Swellinfo - is there a reason that forecasts are updated at 6am and 6 pm? Is that when the data is available or that's just the time you've chosen? If I had any say, I'd put the first forecast out an hour earlier (5am), first light is 515, and maybe shift the second one to 5pm also. Thanks! regardless, great tool and use every day.
How about u wake up at 4:30 and do a morning update. There is also a noon update. Three updates per day for free….say thank you Mr. Swellinfo.
Four Updates - 6AM, 12PM, 6PM, 12AM - not sure what its gonna do at dawn? Stay up till the midnight update and get a read a couple hours before first light.
Look at the buoys. They go hour by hour. It says flat flat flat flat flat flat flat flat flat flat flat 1 foot flat flat flat....
Yes, on the 6 and 12s. Its set standard for all geographic regions during all times of the year. Currently we have a lot of daylight, so yes, I agree it would be optimal to have it update at 5, but for most of the year 6 is quite a good time... Is it possible for that update time to change through the year, of course, but the setup right is consistent and makes pretty good sense.
I've always wondered why the updates at 6s & 12s. But I do remember when it was only updated twice a day. If it is not a limitation on when data sets are available (or outsourced computational costs), crunching the numbers every 3 hours would be great. However, given what this site currently provides, this is my procedure for DP is: 1. Set alarm and Wake up at ~4:20am (if dawn is at 5). 2. Use intellicast.com (or other weather site) to get current (& forecasted) wind and direction at break location. 3. Look at swellinfo.com (at this point it is a 12:00 am forecast) a. Look at 12:00am overall forecast update. b. look at "station data" view for recent buoy data for buoys of interest.. ones near my break and those possibly in line with swell generators. c. drill down and look at what buoys have been doing for last few hours (swell height, direction, period). d. look at the swell forecast table (although this is TMI pre-coffee). I usually look at this the night before.4. Mentally assimilate all information for consistency and correlate with experience and local knowledge (for wind/swell direction & strength, and tides). The more you do this, the more of an "inventory" of experience you will develop. Also, keep a log so that you can recognize and remember certain conditions/events. If this indicates the slightest possibility of waves and favorable wind, proceed to step 5. 5. Feed & walk dog, Drink coffee, and any other routine "business" items. 6. Now this is the most important step: Go and check your spot(s)**. You need to wake up with the mindset you are committed to go. I drive at least 25 minutes, so worse case is I can take a walk on the beach or just paddle around on a SUP. Become familiar with your break(s), and learn how all the other information available on the site may indicate/translate to what is happening at your spots(s). If you just look at green/blue go, red no, you will end up missing some good days and on some other days show up and not be happy when its blown out. There is a lot of information on this site other than the "general" forecast (which is usually very good, but is not an "up to the minute update". Learn to use it and engage your minds that the gracious creator provided. You will not be disappointed. **Note: You can use cams, but the ones I use don't start until 5am, and only provide stills and can miss set waves. Also, if it's a bit foggy (or rainy), the cams might not see the outer breaks.
Yes.. your mileage and implementation will vary and other optimizations are possible. Personally, I do 2 through 4 horizontally in bed on my smartphone.
Thanks for the breakdown C-Dog. For me, the most important step when planning a dawn patrol strike is to make sure step 5 is completed. It's all downhill from there. You guys should be good for the am tomorrow. Peace and waves brother.
