 | 823 | 505 | 688 | 554 | 411 | 126 | 325 | 223 | 151 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | S 15 | SSW 16 | S 12 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 17 | SW 14 | SSW 18 | S 9 | S 8 | WNW 7 | S 9 | W 11 | SSW 14 | W 10 | W 10 | S 14 |
126 | 130 | 124 | 112 | 166 | 144 | 104 | 103 | 138 | 340 | 89 | 486 | 14 | 13 | 134 | 6 | 10 | 400 | 17 | 8 | 98 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 17 | W 16 | S 13 | W 13 | W 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | W 9 | — | S 9 | W 12 | S 9 | W 11 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | W 10 |
23 | 45 | 84 | 55 | 55 | 146 | 133 | 131 | 98 | 57 | 50 | 28 | 16 | — | 6 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 16 | 18 | 7 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | NW 4 | NW 5 | WNW 6 | NW 5 | NW 7 | WNW 7 | NW 6 | NW 8 | — | WNW 7 | NW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | NW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | NW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 5 | NW 7 |
37 | 36 | 43 | 22 | 49 | 228 | 78 | 152 | 369 | — | 151 | 140 | 101 | 163 | 211 | 99 | 99 | 217 | 90 | 61 | 63 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Cruz | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











