How does swell info work?

Sandblasters · Jan 6, 2016

EMazzSpicoli said: ↑

We should have daily RB references on here.
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pics or it didnt happen

JohnnyCornstarch · Jan 6, 2016

BassMon2 said: ↑

I'm not complaining or saying I got skunked. I know how to read buoys and all the rest of the info involved in determining if I'm going surfing or not.

But today stirred a question up in my mind. How do these forecasting models actually work? Reason I ask is this. First off, I'm on LI. Swell info was showing a shoulder high wave today. Still is. Buoy was showing between 6-7 feet this AM. Winds are hard offshore. Swell height is 0. Wind wave was that 6-7 ft. Checked cams, flat. Checked in person, flat. Like I knew it would be. But I got the day off so I was just double checking. Now I could be wrong but under these circumstances I always assumed the wind is blowing waves away from shore. Hence the "false" buoy reading. Regardless of whether I'm right about that or not, it's always flat under those circumstances.

So my question is why the shoulder high forecast? You'd think a forecast model would be able to figure that out, no? If they work solely off the buoy height it makes sense, but that seems a bit unsophisticated. Again, not complaining. I was able to figure it out myself. Just wondering

Discuss
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I thought you knew this was a social club for old dudes and everyone who wants an actual forecast just pays for surfline?

Barry Cuda · Jan 6, 2016

salt said: ↑

I was just dropping a Ron Burgundy reference. I think SI within 3 days notice is like 75% accurate. that ain't too bad when you're predicting God's handy work.
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I will go with your numbers, with a bit a variation for individual spots.

salt · Jan 6, 2016

EMazzSpicoli said: ↑

We should have daily RB references on here.
Click to expand...

I'm in.

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How does swell info work?

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