
Surf Forecasts:
Indicators surf forecast from 11 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 15 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 9s period, NW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 15 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 9s period, NW swell with 931 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 11 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 15s 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 Saturday (Jul 11) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 1.4m and 8s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Indicators in the next 16 days are 2.4m 9s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 15) 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 0.1m 20s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 11) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sat 11th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Wed 15th Jul) | 8ft (2.4m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Wed 15th Jul) | 8ft (2.4m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicators over the next 16 days.
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what we've got on the cards for our local stretch.
Right off the bat, it's a slow start. The first recommendation we see isn't until Saturday the 11th of July, and even then it's a bit of a struggle. We're looking at a small 3ft SSW groundswell with a long 15-second period rolling in, and combined energy is at 516 (moderate). The real issue is that the wind, while light, is coming from the SW, putting us in a cross-on position. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing wild there.
For this opening weekend, conditions are pretty ordinary. The surf is there, but you're fighting the breeze. It's not going to be clean. Sunday the 12th is much the same story – 3ft SSW, 14-second period, still that SW wind messing it up. The combined energy stays in the moderate range (476).
Monday the 13th sees a spike in the afternoon with a 5ft NW swell, but it's a short-period 8-second wind swell. The wind finally goes light onshore from the W, so it's not ideal. We get a brief pulse of higher energy (680) but the quality just isn't there for a good paddle.
The standout window, the one you should circle on your calendar, is Thursday the 16th of July. The morning brings a solid 7ft NW swell, and while it's got a short 9-second period, the combined energy jumps into the strong range at 1325. This is proper size. The morning wind is light onshore from the WSW, which is manageable. However, at over 7ft, this is expert territory – too big for the beginners. The second best option comes on Monday the 20th of July in the afternoon. The wind goes glassy with just 3 mph from the WSW, and we get a 2ft SW groundswell with a lovely 16-second period. The combined energy is moderate at 507, but those conditions will be about as clean as it gets. It's a long-period groundswell, so watch out for it breaking a bit straight on the beachies, but for a clean, cruisy session it'll be one of the best bets.
After that, the second week is a mix of small pulses and light winds, but nothing that really screams "drop everything and go". The swell pulsing up to 8ft on Sunday the 26th looks interesting on paper, but it's a short-period NW windswell with a cross-onshore breeze, so it won't be clean. There are a few glassy windows like Tuesday the 21st afternoon, but the swell is tiny at 2ft. It's a spotty run.
To wrap it up, if you're an experienced surfer, Thursday the 16th morning is your best shot at size. For everyone else wanting clean, manageable waves, Monday the 20th afternoon is the time to be out.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Sat afternoon, min 14°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Tue afternoon, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Fri 17 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 9 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 17 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
291 | 242 | 249 | 242 | 229 | 233 | 229 | 187 | 295 | 165 | 136 | 161 | 262 | 338 | 377 | 904 | 688 | 398 | 262 | 222 | 215 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:22AM1.17m | 8:01PM1.95m | 11:09AM1.26m | 8:57PM2.01m | 11:51AM1.33m | 9:52PM2.02m | 12:31PM1.37m | 10:45PM1.98m | 1:10PM1.40m | 11:37PM1.87m | 1:48PM1.42m | 00:29AM1.70m | 2:25PM1.45m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:34AM-0.25m | 1:43PM0.98m | 3:26AM-0.41m | 2:47PM0.98m | 4:16AM-0.50m | 3:46PM0.93m | 5:03AM-0.54m | 4:42PM0.86m | 5:48AM-0.51m | 5:38PM0.79m | 6:32AM-0.41m | 6:37PM0.71m | 7:14AM-0.26m | 7:39PM0.64m | |||||||
— | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | |
8:29 | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:25 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 20 | 22 | 16 | 20 | 21 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 18 | 20 | 23 | 18 | 19 | 22 | 18 | 18 | 21 |
Feels °C | 16 | 19 | 21 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 19 | 22 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 17 | 17 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | SSW 15 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 12 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 12 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | SW 16 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 |
145 | 101 | 249 | 142 | 186 | 181 | 197 | 186 | 186 | 165 | 136 | 85 | 149 | 212 | 50 | 520 | 389 | 122 | 262 | 222 | 160 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | S 20 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 14 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | W 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | WNW 19 | W 18 | W 17 | W 17 |
242 | 242 | 7 | 242 | 229 | 233 | 229 | 187 | 184 | 127 | 102 | 37 | 152 | 63 | 31 | 125 | 125 | 120 | 167 | 149 | 215 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 21 | — | S 10 | W 16 | SSW 18 | S 18 | W 16 | SSW 16 | W 14 | SW 19 | W 14 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 12 | WNW 19 | SSW 12 | SW 15 | SSW 19 | SW 14 |
9 | — | 2 | 5 | 61 | 25 | 19 | 51 | 15 | 96 | 36 | 81 | 61 | 79 | 44 | 28 | 123 | 27 | 76 | 145 | 74 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | NW 8 | — | — | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | WNW 9 | — | — | — |
291 | 173 | 134 | — | — | — | — | — | 295 | — | — | 161 | 262 | 338 | 377 | 904 | 688 | 398 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 283 | 0 | 104 | 175 | 0 | 0 | 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.











