swell info's accuracy

[Waveskier]

OBX seems to have longer swell periods than most other spots on the east coast but you wouldn't know it from swell info. It has been forecasting small surf on spots (like Rodanthe) but when I pull up daily reports (OBXlive) they have photos and write ups of chest to shoulder high waves. Here in SE NC the swell has dropped to knee to thigh. When I lived in south Florida I remember sticking around (rather than traveling to Central fl) for knee to waste high surf that turned out to be flat. Any tips on planning for a trip if you're worried about the surf forecast not being right?

[Swellinfo]

OBX seems to have longer swell periods than most other spots on the east coast but you wouldn't know it from swell info. It has been forecasting small surf on spots (like Rodanthe) but when I pull up daily reports (OBXlive) they have photos and write ups of chest to shoulder high waves. Here in SE NC the swell has dropped to knee to thigh. When I lived in south Florida I remember sticking around (rather than traveling to Central fl) for knee to waste high surf that turned out to be flat. Any tips on planning for a trip if you're worried about the surf forecast not being right?

Swellinfo is generally on point for the OBX... Today, the forecast is an under call for the OBX with these long period swells still lingering around, but all forecasters under called today. We are still working on enhancing our buoy validation process, but this wouldn't influence anything 3-7 days out anyway.

For planning a trip on the East Coast 3-7 days, you are going to have to account for a fair amount of uncertainty with regards to the surf forecast. That is just the name of the game on the east coast.