Surf Forecasts:
Indicators surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 15s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 21 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 11s period, WNW swell with 352 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 11PM (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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 1.4m and 7s 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 1.3m 11s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore 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 Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicators over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, I'm Rusty. Let's be straight with you—this stretch of the run is not firing. The whole 16-day window is a flat, weak mess for the Indicators (Indicators) region. The swell is small, the period is often short, and the wind is rarely in our favour. The water temp is sitting at 61°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that's about the only thing that's slightly positive.
The first real surf of note is a tiny, weak pulse of swell on Wednesday the 19th of August. The morning shows a 3ft SSW swell with a 15-second period, but the wave energy is moderate at best (450). The wind is light and offshore from the WSW, so it'll be clean, but the waves are just too small and weak to get excited about. It's a marginal prospect at best, and definitely not worth paddling out for anything decent.
Then we hit a long, dry spell. From Thursday the 20th right through to the end of the month, it's a wasteland. The swell is tiny, often under 3ft, and the period is all over the place—some days it's a short 8 seconds, other days it's a long 17 seconds, but it's all weak energy. The wind is often onshore or cross-onshore, and the wave quality is rated as poor. Friday the 21st afternoon sees a bit of a bump with a 4ft WNW swell (11 seconds) and moderate energy (530), but the wind is cross-onshore, so it's messy and not worth chasing.
The whole first week is a bust. There's a small glimmer on Saturday the 29th of August morning. The swell is 3ft from the SSW with a 17-second period, and the combined energy jumps to strong (1234). The wind is light and cross-onshore from the SW, so it's not perfect, but that long period could set up some decent lines at the right breaks. The break here is a point, so it's sheltered from the direct swell, but the optimum direction is WNW, and this swell is coming from the SSW. That's a mismatch, so it's a gamble.
After that, it's back to the doldrums. The first week of September is all small, short-period WNW swell with weak energy and onshore winds. Nothing to write home about.
Honestly, if you're desperate for a paddle, the best bet is Saturday the 29th of August morning. But even that is a long shot. The rest of the time, the surf is flat, weak, and messy. It's a tough run for the Indicators area. The good news is that breaks here are fairly consistent, so it won't be like this forever. But for now, save your energy and wait for the next proper swell.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Thu afternoon, min 14°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sat afternoon, min 15°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | WNW 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
305 | 322 | 252 | 175 | 183 | 183 | 105 | 352 | 99 | 99 | 111 | 98 | 128 | 131 | 157 | 155 | 147 | 193 | 181 | 130 | 124 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 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 | 11:04AM1.28m | 9:08PM1.62m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 3:32PM0.85m | 4:12AM-0.07m | |||||||
6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | |
— | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 21 | 16 | 19 | 23 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 18 | 20 | 24 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 16 |
Feels °C | 17 | 20 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 17 | 19 | 22 | 18 | 19 | 23 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | WNW 7 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | WNW 10 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | SSW 12 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 16 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 |
305 | 322 | 104 | 175 | 183 | 183 | 91 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 33 | 81 | 128 | 51 | 113 | 88 | 61 | 50 | 181 | 29 | 26 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | W 12 | SSW 15 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | S 16 | SW 18 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | SSW 17 | WNW 7 | S 13 | SW 16 |
86 | 78 | 252 | 107 | 109 | 93 | 105 | 79 | 60 | 33 | 65 | 98 | 129 | 83 | 106 | 153 | 150 | 193 | 31 | 125 | 124 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 13 | S 22 | WNW 12 | SSW 19 | SW 19 | SW 20 | SW 18 | S 10 | SSW 17 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 12 | SW 19 | SSW 16 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | S 13 | S 13 | SW 16 | S 13 |
59 | 9 | 75 | 36 | 15 | 15 | 81 | 2 | 30 | 61 | 111 | 50 | 94 | 84 | 157 | 155 | 147 | 90 | 89 | 130 | 85 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WNW 7 | NW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 11 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 4 | — | — | WNW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 104 | 199 | 84 | 96 | 51 | 51 | 352 | 30 | 34 | 32 | — | — | 131 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 104 | 0 | 0 | 104 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Cruz | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.











