Surf Forecasts:
Indicators surf forecast from 27 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 18s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 18s period, SSW swell with 877 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period with NW 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 27) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 7s 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 1.2m 18s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) 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 Wednesday (Sep 02) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicators over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it. The forecast for the next couple of weeks is a bit feast or famine. We have a real slow start, and no proper standouts for a while. It's one of those times where you've just got to be patient and wait for the ocean to sort itself out.
The first few days, the 27th and 28th, are pretty quiet. There's weak, short-period swell pushing through, and the winds are mostly cross-onshore. The energy in the water is minimal. It's not worth the paddle yet. Grab a coffee and wait.
Now, things get a little more interesting around the 28th into the 29th. The swell direction shifts, and we finally see a bit of long-period energy from the SSW. Early on the 28th, there's a hint of clean conditions with the ENE wind and glassy water, but the swell is still tiny, just a foot or so. The energy picks up a bit, but the size just isn't there.
The 29th sees a bit more push, with the swell getting to around 4 feet, and the energy jumps solidly. The problem is the wind. Westerly winds are blowing onshore, making things bumpy and uninviting. It's a day to watch, not to get too excited.
We roll into the 30th and 31st, and it’s much the same. The swell holds around 3 feet from the SSW, with decent periods of 15-16 seconds, but the winds continue to mess it up from the WSW and SW. There’s a slight window of lighter wind in the mornings, but the onshore flow picks up by afternoon. It’s mediocre.
The first part of September is bleak. From the 1st through to the 6th, the swell drops off, and the energy flattens out. The winds stay in that cross-onshore/onshore pattern. There’s a few days here where the period does jump back up to 19 seconds, hinting at a distant groundswell, but the size just isn’t there to make anything of it. There’s a gap of about seven days where there’s really nothing on offer that’s worth your time.
Finally, things turn around. On the 7th of September, we get a proper light at the end of the tunnel. The wind goes glassy in the morning, and there’s a clean, small 3-foot SW swell with a 13-second period. It’s not exciting in size, but the conditions finally align. It might not be huge, but it'll be clean and surfable.
But the real standout is the morning of the 9th of September. That’s when we finally get the combo of a clean glassy morning, light WSW winds, and a better, more consistent 3-foot SSW swell with an 18-second period. The energy is moderate, and the long period means it’ll have some punch for its size. This is the best window on offer for the whole period.
For a spot like Indicators (a point break), a long-period SSW swell like this is perfect. This kind of energy tends to wrap nicely around a point and line up better than it would at a beach, so this is when this place will show its colours. The water’s not warm, it’s about average for the time of year, so don't forget your wetsuit. There shouldn’t be huge crowds for a small midweek swell, but the place can get busy, so be prepared to share.
Looking ahead, the 10th and 11th of September still have some SSW swell around, with good energy and periods around 15-16 seconds. But the winds are less favourable, more cross-on, so the quality won’t be as good as the 9th. You’d still get waves, but the clean morning window is your best bet.
So, bottom line: this is a stretch where you’ve got to wait for the right moment. The best surf is clearly on the morning of the 9th of September, with a couple of secondary, cleaner options on the morning of the 7th. Don’t burn yourself out on the junky days in between. Keep an eye on the wind and pick the glassy windows. It’ll still be a fun little run if you pick your sessions.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Thu morning, min 14°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NW 7 | SW 15 | WNW 6 | SSW 14 | SSW 17 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
189 | 133 | 141 | 183 | 336 | 387 | 486 | 823 | 505 | 688 | 554 | 411 | 400 | 297 | 226 | 156 | 154 | 99 | 98 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross | on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 9:49PM1.61m | 11:36AM1.32m | 10:29PM1.57m | 11:54AM1.36m | 11:10PM1.51m | 12:15PM1.43m | 11:54PM1.42m | 12:38PM1.51m | 00:42AM1.32m | 1:06PM1.58m | 1:38AM1.21m | 1:39PM1.66m | 2:48AM1.11m | ||||||
Low Tide | 4:38AM-0.07m | 4:37PM0.64m | 5:03AM-0.03m | 5:11PM0.53m | 5:28AM0.06m | 5:47PM0.43m | 5:53AM0.19m | 6:27PM0.33m | 6:20AM0.35m | 7:14PM0.25m | 6:48AM0.54m | 8:09PM0.20m | |||||||
— | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | |
— | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 25 | 25 | 18 | 17 | 24 | 19 | 19 | 23 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 22 | 18 |
Feels °C | 19 | 25 | 25 | 18 | 17 | 23 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 21 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 7 | S 11 | S 11 | WNW 7 | SSW 17 | SSW 19 | WNW 8 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | WNW 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 |
112 | 94 | 89 | 120 | 336 | 387 | 138 | 823 | 505 | 232 | 554 | 411 | 159 | 149 | 226 | 156 | 154 | 99 | 98 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | S 11 | SW 14 | SSW 18 | S 9 | S 9 | SSW 16 | S 9 | SSE 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSE 14 | WNW 7 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 |
144 | 104 | 103 | 183 | 58 | 91 | 486 | 15 | 6 | 688 | 2 | 22 | 400 | 297 | 38 | 47 | 76 | 73 | 70 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SSW 18 | W 11 | S 12 | W 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | — | — | S 16 | — | S 13 | SSE 13 | W 10 | S 13 | WNW 7 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
106 | 133 | 39 | 96 | 34 | 31 | 15 | 7 | — | — | 5 | — | 4 | 16 | 8 | 90 | 20 | 50 | 80 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | NW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | NW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | — | WNW 8 | — | — | WNW 7 | — |
189 | 93 | 141 | 173 | 107 | 142 | 235 | 183 | 219 | 362 | 220 | 147 | 278 | — | 113 | — | — | 27 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 313 | 0 | 0 | 144 | 5 | 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.











