Indicators Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.95° N 122.03° W

Indicators Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 pm 14 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Indicators sea temperature is
16.9°C
1.9° 

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


Indicators surf forecast from 15 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 14 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 9s period, NW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 15 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 9s period, NW swell with 766 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 14 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 9s period with NW 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 (Sep 14) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.2m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 1.7m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 17s 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 2.2m 9s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Mon 14th Sep)7ft (2.2m) 9s
Best Surf11PM (Mon 14th Sep)7ft (2.2m) 9s
Most Powerful 2AM (Tue 15th Sep)7ft (2.2m) 9s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's get into it for the Indicators break.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a frustrating start. The first swell we see hits Monday afternoon with 5ft from the WNW, and it’s not clean. That cross-shore wind and the moderate combined swell energy (486) just isn't doing us any favours, and it's too messy to get excited about. We've also got Tuesday and Wednesday morning showing a drop in size and persistent onshore or cross-on conditions, meaning the first few days are basically a write-off.

The first real glimmer of hope comes Thursday morning the 17th. The swell drops right down to 2ft, but listen to this: it’s a long-period 16-second groundswell out of the SSW, and we get glassy conditions. The combined energy is actually moderate (404), so those long-period lines will have some punch behind them. For a point break like this, that period and direction is pure gold, giving you clean, lined-up waves. This is a standout session for the patient surfer. Water temps are a touch warmer than normal at 62°, which is a couple of degrees above average for this time of year, so you’ll be comfy out there in a spring suit.

It stays small through the end of the week and into the weekend, with the SSW swell continuing but the wind turning onshore again. The 21st of September (Monday) morning is another cracker, though. Again, glassy winds, 3ft from the SSW with a 17-second period and combined energy hitting 604. This is stronger energy for such a small wave, so expect a surprising amount of punch for a clean waist-high wave. That’s your other true standout, but remember it’s a week out, so keep a hopeful eye on it.

The pattern then fades into the 22nd through the 28th with a lot of marginal, poor, or merely "surfable" conditions. Winds are generally onshore or light, and the swell dips and gets a bit shorter in period. It’s a flat stretch for sure.

But hold onto your leash, because the real prize is at the very end. On Tuesday morning, the 29th of September, we’ve got a solid 6ft of WNW groundswell hitting, powered by very strong combined energy (768). The wind is glassy. This is a proper size, and at 6ft it's getting into intermediate territory, and if it pushes to 7ft that afternoon (with the cross-shore wind and even stronger energy at 804), it'll be a big day only for experts. The morning window, however, with that clean face and a solid period (9 seconds, not super long but solid) will offer the best, most powerful waves of the entire 16-day window. It’s a long way off, so the details are less certain, but the potential is enormous. The combined swell energy (768) is telling us this is the real deal.

So to wrap it up: the first week is mostly a struggle with small, messy surf, barring those two glassy SSW mornings on the 17th and 21st. The second week goes pretty quiet, then finishes with a bang around the 29th if the glass-off holds. Keep the longboard handy for the small clean days, and mark that calendar for the 29th.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

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

Mon
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
Friday
18
Saturday
19
Sunday
20
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
3
1
0
1
1
0
1
2
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
1
1
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.6
WNW
9
2.2
NW
9
1.4
WNW
8
1.2
WNW
8
1.1
WNW
8
1.2
WNW
8
1.1
WNW
8
0.5
SSW
15
0.6
SSW
16
0.4
SW
21
0.6
SSW
15
0.6
SSW
19
0.6
SSW
19
0.5
SW
19
0.6
SSW
18
0.7
SW
18
0.6
SW
18
0.7
SW
18
0.7
SW
18
0.7
SW
17
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
364
766
268
192
153
207
169
128
198
138
167
251
251
184
211
319
252
319
330
309
Wind (km/h)
15
NW
5
NNW
5
SW
10
WSW
5
SW
10
SSW
20
W
5
NNW
5
SSW
15
W
5
N
5
WSW
15
WNW
0
N
5
W
10
WNW
5
NW
5
W
20
WNW
0
W
Wind State
cross
glassy
cross-on
on
glassy
cross-on
on
glassy
glassy
on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
glassy
High Tide
2:16AM1.15m
1:24PM1.56m
3:35AM1.08m
1:57PM1.53m
6:37AM1.08m
2:40PM1.49m
8:30AM1.18m
3:35PM1.45m
8:55AM1.24m
4:44PM1.43m
9:16AM1.27m
5:57PM1.42m
Low Tide
7:29PM0.16m
7:04AM0.75m
8:19PM0.21m
7:34AM0.93m
9:17PM0.26m
8:04AM1.08m
10:29PM0.30m
10:31AM1.16m
11:45PM0.29m
12:10PM1.14m
00:51AM0.23m
1:12PM1.05m
1:42AM0.17m
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:48
6:50
6:50
6:52
6:52
6:54
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:16
7:15
7:14
7:13
7:10
7:09
7:07
 mm
Temp °C
25
20
17
19
16
17
19
16
18
20
18
19
23
17
18
22
17
18
21
17
Feels °C
22
19
16
18
16
16
16
14
18
18
18
19
21
17
17
21
16
18
19
16
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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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