Indicators Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.95° N 122.03° W

Indicators Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 am 04 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Indicators sea temperature is
15.7°C
0.7° 

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


Indicators surf forecast from 4 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 4 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 5 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 16s period, SSW swell with 688 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 4 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s 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 Friday (Sep 04) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 10s. 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 1.2m 16s 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 1.4m 13s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 5AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Fri 4th Sep)3.5ft (1.1m) 16s
Best Surf11PM (Fri 4th Sep)3.5ft (1.1m) 16s
Most Powerful 5PM (Sat 5th Sep)4ft (1.2m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s cut through the noise and look at what we’ve got for the next couple of weeks. The ocean’s been a bit moody, but there are a few windows where it’ll all line up, and we need to be ready to move when it does.

First thing Friday morning is your best bet to get wet. We’ve got clean, glassy conditions with a light SSW breeze, and the swell is a steady 3.3ft from the SSW at 18 seconds. That’s proper groundswell, the kind that wraps in with some push. The water temp is 60.3°, which is about normal for this time of year, so you won’t need the thickest suit, but a hood won’t hurt. It’s a classic start to the day, the kind where it feels like the ocean is on your side.

After that, things get messy. Friday arvo the wind swings around WNW at 12 mph, making it choppy and cross-onshore. That wipes out the morning’s promise. Saturday and Sunday mornings have some swell, 3.6ft from the SSW, but the winds are light onshore and the conditions are questionable. Not worth paddling out for a fight; you’ll spend more time trying to get a clean face than actually surfing.

Monday looks like a write-off. The swell drops right away to 2.6ft from the WNW with a short, weak 7-second period. That’s not surf, that’s a ripple. Tuesday is even worse, with 1.3ft. We’re in a flat spell here, so if you’re jonesing, this stretch is going to test your patience.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Next Wednesday morning, the 9th, things switch back on. We’ve got cloudy skies, a clean offshore breeze from the ENE at 6 mph, and the swell jumps back up to 4.3ft from the SSW at 12 seconds. That offshore wind is the key—it’ll hold the faces open and make the conditions genuinely good. This is the standout of the first week, no question.

Thursday the 10th morning also looks solid. Glassy conditions with a 3ft SSW swell at 17 seconds. It’s a touch smaller but that long period means it’ll have more push and shape. Another good one.

After that, the week fades out again. Friday the 11th morning has a small 2.6ft SSW swell with glass, but the energy is lower. It’s surfable, but nothing to write home about. The weekend after that gets ordinary, with weak swell and onshore winds. Monday the 14th we see a size bump to 5.2ft from the NW, but the period is a short 7-8 seconds and the winds are onshore. That’s a messy, crumbly mess—more of a close-out shorey than anything else. For the average punter, it’s going to be a battle. Given the size and the conditions, this might be more interesting for the kite crew than for us paddle surfers.

The second week is looking less certain. There’s a small swell on Wednesday the 16th and again on Friday the 18th, but nothing with any real energy or period behind it. The best of the second week is probably Thursday the 17th afternoon, with 3.9ft from the NW at 10 seconds, but the winds are still a bit onshore. It’s promising, but don’t book a road trip around it.

So, for the standout days, it’s all about next Wednesday morning and Thursday morning. The combination of clean wind, solid groundswell, and moderate energy makes them the best of the run. The rest is a waiting game, but that’s the nature of the place. It tends not to stay poor for long, and forecasts can shift. Keep your board ready.

Catch you in the water.

Short Range Forecast

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

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
4
Saturday
5
Sunday
6
Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
0
2
1
0
2
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
2
2
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)
1
SSW
18
0.9
SSW
17
1.1
SSW
16
1.1
SSW
16
1.2
SSW
16
1
SSW
15
1
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
15
0.8
WNW
7
0.8
WNW
7
0.7
WNW
7
0.4
SW
18
0.7
WNW
7
0.6
WNW
7
1.3
SSW
12
0.7
SW
16
1.2
SSW
12
0.9
SSW
17
0.9
SW
17
0.9
SW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
582
486
590
554
688
422
405
301
309
59
59
38
80
44
39
528
248
418
459
414
362
Wind (km/h)
5
SSW
20
WNW
5
NNE
10
SW
20
WNW
5
N
10
SW
20
WNW
5
NNE
5
SW
10
WSW
5
E
5
SSW
10
WSW
5
NE
10
ENE
5
NNW
10
NNE
5
S
20
SSW
15
SW
Wind State
glassy
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
glassy
on
off
cross-on
on
off
off
cross
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
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
10:40AM1.46m
9:49PM1.71m
11:09AM1.50m
10:42PM1.62m
Low Tide
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
3:46PM0.51m
4:18AM-0.13m
4:32PM0.36m
4:54AM-0.02m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:41
6:41
6:41
6:43
6:43
6:45
6:45
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:31
7:30
7:29
7:28
7:25
7:24
7:22
 mm
Temp °C
19
22
18
19
22
18
18
22
18
18
21
16
18
21
17
19
25
23
27
25
21
Feels °C
19
18
14
18
19
15
17
20
15
17
20
17
17
19
17
16
23
20
25
23
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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