HIGH RESOLUTION DATA
Our forecasts are all now based on a new set of data that's more detailed than our old product. This means that the forecast is better able to understand how the waves head to your local beach, how they slow as they approach the coast and how something like an obstructing island blocks the swell. Particularly in the US and Hawaii the forecast is much better able to see how even a headland will create a swell shadow.
The easiest way to demostrate this is to check out these two charts for Cape Cod:
magicseaweed.com/msw-surf-charts2.php?chart=67&res=750&type=swellmagicseaweed.com/msw-surf-charts2.php?chart=69&res=750&type=swellWith the first you'll see the swell hit the mainland almost as though the Cape and the Islands don't exists. Not surprising as the model is too coarse to even see them. With the second chart you get a real idea of the impact of Nantucket on the swell reaching the Cape and the huge importance of the Cape geography to spots like Ruggles or any other location either side. The new detailed forecast for these spots will reflect this huge improvement in the data.
None of this means you won't need a healthy pinch of local knowledge to make the most of the forecast and especially outside the US the data will still miss those little local factors that you can learn to adjust for. We've also noticed that in some areas the winds are hugely improved, and in others (our local beach) we're not so sure. To help you get to grips with the new forecast you can click the 'Lowres' button and see the old forecast exactly as it was before.
SirSurfsAlot65 days ago
