Surf Forecasts:
Indicators surf forecast from 21 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★+): Tuesday 21 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 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 Tuesday (Jul 21) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m 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 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 0.9m 12s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 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
Alright, Rusty here again, this time in feet and knots.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you: the first week is a tough watch. We’ve got a bit of swell trickling in, but the wind is just a constant problem. It’s cross-on, mostly light, but it’s enough to mess up the shape. The energy is there, with readings like 555 (moderate) on Tuesday the 21st and 562 on Wednesday the 22nd, but the conditions are just not cooperating. We’re looking at a lot of marginal surf and poor surf flags through the 21st to the 27th. The swell is small, between 2ft and 4ft, and it’s coming from the SSW. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so nothing weird there.
The standout morning is finally Tuesday the 28th. That’s the one we’ve been waiting for. The wind drops to a glassy calm, and we get a sudden spike in swell size to 8ft from the NW. The energy reading jumps to 2179 (very strong), and the period is a short 9 seconds, which is fine for this setup. This is a big, powerful, clean swell. However, at 8ft, this is strictly for experienced surfers. Beginners should sit this one out.
After that Tuesday morning window, the good energy fades fast. The rest of the 28th and the 29th go back to the marginal zone with 3ft to 4ft SSW swell. The wind is onshore or cross-on, and it’s just not worth paddling out.
Then we hit a dry spell. From the 31st of July through to the 4th of August, the conditions are pretty poor. The swell drops off, and the wind stays onshore. The best look in that stretch is the morning of the 2nd of August, with 6ft WNW swell and an energy reading of 473 (moderate), but the wind is blowing straight onshore, so it’s going to be a messy, blown-out wall. Not a winner.
The good news is there’s a little window late on the 5th of August. The swell drops right down to 2ft from the SW, with a 14-second period, and the energy is weak at 183. The wind is cross-on. It’s not a classic, but if you’re desperate and the other breaks are flat, there might be a tiny, clean-ish wave to be found.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Tue morning. Warm (max 25°C on Thu afternoon, min 15°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sat afternoon, min 14°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 26 | SSW 24 | SSW 24 | SSW 22 | SSW 21 | SSW 21 | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 314 | 465 | 316 | 302 | 339 | 303 | 321 | 229 | 217 | 263 | 487 | 487 | 412 | 718 | 578 | 596 | 590 | 572 | 497 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 5:12AM0.93m | 4:56PM1.57m | 7:41AM0.94m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:12PM0.39m | 10:07AM0.63m | 00:22AM0.28m | 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 | ||||||
 |  |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — |
 | 8:23 | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:20 | — |
mm | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 21 | 25 | 20 | 20 | 25 | 20 | 20 | 26 | 20 | 21 | 24 | 20 |
Feels °C | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 18 | 20 | 23 | 19 | 19 | 23 | 19 | 19 | 24 | 19 | 20 | 23 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 11 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | SSW 7 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 24 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 21 | SSW 21 | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | WNW 8 |
| kJ | 314 | 465 | 316 | 302 | 213 | 149 | 86 | 229 | 217 | 156 | 487 | 276 | 268 | 718 | 578 | 596 | 590 | 572 | 248 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | NW 8 | S 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WSW 6 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 24 | SSW 22 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 18 |
| kJ | 127 | 33 | 224 | 252 | 339 | 303 | 321 | 34 | 126 | 128 | 170 | 487 | 412 | 255 | 209 | 192 | 195 | 147 | 497 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 13 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 12 | SSE 15 | S 13 | SSW 26 | SSW 26 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | S 16 | WNW 9 | S 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | S 11 |
| kJ | 46 | 57 | 27 | 18 | 10 | 29 | 71 | 130 | 66 | 263 | 116 | 68 | 48 | 8 | 20 | 192 | 195 | 39 | 62 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SSW 3 | — | — | — | W 6 | WNW 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | NW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | NW 5 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | NW 8 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | 46 | 40 | 28 | 34 | 70 | 67 | 40 | 51 | 76 | 96 | 164 | 437 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 125 | 79 | 1 | 26 | 150 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 86 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Cruz | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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