So here is a question for ya'll...How come N. Monmouth County (starting at Deal...) received little to no swell from Helene. For example, it was FLAT on Wed in Long Branch yet spring lake, bay head etc were all in the chest-head high range. Anyone offer an explanation (lump, micah). I assume that the continental shelf played some role but am not sure about other factors. lata
I would say either of two things were the culprit - time, or bathemtry I surfed Wednesday in Ocean City, MD and it was very small during the morning. Then, as the tide filled in during the afternoon it was completely different scene (in a very short period) with solid sets rolling in in the chest-shoulder+ zone. And the other possibility is just the ocean bottom in N. Monmouth County isn't set up well for the long period ESE swells. What might happen is that the swells start to feel the bottom offshore and refract (or bend) - and possibly away from the N. Monmouth County area you were at and focused elsewhere. Or, perhaps the swell felt the offshore shelf and just disspiated in that area... So, did you think it could have been just temporal variance? or did you check the different areas at the same part of the day. In Delaware/Maryland it is the same thing. The long period swells will hit one spot with head high waves, and most of the spots will be tiny. In general, I think the optimal swell periods for the East Coast are from 8-11secs. Longer than 11-12 secs, some spots stop working.
nah, i was watching reports all weekend and it was waist high at it's biggest in N. Monmouth. definitely intriguing though.
Well you're both named Zach. Perhaps you're the same person living to different lives and don't even know it, like in Fight Club....
