Important notes
- The Table view has less swell analysis, use the Graph format to see more
- The surf height and rating on most spots on Surfline is relatively basic, swell analysis gives you an edge
- If you find the surf isn't as good (or bad) as we reported, be sure to review the historic forecast to learn more about what swell makes your local fire (or flop).
How can I get deeper swell analysis on Surfline?
If surf heights and ratings aren’t giving you the full picture, scroll down on any Surf Report or Forecast page for a deeper dive into the swell.
What swell analysis tools does Surfline provide?
Surfline offers second-to-none swell analysis, including:
- Individual swell components. Break down the primary and secondary swells in the water.
- Wave energy. As height, period and direction of a swell develop, monitor the total power of the waves based on all of those metrics.
- Wave consistency. Calculated from our swell model to show how often waves of the reported size actually arrive.
- Swell spectra. A powerful (and underrated) tool that shows the full distribution of swell energy across different periods and directions. There really is no alternative to having a glance at the distribution of energy before paddling out.
Where can I find energy and consistency in the Surfline app?
- In the app, scroll down in the graph view (Live or Forecast tabs) to see wave energy and consistency. These are not available in the table view.
- On the website, just scroll down below the tide charts when using the Graph (not Table) forecast layout. Energy and Consistency graphs are collapsable, so if you can't find them have another look for expandable headings.
How do I view individual swell components and spectra in the app?
Look for the small fullscreen button next to the top three swell components. Tap it to open a pop-up with two tabs: Swell and Spectra. Toggle between these tabs for a more advanced breakdown.
Is swell analysis factored into Surfline’s ratings?
Not yet. Ratings are based on other factors. Spending time in the deeper swell analysis can give you an edge in interpreting conditions, and help you beat the crowds.
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