Indicators Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.95° N 122.03° W

Indicators Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 am 22 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Indicators sea temperature is
15.4° C
1.4° 

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


Indicators surf forecast from 22 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 21s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 21s period, SSW swell with 952 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 22 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 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 Wednesday (Jul 22) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m 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 1.0m 21s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) 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 Friday (Jul 24) at 8PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Wed 22nd Jul)3ft (0.9m) 14s
Best Surf 8AM (Sat 25th Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 21s
Most Powerful 8AM (Sat 25th Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 21s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – this is one of those outlooks where we’re gonna have to be patient. The next couple of weeks are full of marginal calls and poor surf conditions. The Indicators break is a sheltered point, and it’s a pretty consistent spot, so it tends not to stay flat for long, but the forecasts are what they are. Let’s walk through it.

Right now, from this Wednesday, July 22nd, we’ve got a small 3-foot swell rolling in from the SSW, with a period of 15 seconds. That’s long-period groundswell, so it has better shape and more energy, but it’s light cross-onshore wind at 6 mph. The wave energy is moderate (606). The water is sitting at 60°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. The problem is that conditions are marginal, and the morning session is listed as questionable. The afternoon turns poor, with a 9 mph onshore breeze. Not good. Thursday and Friday are much the same story – small SSW swell (2 to 3 feet), cross-onshore winds, and poor surf conditions all round. Friday morning does have a very long period of 24 seconds, and light wind, but the swell is only 2 feet, so it’s not doing much.

Saturday and Sunday (July 25th-26th) are still small, with 3 to 3 feet SSW swell. The mornings have light offshore wind, but the forecast is still “marginal.” The afternoon cross-onshore breeze ruins it. Wave energy picks up a bit to the mid-800s (836 and 853) on the mornings, but still not delivering.

Now, the first half of the following week (July 27th-29th) finally sees the swell tick up to 3 feet from the SSW. The period is long, around 18 seconds, and wave energy is getting solid, hitting 909 and 1140. The mornings keep that light offshore wind, but the afternoons go cross-onshore. It’s still marginal, not clean. This is the best of a weak bunch, but it’s nothing to get excited about.

Then we hit July 30th. Thursday morning is still small at 3 feet, but Thursday afternoon is the shift. The swell jumps to 6 feet from the NW, with a short period of just 8 seconds. That’s a short-period wind swell, and the wave energy is strong (1132). The wind is light cross-onshore. For advanced surfers, this could offer something, but the quality is still listed as marginal. Friday July 31st keeps it going with 5 to 6 feet from the WNW and NW, with light offshore wind, and energy still up (781). Again, short period on the WNW swell at 9 seconds.

A quick word on that period around July 30th and 31st – 6 feet is pushing into the zone where beginners will find it too big. For experts, it could be alright, but the short period means the waves might be a bit fat and crumbling at the point. The optimum swell direction for this break is WNW, so the July 31st Friday morning session with 5 feet from WNW and light offshore wind is honestly the standout of the whole 16 days. The energy is moderate (525), but the direction, wind, and size line up best here.

After that, from August 1st through to August 6th, it fades badly. Swell drops to 4 feet and then down to 1 feet, and every single session is rated “poor surf conditions.” Wind is onshore or cross-onshore, periods are short, and wave energy sinks to under 200. No good. The last few days of the forecast are a complete write-off.

So, the honest take: for the next week and a half, you’re chasing marginal windows. The one session that stands out is Friday morning, July 31st at Indicators – 5 feet from the WNW, light offshore wind, and the right direction. That’s your best bet. But don’t book any time off work just yet; it’s still a long-range call and could change. Everything else is small, blown out, or too messy.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Fri afternoon, min 14°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sat afternoon, min 14°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Monday
27
Tuesday
28
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
1
0
0
1
1
0
1
1
0
2
1
0
3
1
1
2
2
0
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.4
SSW
26
0.7
SSW
24
0.7
SSW
24
0.7
SSW
22
0.9
SSW
21
0.8
SSW
21
1
SSW
20
0.9
SSW
19
0.9
SSW
19
0.9
SSW
18
1
SSW
18
1.1
SSW
19
1
SSW
17
1.1
SSW
18
1.1
SSW
18
1.1
SSW
17
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
339
303
321
229
213
263
487
487
412
718
578
790
590
566
497
666
876
530
751
751
627
Wind (km/h)
10
SW
15
WSW
5
NNW
10
W
15
NW
5
NNW
5
W
15
WNW
5
NNW
5
W
15
NW
5
NNW
10
W
10
NW
5
N
10
WSW
15
WNW
5
NW
10
W
20
NW
5
NNW
Wind State
cross-on
on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross
on
cross-on
cross
on
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
cross
on
cross-on
glassy
High Tide
5:38PM1.58m
9:21AM1.06m
6:24PM1.60m
10:17AM1.17m
7:13PM1.63m
10:57AM1.24m
8:00PM1.66m
11:30AM1.27m
8:44PM1.68m
11:58AM1.27m
9:25PM1.69m
12:20PM1.26m
10:03PM1.69m
Low Tide
11:10AM0.83m
1:23AM0.18m
12:22PM0.96m
2:15AM0.09m
1:30PM1.03m
3:00AM0.01m
2:26PM1.05m
3:39AM-0.06m
3:12PM1.03m
4:14AM-0.11m
3:50PM1.00m
4:46AM-0.15m
4:25PM0.95m
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:05
6:05
6:05
6:07
6:07
6:09
6:09
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:22
8:22
8:21
8:21
8:20
8:19
8:17
 mm
Temp °C
18
21
20
20
24
20
21
25
20
21
25
21
21
25
21
22
25
21
20
25
21
Feels °C
18
19
19
20
22
19
20
23
19
20
23
20
20
24
19
21
22
19
19
22
19
  • 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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