Indicators Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.95° N 122.03° W

Indicators Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 am 12 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Indicators sea temperature is
16.0° C
1.4° 

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


Indicators surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 14 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 15s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, SSW swell with 620 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 14 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 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 Friday (Aug 14) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m 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 1.1m 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 9s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 2PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Fri 14th Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 15s
Best Surf 8AM (Fri 14th Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 15s
Most Powerful 2AM (Sun 16th Aug)3.5ft (1.1m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here, looking at the coming weeks for the Indicators area. I gotta be straight with you – this is a tough stretch. The swell is tiny and the conditions are pretty ordinary for most of the run. The water's sitting at 60.8°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least the rubber’s a bit easier to deal with on those long waits.

The main issue is the swell direction. The guidance tells us this spot is sheltered and really needs a good pulse from the WNW to work well, but we're mostly seeing long-period SSW groundswells rolling in. That's a bad combo. The combined swell energy is mostly in the moderate range, between 300 and 400 (like 390 on Wednesday morning), but it's just not wrapping in right. For the first week, from Wednesday the 12th through to the 21st, we're looking at a real dry spell. There are a few mornings with near-glass conditions, like Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th, where the wind is dead calm and it's glassy, but the swell is still only 3.0 ft from the SSW. That's poor surf, maybe a knee-high dribble for the logs. It's barely surfable, but you'd be out there just for the peace.

Now, we do have a couple of bits of light at the end of the tunnel. Saturday the 22nd is a write-off, but then Sunday the 23rd and Monday the 24th start to shift. The swell direction finally swings around to the WNW on Sunday afternoon, with a 3.6 ft swell and 7 second period, and the wind is light onshore. It's still poor quality, but it's a move in the right direction. The best chance we see in the whole 16-day window looks like Tuesday the 27th. The morning session shows a 2.3 ft SSW groundswell, but the energy is climbing to 524 – that's the highest we see. The wind is a light onshore breeze. It's still marginal, but it's the pick of a bad bunch. That's the one to circle.

Overall, this is not a period for scoring epic waves. It's a time for a longboard, a patient attitude, and maybe a kite if you've got one, because the wind is often onshore and the swell is small. For Indictors, it's a tough run. The forecast can always flip, but right now, there's no standout.

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 20°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
2
1
0
2
1
0
1
1
1
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
WNW
9
0.6
SSW
16
0.7
SSW
16
0.6
SSW
16
0.7
SSW
16
0.7
SW
15
0.7
SSW
15
0.6
SSW
18
0.8
SSW
14
1
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
1.1
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
1
SSW
15
1
SSW
14
1
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
15
0.6
SSW
16
0.8
SSW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
190
175
226
164
212
242
188
254
268
512
493
620
469
434
400
400
330
236
322
206
210
Wind (km/h)
10
S
10
SSW
5
S
10
SSW
15
WSW
5
NW
10
SSW
15
W
5
NNW
5
SW
15
W
5
NNE
5
WSW
15
WSW
5
NNE
10
WSW
15
W
5
N
0
SSE
5
WNW
5
WNW
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross
cross-on
on
cross
on
cross-on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
glassy
cross-on
glassy
High Tide
11:54AM1.42m
10:41PM1.85m
12:27PM1.46m
11:32PM1.72m
12:58PM1.49m
00:22AM1.55m
1:29PM1.52m
1:14AM1.37m
1:59PM1.54m
2:12AM1.19m
2:31PM1.55m
3:25AM1.04m
3:05PM1.55m
Low Tide
4:38PM0.65m
5:25AM-0.30m
5:30PM0.54m
6:03AM-0.17m
6:21PM0.45m
6:39AM0.01m
7:13PM0.39m
7:14AM0.23m
8:08PM0.37m
7:49AM0.46m
9:09PM0.35m
8:26AM0.69m
10:17PM0.34m
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:22
6:22
6:22
6:24
6:24
6:26
6:26
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:02
8:01
8:00
7:59
7:58
7:57
7:55
 mm
1
Temp °C
17
18
15
16
18
16
17
20
18
17
21
18
18
21
17
19
22
19
22
26
20
Feels °C
16
17
14
15
17
15
16
18
16
16
19
17
18
19
17
18
20
19
22
24
19
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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