Surf Forecasts:
Indicators surf forecast from 6 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 9 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 9s period, NW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 9 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 9s period, NW swell with 664 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 6 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 13s 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 Thursday (Aug 06) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Indicators in the next 16 days are 2.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 09) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 13s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Sun 9th Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sun 9th Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicators over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, folks, Rusty here. Let's talk about your local stretch. We've got a bit of a bleak outlook for the next couple of weeks, to be honest. The waves are just not cooperating. The wind is almost always on it or cross-on, and the swell energy is weak and disorganised. Don't get your hopes up for any proper sessions.
The first real chance of anything resembling a wave comes in on Saturday morning, 8th August. We’re looking at a tiny 2ft swell from the SSW, but the energy is finally starting to build a bit, hitting 418 (moderate). Still, the wind is on it, and the forecasters are calling it "marginal" at best. It's a beggars-can't-be-choosers situation, but honestly, I'd stay home.
Sunday morning, 9th August, sees the swell jump to 5ft from the WNW, with a period of 10 seconds and a combined energy of 636 (moderate). The wind is light and on it, so it'll be a bit lumpy. Still, this is the biggest we'll see for a while, and it's a point break setup that likes a bit of WNW swell. It's rated for advanced surfers, and it's fairly consistent. The water temp is about average for this time of year. If you're an experienced local, you might find a few grindy ones, but it's nothing to write home about.
After that, it's a long, slow grind. From Monday, 10th August, right through to Wednesday, 20th August, we're stuck in a pattern of small, weak, messy swells. Most days the swell is between 2ft and 4ft, the wind is cross-on, and the scores are terrible. Look, there's a small window on Thursday morning, 20th August. The swell is only 2ft from the SSW, but the wind goes glassy. That's a big deal. The energy is 235 (moderate), so it's weak, but if you've got a log, those glassy conditions could make for a fun, peaceful morning on the water with next to no one out. It's about the only thing we've got.
Overall, it's a poor run. The only standout is that glassy morning on 20th August, but it's a long way off and the swell is tiny. For the rest, it's a real struggle. If you're desperate, you might get a few on Sunday, but it's not looking good for paddle surfing. The conditions are more suited to a kite.
Stay patient, and keep an eye on the charts.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat afternoon, min 15°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 84 | 84 | 80 | 139 | 210 | 157 | 318 | 232 | 291 | 349 | 349 | 424 | 333 | 262 | 262 | 348 | 312 | 415 | 348 | 287 | 226 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 4:42PM1.75m | 8:27AM1.04m | 5:42PM1.81m | 9:30AM1.17m | 6:48PM1.87m | 10:10AM1.27m | 7:53PM1.92m | 10:46AM1.34m | 8:53PM1.95m | 11:21AM1.38m | 9:49PM1.93m | 11:54AM1.42m | 10:41PM1.85m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:18AM0.85m | 00:16AM0.10m | 10:49AM1.00m | 1:23AM-0.06m | 12:33PM1.05m | 2:23AM-0.21m | 1:50PM1.01m | 3:15AM-0.32m | 2:52PM0.91m | 4:02AM-0.38m | 3:47PM0.78m | 4:45AM-0.38m | 4:38PM0.65m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | |
 | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — |
 | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:02 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 21 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 17 | 21 | 23 | 17 | 22 | 23 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 15 |
Feels °C | 19 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 21 | 23 | 18 | 22 | 23 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | SW 13 | WNW 8 | SW 13 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 10 | SSW 15 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 |
| kJ | 41 | 84 | 28 | 84 | 210 | 157 | 64 | 60 | 65 | 349 | 169 | 424 | 333 | 262 | 262 | 348 | 312 | 415 | 348 | 287 | 212 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | WNW 8 | SW 13 | SSW 19 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 84 | 39 | 45 | 139 | 82 | 83 | 318 | 232 | 291 | 259 | 12 | 167 | 160 | 143 | 101 | 56 | 116 | 273 | 119 | 175 | 226 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 20 | SSW 20 | SW 18 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | S 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SSW 18 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | S 11 |
| kJ | 37 | 37 | 80 | 14 | 25 | 22 | 36 | 56 | 82 | 36 | 11 | 24 | 12 | 98 | 96 | 93 | 124 | 25 | 28 | 67 | 22 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 2 | SSE 3 | SSE 3 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 349 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 104 | 144 | 0 | 125 | 338 | 0 | 564 | 345 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 144 | 0 | 0 | 79 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 37 | 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.
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