Alternative to Magicseaweed?

[Logan]

Yesterday, Magicseaweed totally had it wrong in my little piece of the world, Midcoast Maine. Popham was rocking at 3-5 with a few maybe bigger while Magicseaweed poster "1-2" all day.

I find that they are wrong more often than not.  I get my info from NOAA and the local marine buoys, but it would be nice to have one resource that provides all the data in one format.

Anybody else notice errors like this?  Anybody use an alternate surf data tool?

Logan

[surfinJ]

The most accurate one I've found is the marine forecast put out for
commercial fishing, local for your coast.  Usually only 48-72 hrs out but
spot on, lives can depend on it.  This combined with windguru.cz, an
acurrate windsurf/kite, and I can predict fairly well about a week out.

[PilonSUP]

Magicseaweed's spot on for our breaks 98% of the time.

[addapost]

I have pretty good luck with MS down in Rhode Island/Mass, I can't say 98% but probably 80%. You could try www.swellinfo.com or www.surfline.com but neither forecasts for specific spots like MS does. Your best bet is to start to pay attention to what is happening at your local spots on your own. Tide X plus wind Y plus swell Z equals good/meh/bad surf. Good luck.

[Cardiff Sweeper]

Solspot.com

They have a good forecast.
Day to day is optimistic.

[stoneaxe]

I have a bunch of links to favorite spots from a variety of forecasts on my favorites toolbar. I check those quickly then the NOAA graphical forecast
http://graphical.weather.gov/sectors/boxMarineDay.php#tabs

The graphical forecast mixed with knowing your spots seems to be the best for me.

[Caribsurf]

+ 1 on the official Marine forecast.  That and buoy readings are pretty accurate for York Beach, Maine.
Swellinfo and Magic Seaweed are usually off, and forget Surfline they are pathetic.  I don't even know if their surf reporters even check the surf at the beach.  I think they report after looking at the web cams.
They are probably in Kansas

We had really fun surf from Wednesday through Saturday and Swellinfo, Magic Seaweed and Surfline ALL missed it.  Thank goodness I used the buoy reading and Marine forecast as the surf was great.

[ogdog]

check out passageweather.com, another marine type forcast.

[Logan]

Thanks for the info fellas.  The swell continues to hold with buoy readings at 3+ with 8 or 9 second periods, light offshore winds... And Magicseaweed reporting 1-2. Anybody know how they gather their info?

Carib, I would love to get down to Long Sands at some point. I've only seen pics and been there on a flat day!  What is the parking situation?

Hope to see you out there,

Logan

[Caribsurf]

Hey Logan on summer weekends you have to get there before 9 to get a decent parking spot near the surfing beaches.  These last few days I actually got in the water at 5:00 am so no problem parking.  Only have to start feeding the parking meters at 8:00. 

After 4:30 when lifeguards leave, parking spots start to open up, but between 9 and 4:30 parking can be tough on a sunny day.  There are a few lots along the beach that charge $10.00 to park which would be worth it when the surf is going off.

I am probably heading the in a few minutes as it still looks fun on the web cam....

[JC50]

Yesterday, Magicseaweed totally had it wrong in my little piece of the world, Midcoast Maine. Popham was rocking at 3-5 with a few maybe bigger while Magicseaweed poster "1-2" all day.

I find that they are wrong more often than not.  I get my info from NOAA and the local marine buoys, but it would be nice to have one resource that provides all the data in one format.

Anybody else notice errors like this?  Anybody use an alternate surf data tool?
Logan

Forecast services such as MS, SL, and SI have their place but nothing beats studying your local conditions in person. Wind swells and other phenomena often don't make it to the services. Pay close attention to the swell periods on local buoys and less on the size.
Also, the services don't show buoy history(at least the one's I look at don't), just the latest reading. Buoy history (last 6-12 readings) provide you a trend to decently predict the next 6-8 hrs.

[DailyBread Surf Photo]

www.stormsurf.com

The most detailed site I've found that's free.

[coldsup]

MSW still the best/most user friendly I reckon but yes - they miss stuff - like all the others.