Indicators Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.95° N 122.03° W

Indicators Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 pm 19 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Indicators sea temperature is
14.7° C
0.9° 

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


Indicators surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 21s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 21s period, SSW swell with 871 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 16s period with SW 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 16s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Indicators in the next 16 days are 1.0m 21s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) 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 1.1m 13s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 11AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Mon 20th Jul)2.5ft (0.7m) 16s
Best Surf 8AM (Sat 25th Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 21s
Most Powerful 8AM (Sat 25th Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 21s

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


The Lowdown

Right, folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way at Indicators over the next couple of weeks.

Straight up, the first few days are a bit of a write-off. Monday the 20th is a no-go with poor surf conditions, so don’t even bother paddling out. The wait goes on through Tuesday morning the 21st, but that’s when things start to wake up. We’ve got a 4 ft SSW groundswell rolling in with a nice 14-second period, and the wind is glassy – that’s a clean start. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so nothing to worry about there. The combined wave energy is moderate (568), so there’s some push behind it. This is your best early window, but it’s only for the advanced crew; the break is sheltered and picks up WNW swell best, so this SSW direction is a bit off. Still, with glassy conditions, it’s worth a look.

Tuesday afternoon the wind shifts cross-onshore and the quality drops, so don’t expect much. Wednesday through Thursday the 22nd-23rd stay marginal with onshore winds, and the swell drops to 3 ft. Not great.

Now, here’s a standout – Friday the 24th morning. We’ve got a 2 ft SSW swell, but the period is a huge 24 seconds. That’s very long-period groundswell, which means the waves will have serious shape and energy, but it’ll be breaking a bit straight at this beach setup. The combined energy is moderate (571). It’s marginal, but for a point or reef, this would be a gem. For a sheltered spot like Indicators, it’s worth a session if you’re patient. The wind is light onshore, so it’s not perfect, but the potential is there.

Saturday the 25th afternoon is a real treat. The swell is 3 ft from the SSW at 21 seconds, and the wind goes glassy. The wave energy is strong (753). This is clean, long-period swell, and the glassy wind means it’ll be smooth. Crowds are likely here, so get in early. This is your top pick for the first week – the conditions are nearly perfect for a long, mellow session.

Sunday the 26th afternoon repeats the trick with glassy conditions and 3 ft SSW swell at 19 seconds, with strong energy (944). Another excellent window.

Then we hit the big stuff. Monday the 27th morning sees 4 ft SSW swell, but the combined energy rockets to 1439 (strong to very strong). The wind is onshore, so it’s messy. The real gold is Tuesday the 28th afternoon – 4 ft SSW swell, 18-second period, and glassy. The energy is huge at 1497. This is a standout for the experts. At 4 ft, it’s pushing the limit for beginners, but for anyone with skill, this is the best of the run. The wind is glassy, so the waves will be flawless.

Wednesday the 29th afternoon sees a change – a 7 ft WNW swell with a short 9-second period. That’s windswell, and it’s big, over 8 ft, so it’s expert-only. The energy is strong (1302), but the cross-onshore wind won’t help. For paddle surfing, it’s a bit of a mess – honestly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than a standard surf.

From Thursday the 30th through to the end of the first week of August, it’s a mixed bag. The swell drops, the winds are mostly cross-onshore or onshore, and the conditions are poor to marginal. The combined energy for the early August run is weak to moderate (197-619). There’s no real standout in the second week – the WNW swells are short-period and onshore, and the SSW pulses are inconsistent. It’s a bit of a blank run, which is pretty normal for this area when the winds don’t line up. Forecasts can change, so keep an eye on it, but for now, don’t plan a trip around the second week.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Tue afternoon, min 13°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

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

Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
0
0
2
0
2
1
0
2
0
0
2
1
1
2
1
2
3
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
SW
16
0.7
SW
16
0.7
SW
16
0.8
SSW
16
1.1
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
24
0.7
SSW
24
0.7
SSW
22
0.9
SSW
21
0.8
SSW
21
0.9
SSW
20
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
268
255
255
314
478
321
252
339
303
321
229
210
263
487
487
412
718
516
596
Wind (km/h)
5
SE
10
WSW
10
SW
5
W
5
W
10
SW
5
ESE
10
SW
10
SW
0
ENE
10
SW
10
WSW
0
N
10
W
10
WNW
5
NNW
10
W
5
NW
5
N
Wind State
glassy
on
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
on
glassy
glassy
High Tide
3:30AM1.06m
4:16PM1.55m
5:12AM0.93m
4:56PM1.57m
7:41AM0.94m
5:38PM1.58m
9:21AM1.06m
6:24PM1.60m
10:17AM1.17m
7:13PM1.63m
10:57AM1.24m
8:00PM1.66m
Low Tide
9:59PM0.48m
9:18AM0.41m
11:12PM0.39m
10:07AM0.63m
00:22AM0.28m
11:10AM0.83m
1:23AM0.18m
12:22PM0.96m
2:15AM0.09m
1:30PM1.03m
3:00AM0.01m
2:26PM1.05m
3:39AM-0.06m
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
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>
6:03
6:03
6:05
6:05
6:05
6:07
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:24
8:23
8:23
8:22
8:22
8:21
8:21
 mm
Temp °C
15
20
21
17
22
24
19
22
23
20
20
23
19
21
23
20
20
23
19
Feels °C
15
19
19
17
22
23
19
21
21
20
19
22
19
20
22
20
19
22
18
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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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