Newport RI Forecast+Cam Interpretation - "Is it worth driving to RI after work today"

Discussion in 'Northeast' started by epictetus, Jul 25, 2014.

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  1. Jul 25, 2014 #1
    epictetus

    epictetus Well-Known Member

    206
    Jun 27, 2013
    Questions / Things I've Noticed

    * It seems like there is usually (especially for S / SE swells) a big drop in wave height between the Block Island buoy (44097) and 1st/2nd beach -- i.e. buoy reading of 4ft 7second = 2ft waves hitting Newport

    * Also seems like there is some delay (Maybe an hour?) from when the buoy reports a swell to when it hits the beach, although that's hard to tell since the buoy only updates once an hour.

    * The first beach cams are a very iffy thing -- only updates every 20 minutes and the last update may have been a brief flat spell, they're only really good for telling if it is huge or not / seeing if there are like 100 people surfing at 1st beach... although on a 6-8ft day with the angle of the cam you might only be able to see the whitewash/people paddling out

    * Checking the Gansett cam can help a lot too

    * Usually if the Block Island buoy is less than 6 feet, it isn't worth driving to Rhode Island IMO
     
    epictetus, Jul 25, 2014
    epictetus, Jul 25, 2014
  3. Jul 25, 2014 #2
    Riley Martin's Disgruntled Neighbor

    Riley Martin's Disgruntled Neighbor Well-Known Member

    1,522
    Aug 22, 2012
    Unless you get on the ferry and head towards the painted rock.

    Be ware east facing beach reports vs south (or even West, come the fall), and look for N / NW winds.

    Also, wind swell vs long / medium duration ground swell on the buoys are as different as night and day.

    You should make some friends out there and see about getting some numbers.
     
    Riley Martin's Disgruntled Neighbor, Jul 25, 2014
    Riley Martin's Disgruntled Neighbor, Jul 25, 2014

  5. Jul 25, 2014 #3
    Riley Martin's Disgruntled Neighbor

    Riley Martin's Disgruntled Neighbor Well-Known Member

    1,522
    Aug 22, 2012
    BI2.jpg

    BI1.jpg

    This was one of those little lows that moves up the coast - hardly registered on the buoys. Just a regular fun day with some chest highs moving through once in a while. I sent these two by text to some pals who were couching it. We ended up having a good day. If I remember correctly a few seals were out with us that day. Pretty sweet.
    best way to know if its happening is to be there...
     
    Riley Martin's Disgruntled Neighbor, Jul 25, 2014
    Riley Martin's Disgruntled Neighbor, Jul 25, 2014
  6. Jul 25, 2014 #4
    epictetus

    epictetus Well-Known Member

    206
    Jun 27, 2013
    I have really bad luck with the txt/phone thing, usually if I get to a beach and it is firing I forget to txt anyone and don't remember until after it dies back down, I think my buds tend to be the same way...

    Yeah I have seen some exceptions to the 6ft buoy rule (i.e. small buoy but still some good sets moving through, and one time when there was like 6-8ft swell on the buoy but nothing hitting Newport)..

    Trying to decide if it is worth it tonight, it's a 1.5 hour drive and the buoys/cams look like **** currently but the forecast is interesting. I can probably sneak out of work a little early...
     
    epictetus, Jul 25, 2014
    epictetus, Jul 25, 2014
  7. Jul 25, 2014 #5
    seldom seen

    seldom seen Well-Known Member

    13,085
    Aug 21, 2012
    ^^^^^I've been meaning to do a little exploring out there, hopefully this fall.
     
    seldom seen, Jul 25, 2014
    seldom seen, Jul 25, 2014
  8. Jul 25, 2014 #6
    seldom seen

    seldom seen Well-Known Member

    13,085
    Aug 21, 2012
    As far as your predicament today, hard to say...doesn't look great, but that would be sweet if it goes according to forecast...not sure what's causing that bump, haven't looked at the weather, but F it, I say go for it.
     
    seldom seen, Jul 25, 2014
    seldom seen, Jul 25, 2014
  9. Jul 25, 2014 #7
    epictetus

    epictetus Well-Known Member

    206
    Jun 27, 2013
    Hmmm wind forecast got a whole lot crappier, maybe it's not worth the drive tonight
     
    epictetus, Jul 25, 2014
    epictetus, Jul 25, 2014
  10. Jul 25, 2014 #8
    Riley Martin's Disgruntled Neighbor

    Riley Martin's Disgruntled Neighbor Well-Known Member

    1,522
    Aug 22, 2012
    Its not. Unless you are coming over for a mudslide.
     
