
Surf Forecasts:
Indicators surf forecast from 4 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 9 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 9s period, NW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 9 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 9s period, NW swell with 574 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 4 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period with WNW 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 Tuesday (Aug 04) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 15s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Indicators in the next 16 days are 1.9m 9s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 09) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Tue 4th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Sun 9th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sun 9th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Indicators over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Grab your board, but keep your expectations in check. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty flat and frustrating around here. We’ve got a long stretch of small, gutless swell and mostly onshore winds, so it’s going to be a battle to find anything worth paddling out for. The water temp is sitting at 58°F, which is right on the money for this time of year, so at least you won’t need the thickest suit.
The first real chance of anything rideable doesn't show up until Saturday the 8th, and even then it's a marginal call. We’re looking at a small SSW swell pushing in around 2ft with moderate energy, but the wind is straight onshore, so it’s going to be lumpy. The swell direction is supposed to be from the SSW, which is okay for the Indicators, but the quality just isn't there.
Sunday the 9th sees a slight bump in size to 4ft from the WNW, but the period is a short 10 seconds and the energy picks up. The wind stays on it, so it's still messy. It’s more of the same on Monday the 10th, with 5ft of WNW swell but a short period, and the onshore wind keeps things ugly.
The following week doesn't offer much relief. The swell drops back down, and while we see some pulses of SSW energy, the period is too long and the wind is constantly on or cross-onshore. The energy readings are moderate, but the swell is small and the direction isn't ideal for keeping the break clean. It’s a lot of hyped-up water for not much in the barrel.
Honestly, there’s nothing that stands out as a proper standout session. The lack of quality wind is the main killer. For a point break like Indicators (which is sheltered from the WNW and works best with a WNW swell), the rare windows of WNW swell are ruined by the onshore flow. The stronger pulses of energy through the middle of the month just mean more chop, not better waves.
If you’re desperate, the mornings on Sunday the 9th and Monday the 10th might offer the most size, but expect a battle. With the swell over 4ft and the onshore wind, it’s not a beginner’s day. It’s more of a “get wet and hope for a nugget” kind of session. We’ve got a few days of nothing at the start, and then a long, drawn-out period of marginal, quality-challenged surf. Keep the board in the car, but don’t be surprised if you end up just watching the horizon.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
151 | 125 | 96 | 72 | 72 | 95 | 84 | 84 | 80 | 139 | 210 | 157 | 318 | 168 | 291 | 325 | 325 | 415 | 326 | 286 | 299 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 3:08PM1.60m | 3:51AM0.99m | 3:50PM1.68m | 5:58AM0.94m | 4:42PM1.75m | 8:27AM1.04m | 5:42PM1.81m | 9:30AM1.17m | 6:48PM1.87m | 10:10AM1.27m | 7:53PM1.92m | 10:46AM1.34m | 8:53PM1.95m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:45PM0.38m | 8:31AM0.66m | 11:01PM0.25m | 9:18AM0.85m | 00:16AM0.10m | 10:49AM1.00m | 1:23AM-0.06m | 12:33PM1.05m | 2:23AM-0.21m | 1:50PM1.01m | 3:15AM-0.32m | 2:52PM0.91m | 4:02AM-0.38m | ||||||||
6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | |
— | 8:12 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:05 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 20 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 21 | 22 | 18 | 22 | 23 | 17 | 21 | 22 | 17 | 21 | 23 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 16 |
Feels °C | 17 | 19 | 15 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 17 | 21 | 23 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | SW 13 | WNW 8 | SW 13 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | NW 7 | SSW 17 | WNW 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 |
151 | 125 | 96 | 39 | 31 | 54 | 41 | 84 | 28 | 84 | 210 | 157 | 53 | 168 | 100 | 325 | 325 | 415 | 326 | 286 | 299 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | WNW 8 | SW 13 | SSW 19 | SW 13 | WNW 8 | SSW 18 | SW 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 |
61 | 36 | 35 | 72 | 72 | 95 | 84 | 28 | 45 | 139 | 82 | 35 | 318 | 36 | 291 | 259 | 169 | 167 | 160 | 143 | 101 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 11 | NW 10 | S 12 | SSW 20 | SSW 20 | SW 18 | WNW 8 | W 15 | SW 13 | SW 12 | W 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 20 | SW 19 |
37 | 57 | 54 | 31 | 15 | 12 | 37 | 37 | 80 | 23 | 17 | 83 | 36 | 14 | 82 | 28 | 12 | 24 | 12 | 98 | 96 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 5 | — | — | WNW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | 70 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 37 | 37 | 0 | 79 | 37 | 0 | 104 | 144 | 0 | 0 | 345 | 0 | 125 | 345 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 144 | 0 | 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.











