
Surf Forecasts:
Indicators surf forecast from 7 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 10 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 17s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 10 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 17s period, SSW swell with 453 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 7 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 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 Monday (Sep 07) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Indicators in the next 16 days are 0.9m 17s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 10) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 14s period and expected on Monday (Sep 07) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Thu 10th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicators over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty. Let's have a look at what's coming our way.
Right off the bat, things are looking pretty average for the next week and a half. We're dealing with a sheltered point break that takes a WNW swell, and the swell we're getting is mostly from the SSW and SW, so it's not really lining up. The energy is weak to moderate for most of it, with the combined energy sitting around 242 (moderate) on Monday morning, but dropping to 132 (weak) by Tuesday. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing to write home about.
Monday morning, September 7th, starts with glassy conditions and a clean 2ft SSW swell, but it's a long period of 14 seconds, so you'll get some nice shape but longer waits between sets. It's surfable, but ordinary. By afternoon, the wind swings onshore and the swell drops to 3ft from the NW with a short 7-second period. That's a poor combo.
Tuesday morning, September 8th, is glassy again, but the swell is tiny at 1ft. The period is 18 seconds, which is very long, so it'll be super clean but you'll be scratching for waves. The rest of the week is a bit of a write-off, with onshore winds and small, short-period swell. The energy picks up a bit on Thursday and Friday, but it's all cross-on or onshore wind, making for messy conditions.
The best on offer in this whole 16-day window is going to be Friday morning, September 18th. The forecast is for glassy conditions with a 2ft SSW swell and a 19-second period. The combined energy is 436 (moderate), and it's expected to be good surf. That’s a real standout, a clean, glassy morning with a long period groundswell. It's a point break, so that long period will wrap in nicely and give you some proper waves. It's small, but it'll be clean as a whistle. That's your window.
The other one to keep an eye on is Tuesday morning, September 22nd. Glassy again, 3ft SW swell with a 16-second period, and the combined energy is 518 (moderate). That's also looking like a good session. It's a bit further out, so don't set your watch by it, but it's a promising sign.
The rest of the time is a bit of a battle. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-on, and the swell is too small or too short-period to get excited about. The long period swells we get in the middle of the week are prone to breaking a bit straight at this point break, but the glassy mornings will still offer some fun, if small, waves.
For the first week, it's a waiting game. The second week has a couple of those glassy mornings that could be really special. Keep your fingers crossed for the 18th and the 22nd.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | |||||||||||||||
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 14 | NW 7 | WNW 7 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | SSW 13 | WNW 7 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
178 | 51 | 35 | 80 | 80 | 69 | 148 | 309 | 267 | 368 | 437 | 430 | 430 | 331 | 272 | 305 | 213 | 229 | 120 | 131 | 85 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | glassy | on | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 9:36AM1.35m | 7:51PM1.77m | 10:09AM1.41m | 8:53PM1.76m | 10:40AM1.46m | 9:49PM1.71m | 11:09AM1.50m | 10:42PM1.62m | 11:37AM1.54m | 11:33PM1.51m | 12:04PM1.56m | 00:23AM1.38m | 12:30PM1.57m | 1:16AM1.26m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 5:17PM0.24m | 5:28AM0.15m | 6:01PM0.17m | 6:01AM0.34m | 6:44PM0.15m | ||||||||
6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | |
— | 7:28 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:19 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 22 | 18 | 23 | 25 | 23 | 29 | 31 | 23 | 24 | 27 | 21 | 20 | 24 | 19 | 19 | 24 | 18 | 19 | 23 | 17 |
Feels °C | 19 | 21 | 19 | 22 | 24 | 21 | 27 | 29 | 23 | 23 | 26 | 21 | 20 | 23 | 18 | 17 | 21 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | SW 14 | WNW 8 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | WNW 7 |
426 | 503 | 451 | 295 | 248 | 198 | 68 | 309 | 267 | 368 | 437 | 430 | 430 | 331 | 140 | 175 | 211 | 138 | 120 | 118 | 81 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | NW 7 | WNW 7 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | S 13 | S 9 | S 9 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | NW 11 | WNW 10 | SSW 7 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | SSW 14 | WNW 10 | NW 10 | SW 13 |
64 | 51 | 35 | 60 | 39 | 28 | 85 | 62 | 64 | 186 | 140 | 117 | 122 | 9 | 272 | 305 | 34 | 131 | 20 | 25 | 85 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SW 9 | SSW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SSW 19 | SSW 13 | WNW 9 | WNW 12 | W 21 | SSW 8 | SSW 7 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 13 | SW 18 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | NW 9 |
178 | 13 | 34 | 80 | 80 | 69 | 148 | 90 | 46 | 127 | 9 | 55 | 21 | 25 | 42 | 35 | 12 | 29 | 24 | 12 | 23 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 7 | WNW 7 | — | WNW 5 | WNW 12 | — | NW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 43 | 35 | — | 17 | 177 | — | 168 | 226 | 247 | 289 | 213 | 229 | 114 | 131 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 175 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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.










