Wave Prediction

Until recently it has been incredibly difficult to work out precisely what the surf will be like tomorrow or the next day, let alone in a week from now!

You could do one of several options:

« Visit a surf prediction site (most decent surf sites have one!)

I tend to use www.magicseaweed.co.uk

Magic Seaweed also provides animated Surf, Swell Height and Wind Charts (as do several other sites!)

The BBC also have a daily surf forecast which is pretty good, although admittedly it only gives you today’s forecast. Found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/cornwall/surfing/

« Check webcams and see for yourself!

« Or if you think your Geography is up to scratch, try a hand at predicting it yourself from a ‘Pressure Chart’.

You can find ‘Pressure Charts’ on the internet e.g. on the Met Office site at www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/surface_pressure.html

I’m not an expert in this field and would strongly recommend reading up on the internet or buying this book ‘Surf Science, By Tony Butt and Paul Russell’. Some of it is quite technical but is explained using pictures and examples.
“Dr Tony Butt is not only a research oceanographer but a well respected big wave charger, Paul Russell is a former European Surfing Champion and also a PHD in oceanography - probably the perfect team to explain the theory behind surf forecasting.” Extract from the Magic Seaweeds review of this book.

‘Surf Science, By Tony Butt and Paul Russell’ also explains how waves and tides are formed.