Can you please explain why the detailed forecast on the left has Cape May so small this weekend when the line graph to the right has it way bigger?
lol I searched the forums because I thought this sounded familiar... 09-17-2008, 01:24 PM: >> beachbreak Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Chadwick Posts: 35 cape may the detailed forecast has friday only up to waist,but the line graph shows bigger? why? also, why is cape may proper often forecast to have decent swell when it's flat there? >>> Swellinfo Administrator Join Date: May 2006 Location: Delaware Posts: 2,111 Images: 84 cape may is a tricky forecast, so please use the swellinfo forecast for this area as a guidance to help you make your own decision. This swell looks to have a fair amount of East in it, so this is good given the North current isn't too terrible. As far as if they swell/surf plot lines dont match to the detailed forecast.... This will happen if the swell direction is outside of the swell window for the forecasted location. So where cape may faces south, and the more east facing breaks will see larger surf. Due to the location inside the mouth of the bay, this is an extremely tidal surf area. You really need to have some local experience in order to know how it works best. Because there is only a couple of main areas to surf, your best bet is to do your homework and test out the waters.
in simple terms (at least how i picture it) the 7-8 foot swell is coming in out of the ENE. Cape may faces south or SSE so the swell has to bend 90 degrees before it breaks on the beach and loses nearly all of its size doing so. The Detailed forecast is for surf conditions, The graph is for swell conditions.
are you sure? detailed forecast has saturday ankle to knee high,but graph of potential SURF height has it go up to head high. where'd you get the surf vs.swell idea? and yeah,the last time this happened i don't think it was clearly explained or clarified,and it still doesn't make sense that the detailed surf forecast is way different than the potential surf height graph. if it's a swell height graph,it doesn't say that. hence my polite request for some clarification.
The graph is nice but the narrative is the source i rely on. Cm is a weird place. I've seen it raging well overhead 10 miles north and CM is knee high. if there's too much N in the swell it bypasses completely. You can see the swell on the horizon but nada at CM.
Yeah i see what you mean...that is confusing. There is both a "potential surf height" graph and a "swell" graph. Dunno. Either way, pumpmaster is right about too much north in the swell for south facing CM which I'd guess for saturday.
I have a rule about cape may.... "it always sucks; dont go there". i have that written on a sticky note in my car for when i see the flag blow northeast.
Run & Hide! I always found cape may to be a place where people run and hide. i like to get to the source and see if size really matters. and who needs clarity? go check it. thats always pretty clear.
Click on swell plots for the open ocean swell data. Click on surfplots for the derived potential potential surf heights. The surf plots can vary from the text and that is because the same data point and used for the nearby east facing areas. In any case, Cape May faces south. As mentioned, the more N in the swell direction the more swell will bypass the cape. The swell window there is basically 90(E) to 180(S) degrees. A lot of the nor'easter type systems we have produce at 45(NE) to 80(ENE) degree swell. This mean the swell will bypass cape may, but if there is enough east in the swell, you can see some size get in there. If there is a sizeable NE/ENE swell, swell will refract (bend) into the cape. As mentioned earlier, use the forecast as guidance, and hopefully you can learn by looking at the forecasted swell direction and such. The forecast is no way going to be able to capture all of the variability at cape may. Tides are crucial there... Sanbars play a big roll as well. Last time I surfed there, the sand at a particular break was really bad. Also there are several places to surf on Cape May (different beach facing directions), all of which react differently to different swells.
thanks as always,swellinfo. when you live 85 miles away,but cape may is the easiest drive for south facing breaks on a weekend,the wind is howling out of control surf up here,cape may can produce clean sanctuary. oblove the toughguy can come up here and paddle out with me anytime he thinks we run and hide to cape may. pick an ice storm in february when i'd otherwise be alone at my beachbreak. or,come up today and get hammered for nothing! i'd rather surf. guess he's never been to chadwick. or jenks,for that matter. cape may is sometimes an excellent alternative to getting pounded in big chop crap,or waiting around all weekend for it to get good on monday or tuesday. it's been great several times this fall. i had point-like lefts to myself a few times now,when everybody up here waited it out. and you,swellinfo,have been a tremendous help in my study of how and when it works. so sincere thanks to you.
