Surf Forecasts:
Indicators surf forecast from 25 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 823 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 17s 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 (Aug 24) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m 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 0.8m 13s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 17s |
| 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 folks, let's break this down. It's a lean stretch of forecasts, and patience is the name of the game. The only real beacon of hope is a pulse of energy way out on the horizon, around Tuesday the 8th of September. Everything before that is a whole lot of nothing or just slop.
For the first ripple of surf, Monday the 24th has a tiny 2ft SW groundswell with a long 17-second period, but combined wave energy is weak. The wind is onshore, so it's a no-go. The water temp is a touch warmer than average at 62°F.
Tuesday the 25th morning goes glassy, but with a swell barely reaching 2ft, it's just "surfable but very ordinary." Not a day to paddle for.
Then we hit a dry spell. From Tuesday afternoon through Thursday the 27th, it's all poor, messy, cross-on winds and small, weak waves. Friday the 28th sees the combined energy start to climb—hitting strong numbers by Saturday the 29th and 30th—but the wind is onshore, keeping it all marginal. The swell is around 3-4ft, but it's blown out. This pattern of onshore wind and small, confused swell carries right through the first week of September. A real bummer.
Now for the one that could save the forecast: Tuesday, the 8th of September. The morning is still iffy, but the afternoon brings our pulse. We're looking at 5ft of NW swell with a 10-second period. The combined wave energy surges to a 1136—the strongest of the entire outlook. The wind is a light onshore breeze from the SW, which might keep it from being pristine. For the experienced crew, this is the only real standout in the whole 16-day window. Mark your calendars, but don't hold your breath.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Wed afternoon, min 16°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | NW 7 | SW 15 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | SSW 17 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 147 | 190 | 181 | 130 | 124 | 169 | 166 | 183 | 133 | 124 | 173 | 340 | 387 | 486 | 697 | 505 | 688 | 554 | 411 | 400 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 8:23PM1.62m | 11:04AM1.28m | 9:08PM1.62m | 11:20AM1.29m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:56PM0.94m | 3:42AM-0.03m | 3:32PM0.85m | 4:12AM-0.07m | 4:05PM0.75m | 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 | |||||||
 |  | | |  | | | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — |
 | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:38 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 17 | 22 | 26 | 20 | 25 | 27 | 22 | 24 | 27 | 22 | 20 | 25 | 19 | 19 | 24 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 17 |
Feels °C | 20 | 18 | 22 | 25 | 20 | 24 | 26 | 21 | 23 | 26 | 21 | 19 | 24 | 18 | 18 | 22 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | S 13 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | S 13 | WNW 7 | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 14 | WNW 7 | SSW 19 | WNW 7 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | WNW 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 150 | 190 | 181 | 87 | 124 | 169 | 173 | 127 | 141 | 61 | 138 | 111 | 387 | 108 | 697 | 505 | 178 | 554 | 411 | 400 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 17 | WNW 8 | S 13 | SW 16 | S 13 | S 15 | SSW 16 | S 12 | SW 15 | SW 14 | S 12 | SSW 17 | SW 14 | SSW 18 | S 9 | S 9 | SSW 16 | S 9 | S 9 | W 11 |
| kJ | 147 | 37 | 126 | 130 | 84 | 112 | 166 | 199 | 104 | 103 | 99 | 340 | 91 | 486 | 15 | 6 | 688 | 2 | 2 | 9 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | S 13 | W 17 | W 16 | W 15 | W 13 | W 13 | SW 15 | SSW 18 | S 13 | W 10 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | — | S 9 | S 9 | — | S 9 |
| kJ | 9 | 92 | 23 | 45 | 38 | 55 | 55 | 106 | 133 | 55 | 32 | 59 | 49 | 27 | 16 | — | 6 | 2 | — | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | — | WNW 7 | NW 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | NW 4 | NW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | — | WNW 7 | NW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 |
| kJ | 66 | — | 37 | 38 | 19 | 22 | 44 | 183 | 70 | 124 | 173 | — | 96 | 200 | 174 | 234 | 305 | 220 | 204 | 134 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 440 | 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.
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