Indicators Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.95° N 122.03° W

Issued: 4 am 05 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Indicators sea temperature is
16.1° C

2.8°C warmer than normal for this time of year

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


Indicators surf forecast from 5 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 8 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 18s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 9 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 9s period, NW swell with 808 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 5 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 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 Sunday (Jul 05) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Indicators in the next 16 days are 2.3m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 09) 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 0.4m 20s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 2PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Sun 5th Jul)1.5ft (0.5m) 18s
Best Surf 2AM (Wed 8th Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 18s
Most Powerful 8AM (Thu 9th Jul)7.5ft (2.3m) 9s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks. It’s gonna be a bit of a slow burn, so let’s cut straight to it.

It’s a quiet start, and honestly, the first week is a bit of a write-off for proper surf. We’ve got a poor run of onshore winds and tiny swell through Sunday and Monday. The good news is that from Tuesday, 08 July, there’s a subtle increase in energy, but conditions are still pretty messy with onshore breezes. The first real flicker of life shows up on Wednesday, 09 July afternoon, with a 6ft Westerly swell, but the period is a short 9 seconds, and the wind is cross-on. That’s more of a messy, blown-out option for the brave.

The first standout is Wednesday, 15 July afternoon through Thursday, 16 July. This is when things finally come together. We’ve got a 5ft WNW swell with a period of 7 to 9 seconds, and more importantly, the wind goes glassy light. The energy is moderate (497 to 792), but that clean, glassy surface is what we’ve been waiting for. This is a long-range call but looks promising. The water temp is around 61°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – a real bonus for your session.

Now, for the actual best of the run. The true standout is the only one worth planning around: Indicators. This is a sheltered, advanced point break that’s fairly consistent and loves WNW swell. The window from Wednesday 15 July afternoon through to Thursday 16 July gives us a clean 5ft WNW swell with period lengthening to 9 seconds and glassy conditions. It’s only for advanced surfers, though – that 5ft wave height (over the 5ft mark) means it’s not for beginners. The water temp anomaly of +5°F is very unusual, making the water much warmer than you’d expect for mid-July. Expect crowds there often. The swell direction is a perfect match for the spot’s optimum. That’s your one to aim for.

After that, the end of the second week throws up one more half-decent option: Saturday 18 July afternoon. It’s glassy again with a 2ft W swell, long period at 16 seconds (groundswell), but the energy is light (536). It’s clean but small. Perfect for a longboard or a quiet paddle.

Overall, the first week is a gap of quiet, onshore fluff. The second week finally delivers a clean pulse mid-week. If you can only pick one session, make it Thursday 16 July at Indicators.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
5
Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
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
1
0
1
1
0
3
2
1
3
1
1
3
1
1
2
1
1
2
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
18
0.7
SSW
18
0.5
SSW
18
0.9
SSW
16
0.7
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
20
0.7
SSW
19
0.9
SSW
18
1
SSW
18
1.1
SSW
17
1.1
SSW
16
2.2
NW
9
1
SSW
16
1.8
WNW
9
2.1
NW
9
1.6
WNW
9
1.6
WNW
9
1.7
WNW
9
1.4
WNW
9
0.8
SSW
15
0.8
SSW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
273
273
174
407
226
544
332
454
596
681
597
766
499
497
673
389
381
435
297
249
256
Wind (km/h)
10
SW
15
WSW
5
NW
10
WSW
15
W
5
NNW
10
WSW
10
WNW
5
NNW
10
WSW
10
W
5
NW
10
W
10
W
5
NW
10
WSW
10
W
0
N
5
SW
10
SW
0
NNW
Wind State
cross-on
on
glassy
on
on
cross
on
cross-on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
on
glassy
High Tide
3:35PM1.37m
2:29AM1.14m
4:07PM1.45m
3:43AM0.99m
4:43PM1.56m
5:25AM0.90m
5:25PM1.66m
7:37AM0.92m
6:13PM1.77m
9:19AM1.04m
7:05PM1.87m
10:22AM1.17m
8:01PM1.95m
Low Tide
8:10AM0.05m
9:15PM0.73m
8:44AM0.21m
10:29PM0.58m
9:23AM0.40m
11:39PM0.38m
10:11AM0.60m
00:42AM0.16m
11:15AM0.78m
1:40AM-0.05m
12:31PM0.91m
2:34AM-0.25m
1:43PM0.98m
3:26AM-0.41m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:54
5:54
5:54
5:54
5:56
5:56
5:56
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:30
8:30
8:30
8:30
8:30
8:29
8:29
 mm
Temp °C
17
19
16
17
19
16
17
22
18
17
21
17
19
22
18
18
21
17
19
20
16
Feels °C
16
17
15
16
17
15
16
20
16
15
20
17
18
21
18
17
20
17
19
19
16
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
NW
8
0.7
SSW
18
0.7
NW
8
0.9
SSW
16
0.7
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
20
0.8
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
18
1
SSW
18
1.1
SSW
17
1.1
SSW
16
1.7
WNW
9
1
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
16
1.6
WNW
9
1.6
WNW
9
0.8
SSW
15
1.7
WNW
9
1.4
WNW
9
0.8
SSW
15
1.3
WNW
8
Energy kJ
67
273
67
407
226
544
273
454
596
681
597
449
499
402
381
389
256
435
297
249
237
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
SSW
18
0.5
SSW
13
0.5
SSW
18
0.8
WNW
8
0.5
WNW
12
0.7
SSW
16
0.7
SSW
19
0.7
SSW
15
0.6
SSW
15
0.4
SSW
19
0.3
S
19
1
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
16
0.8
SSW
15
0.8
SSW
15
0.8
SSW
15
0.1
S
20
0.8
SSW
15
Energy kJ
273
99
174
75
82
226
332
191
142
123
66
499
387
382
287
242
242
7
256
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SSW
13
0.4
WNW
12
0.5
SSW
13
0.5
SSW
21
0.4
SSW
21
0.6
WNW
12
0.2
S
8
0.1
S
8
0.6
SSW
15
0.4
SSW
19
0.3
SW
13
0.1
S
11
0.1
S
21
0.1
W
18
0.1
W
18
0.1
W
16
Energy kJ
69
51
101
260
178
90
5
1
142
123
27
2
9
6
6
5
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
WNW
8
0.9
WNW
8
0.9
WNW
8
1.1
WNW
11
1.4
WNW
5
1.3
WNW
8
1.3
WNW
8
1.4
WNW
8
2.2
NW
9
1.7
WNW
9
1.8
WNW
9
2.1
NW
9
1.6
WNW
9
1.3
WNW
8
Energy kJ
82
100
98
286
102
187
226
277
766
439
497
673
381
243
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
1
2
1
1
2
2
3
1
2
3
2
2
3
2
2
2
3
1
2
Distance (km)
104
0
0
104
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
104
480
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Cruz
Rating
(10 max)
1
2
1
3
2
2
4
1
2
4
2
2
4
2
2
3
2
Best forecast wave conditions in United States
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
3
2
3
4
2
2
4
2
2
4
2
3
4
2
3
4
3
2
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
7
6
5
8
7
5
5
9
8
9
6
7
8
8
6
9
6
4
9
7
7
  • 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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