Forecasting · Featured
Swell period: the number that decides your session.
Two-foot at 6 seconds and two-foot at 16 seconds are not the same wave. Here's why period — not height — is the first thing to read on any forecast.
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Models
ECMWF vs GFS: which wave model should you trust?
Every model has a personality. Learn where each one shines — and how to read the disagreement between them.
COVER · 900×600 WindOffshore, onshore, cross-shore: a wind primer
Why a light offshore grooms a wave and a strong onshore ruins it — and how to spot the window in the forecast.
COVER · 900×600 TidesTides 101: timing your paddle-out
High, low, push and drain. How tide moves sandbars and reefs — and how to read the curve in Surfcast.
COVER · 900×600 DataSwell energy in kilojoules, explained
Height tells you size; energy tells you power. What kJ really measures and why it predicts how a wave breaks.
COVER · 900×600 GuidesSet up the Surfcast home-screen widget
Pin your home break and read live conditions without opening the app. A 60-second setup walkthrough.
COVER · 900×600 TravelReading a new coast before you land
Scoring a strange break on a trip starts with the map. How to scout swell windows anywhere in the world.