    Riley Martin's Disgruntled Neighbor, Jul 25, 2014
    Riley Martin's Disgruntled Neighbor, Jul 25, 2014
  11. Jul 25, 2014 #9
    Riley Martin's Disgruntled Neighbor

    Riley Martin's Disgruntled Neighbor Well-Known Member

    1,522
    Aug 22, 2012
    give a shout.
     
    Riley Martin's Disgruntled Neighbor, Jul 25, 2014
    Riley Martin's Disgruntled Neighbor, Jul 25, 2014
  12. Jul 25, 2014 #10
    seldom seen

    seldom seen Well-Known Member

    13,085
    Aug 21, 2012
    Will do for sure...definitely gonna make it happen before winter.
     
    seldom seen, Jul 25, 2014
    seldom seen, Jul 25, 2014
  13. Jul 25, 2014 #11
    epictetus

    epictetus Well-Known Member

    206
    Jun 27, 2013
    Guess I'll just head to Lake Cochituate after work and see if I can convince any boaters to buzz me so I can ride their wakes... But yeah I am down for a sesh anytime the waves are better and I can get off work
     
    epictetus, Jul 25, 2014
    epictetus, Jul 25, 2014
  14. Jul 25, 2014 #12
    seldom seen

    seldom seen Well-Known Member

    13,085
    Aug 21, 2012
    Mr. tetus probly gonna be at the usual spot Sunday morning, got a bunch of crap to take care of this weekend though so I'm kinda up in the air.
     
    seldom seen, Jul 25, 2014
    seldom seen, Jul 25, 2014
  15. Jul 25, 2014 #13
    BANANABREAD

    BANANABREAD Active Member

    38
    Aug 8, 2013
    4018415160
     
    BANANABREAD, Jul 25, 2014
    BANANABREAD, Jul 25, 2014
  16. Jul 25, 2014 #14
    HighOnLife

    HighOnLife Well-Known Member

    1,273
    Jun 3, 2014
    Dude, I live 2 1/2 hours away from RI which is my closest place where real waves break and I go there every damn weekend. Wait, how far are you away?
     
    HighOnLife, Jul 25, 2014
    HighOnLife, Jul 25, 2014
  17. Jul 25, 2014 #15
    HighOnLife

    HighOnLife Well-Known Member

    1,273
    Jun 3, 2014
    RI number?
     
    HighOnLife, Jul 25, 2014
    HighOnLife, Jul 25, 2014
  18. Jul 25, 2014 #16
    punkaboy

    punkaboy Well-Known Member

    83
    Sep 9, 2012
    Dude - call Sid @ Water Bros. 401-848-9283 or 401-849-9283.

    He is at the beach @ 6 a.m. every morning and will make an update if things change. Unless he is surfing himself.

    https://www.facebook.com/WaterBrothers
     
    punkaboy, Jul 25, 2014
    punkaboy, Jul 25, 2014
  19. Jul 26, 2014 #17
    worsey

    worsey Well-Known Member

    4,503
    Oct 13, 2013
    How bout an si meet/greet/surf rhodeys hospitable beaches?
    we could camp at burlingame state forest - no hook-ups but only $20 p/night.
    (blank surf spot) only 10 mins away and if conditions warrant we could group-assault the prime venues.
    maybe when a (well-behaved) hurricane comes up the coast.
    we could forge a social model that could be applied to other (well, east coast) states.
     
    worsey, Jul 26, 2014
    worsey, Jul 26, 2014
  20. Jul 26, 2014 #18
    metard

    metard Well-Known Member

    4,614
    Mar 11, 2014
    posting in this thread
     
    metard, Jul 26, 2014
    metard, Jul 26, 2014
  21. Jul 26, 2014 #19
    seldom seen

    seldom seen Well-Known Member

    13,085
    Aug 21, 2012
    I'm down for Burlingame
     
    seldom seen, Jul 26, 2014
    seldom seen, Jul 26, 2014
  22. Jul 26, 2014 #20
    HighOnLife

    HighOnLife Well-Known Member

    1,273
    Jun 3, 2014
    Dude, Burlingame is my place......
     
    HighOnLife, Jul 26, 2014
    HighOnLife, Jul 26, 2014
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