Indicators Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.95° N 122.03° W

Indicators Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 pm 18 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Indicators sea temperature is
16.3° C
1.7° 

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


Indicators surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 14s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 15s period, SSW swell with 339 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m 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 15s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 14s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 8AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Wed 19th Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 14s
Best Surf 8AM (Wed 19th Aug)3ft (0.9m) 14s
Most Powerful 8PM (Wed 19th Aug)3ft (0.9m) 15s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s put this in feet and degrees now, same story.

This 16-day window is a tough slog. The only break that even gets a nod is an advanced point break, and it’s only got a couple of windows worth paddling for. Outside of that, it’s mostly flat, blown-out, and not worth the walk.

The one break is Indicators—a point break for advanced surfers, fairly consistent, but sheltered and picky about direction. Favours a WNW swell. Water temp is about 61°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year.

The clear standout is Thursday afternoon, August 20th. You’re looking at about 2 ft of SSW groundswell with a long 14-second period, and the wind goes glassy—that’s the magic word. Combined energy sits at 438, moderate, but the glassy surface will make those point break waves smooth and fun. This is the best session in the whole run.

After that, things turn grim. Thursday afternoon, August 27th brings a 5 ft short-period 8-second windswell from WNW, but it’s rated marginal. The energy jumps to 629, but it’s rough, choppy windswell—not the clean lines you want on a point. August 28th morning offers a 3 ft SSW groundswell with a long 17-second period and energy at 648—still marginal. That long period is better for the point, but the wind isn’t cooperating.

Then from August 29th into early September, it’s a dead zone. Monday morning, August 31st gets glassy again with a 3 ft SSW swell at 14 seconds—surfable but ordinary. Energy is 355, weak. A soft session, nothing more.

September 2nd morning gives you one last glassy chance with a 2 ft SSW groundswell at 17 seconds—tiny but pretty. Energy is 386. A longboarder’s dream, but not a real swell.

To sum it up: if you’re an advanced surfer chasing glass, Thursday afternoon, August 20th is your one real shout. The rest of the 16-day window is mostly waiting for a pulse that never comes.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Fri afternoon, min 14°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat afternoon, min 14°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
1
2
1
1
2
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
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
14
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
15
0.8
SSW
15
0.7
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
14
0.4
SW
18
0.4
SW
18
1.1
NW
6
0.3
SSW
18
0.4
SSW
17
1.1
NW
7
1.1
NW
8
0.4
SW
18
0.5
SW
18
0.5
SW
18
0.5
SW
17
0.6
SSW
17
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
163
305
322
256
175
183
183
105
99
99
68
111
112
136
93
157
155
148
193
Wind (km/h)
5
NW
10
WSW
10
WSW
5
NW
5
W
5
WSW
0
NW
5
WSW
5
W
5
NNW
5
W
10
W
0
WNW
10
WSW
10
WSW
0
ENE
10
WSW
10
WSW
0
N
Wind State
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
on
glassy
High Tide
5:30AM0.98m
3:45PM1.54m
8:24AM1.07m
4:35PM1.53m
9:22AM1.18m
5:34PM1.53m
9:57AM1.25m
6:37PM1.55m
10:24AM1.28m
7:34PM1.58m
10:46AM1.29m
8:23PM1.62m
Low Tide
10:17PM0.34m
9:12AM0.89m
11:30PM0.31m
10:39AM1.04m
00:41AM0.26m
12:15PM1.10m
1:40AM0.19m
1:24PM1.09m
2:29AM0.11m
2:15PM1.02m
3:08AM0.03m
2:56PM0.94m
3:42AM-0.03m
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:28
6:28
6:28
6:30
6:31
6:31
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:53
7:52
7:52
7:51
7:49
7:47
 mm
Temp °C
16
20
22
17
21
23
18
21
24
19
21
23
18
21
23
17
19
21
16
Feels °C
17
20
21
18
21
22
19
21
24
19
21
22
19
20
22
17
18
20
16
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
How to use the Wavefinder 
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Indicators:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Indicators surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


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.

Nearest locationNearest