Indicator
Hourly
Confidence
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Tap a forecast cell to explore conditions on the map.
Timezone: America/Los_Angeles
Wind: GFS (20251102 18z)
Waves: GFS WAVE (20251102 18z)

Indicator surf guide

Indicator is a surf spot located off the south tip of Bluff Cove, known for its trio of thick, rocky reef waves. This spot is fairly popular among local surfers, but it offers challenging conditions and can be hazardous. It typically starts to break as small as 3ft (about 0.9m) and is best surfed with medium tide, especially during winter when the big northwest swells pump in. The access isn't the easiest, with a sheer path off Paseo del Mar leading down to the water, so be prepared for a bit of a trek.

The waves here can be pretty intense. You’ll find a mix of lefts and rights, with the spot serving up a hollow, shifty reef wave called Lowers, which is the innermost section. Middles is the meaty left just outside of that, which can handle some decent size—up to a few feet overhead is where it shines. The outermost part, known as Uppers, is reserved for experienced surfers only; it's an unpredictable big-wave left that can get hollow and mushy at the same time. The ideal swell direction comes from the west, with southwest and northwest working too. If you're hitting it on a southeast wind, you'll have better luck, and the waves can handle both low and mid tide.

It's important to note that the waves here are localized, so keep an eye on other surfers and be respectful of the lineup. The surf can get too bumpy at extreme high tide and too shallow and rocky at extreme low tide, so timing is key. Overall, this spot is best suited for expert surfers who can handle powerful and sometimes dangerous conditions.

Surf reports and surf forecasts nearby Indicator

PV Cove
California, United States
Reef break
Mon 3
Tue 4
Wed 5
Thu 6
Fri 7
Sat 8
Sun 9
Mon 10
Tue 11
Wed 12
Thu 13
Fri 14
Palos Verdes Cove - North Reef/Little Queens
California, United States
Reef break
Mon 3
Tue 4
Wed 5
Thu 6
Fri 7
Sat 8
Sun 9
Mon 10
Tue 11
Wed 12
Thu 13
Fri 14
Palos Verdes Cove - Middles/The Channel
California, United States
Reef break
Mon 3
Tue 4
Wed 5
Thu 6
Fri 7
Sat 8
Sun 9
Mon 10
Tue 11
Wed 12
Thu 13
Fri 14
Palos Verdes Cove - Boneyards
California, United States
Point break
Mon 3
Tue 4
Wed 5
Thu 6
Fri 7
Sat 8
Sun 9
Mon 10
Tue 11
Wed 12
Thu 13
Fri 14
Indicator
California, United States
Point break
Mon 3
Tue 4
Wed 5
Thu 6
Fri 7
Sat 8
Sun 9
Mon 10
Tue 11
Wed 12
Thu 13
Fri 14
Confidence

Confidence tells you how much the weather models agree on the forecast.

  • High confidence: Models agree closely; forecast is reliable.
  • Medium confidence: Some disagreement; conditions may shift slightly.
  • Low confidence: Models diverge; treat forecast with caution.

We calculate the wind confidence by comparing wind speed, gust and direction from multiple models (like GFS, ECMWF, Arome, and Harmonie) and seeing how closely they match. For wave certainty we compare height, period and direction, also on multiple models. They are weighted, meaning that some models count more than others, depending on how good they are for a certain spot.

Readme

Welcome! If you’re new to surf forecasting, check out this quick guide.

Forecast Table

The forecast table (the section on the page with all the numbers) is designed to pack as much information in the screen as possible. Although intimidating at first, it will help you make informed decisions about the waves faster, trust me :D. The table consists of roughly four sections, time and predictions, wind, waves, and tides:

🔮 Time and predictions section

Here we show the forecast thour and the overall surf quality prediction. This is determined based on the wave, wind and tide quality prediction. These individual predictions can be found on the forecast map.

💨 Wind section

The first row on the table (with the 💨 icon) shows wind speed, direction and gust. The more the wind speed the more aggressive the color (from blue, green, orange to red).

🌊 Wave section

The waves section consists of three rows, one for wave height and direction, one for period and one for wave energy. Our algorithm choices the "dominant wave". This is normally the first swell partition, but with heavy local storms it displays the wind waves. If that's the case, we display the numbers in italic and in gray.

🌒 Tide section

The tide section consists of a row with the actual heights per hour (measured at the half hour) and a table that displays the flow of the tide and the extremes (lows and highs).

Forecast map

The forecast map consists of arrows. These arrows represent all wave partitions (swell partitions and wind wave partition) and the wind. This allows you to see things like: a secondary swell or wind waves messes up the surf, or the wind is just a tick offshore so very surfable. Click a metric label in the bottom left to bring that arrow to the front — handy when arrows overlap.

Forecast Cheat Sheet

Short on time? Focus on wave energy. It’s the best single metric to gauge how big and powerful the waves will be.

Click any table cell to jump to that forecast hour. The map will update with forecast arrows, so you can see if wind and swell direction are lining up.

Use the table sidebar to switch units for height and speed.

Log your surf sessions to compare forecasts with real sessions and sharpen future predictions.

Models and Updates

Surfnerd blends multiple global and local wind and swell models using advanced interpolation and spatial techniques to create an "ensemble" forecast. Forecasts are refreshed hourly.

Surf Predictions

Our AI-driven algorithm scores surf quality, shown by green, orange, and gray dots. Each forecast hour is rated for wind, swell, and tide quality, then combined into an overall score. Here’s the scale:

Perfect
Good
Average
Bad or No Data

Session logs also feed the algorithm — the more you log, the smarter your forecasts get.

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