Top Surf Apps For Monitoring Tides And Waves

Riding the waves is only one aspect of surfing; the other is all about planning and preparation. For every surfer, using apps that provide useful information on the weather, tides, and waves is a must. Detailed swell forecasts, including with live camera imagery, are available for hundreds of surf areas worldwide on some of the top surf applications. Some also offer weather and wind information.

Beachline

Employing meteorologists, oceanographers, mathematicians, engineers, and specialists from other ocean science fields, Surfline is a 38-year-old forecasting service. Its global swell model compiles real-time data from satellites and offshore buoys and uses it to provide extremely accurate marine forecasts. Surfers utilise the 16-day prediction provided by Surfline to determine when the three primary components—swell, wind, and tide—will converge at a particular location. Additionally, Surfline uses a traditional scale to measure wave heights, which translates a surf break's crest to trough size. Cam Rewind is another function that lets users watch snippets of their sessions. Available for Apple Watch Series 2 and up, it offers GPS-driven information such as the number of waves surfed and the maximum speed reached in feet and seconds.

Seaweed Magic

Thousands of beaches' surf conditions are provided via the free surfing forecast app Magicseaweed. Its features include tide charts, wind information, and a long-range surf forecast. Additionally, it contains a feature that lets you determine when is the optimal time to surf given the circumstances of your local break. The size of the waves at a particular beach is described in the swell information on MSW. It ignores local factors, though, such as sand banks and man-made obstacles, which might alter the wave's magnitude at a particular location. The tide chart displays the various times of low and high tide during the day. This makes it simple to schedule your surfing session during the appropriate tides.

Gusty

Knowing the weather before going surfing is essential for professional surfers. The correct app can give you an advantage whether you're monitoring the weather, organising your vacation, or examining wave forecasts. Because it develops free wind forecasts using a global network of weather sensors, the Windy app is a great option for sailors. It also includes nautical charts, tide and current information, and maps from satellites and radar. Surfline, which offers real-time conditions and forecasts for more than 3,000 locations globally, is another popular choice for surfers. It is simple to use and provides a range of options to assist you in choosing where and when to browse. This is due to its user-friendly interface. It is also quite precise and reasonably priced. Surfline's pro package offers ad-free browsing and more features, while the free edition merely shows the nearest tide station.

Maps on Google

Google offers a free mapping programme called Maps. It lets users share their data with others and offers comprehensive world maps. In addition, it has turn-by-turn navigation and a speed trap alert feature. You can identify surf spots and track tides with this app. Although astronomical patterns serve as the basis for tide predictions, other elements including topography, wind, and weather can also have an impact. The software uses a combination of local bathymetric data and satellite photos to help surfers find new wave situations. Additionally, it can be used to locate undiscovered breaks protected by groynes, piers, and other geomorphological features along the shore. It can even determine the direction of swells and assess the likelihood of waves at particular locations. Its intuitive interface makes it simple to use and expedites the research of various surf spots.

Waze

Waze, as its name suggests, is Google's navigation and traffic-reporting app. It allows users (referred to as Wazers) to report events such as police presence, road closures, and even sobriety checkpoints through the use of crowdsourcing. You may also customise the app to steer clear of highways, ferries, dirt roads, and toll roads. In addition, you can let Waze know what kind of car you drive and whether you are eligible for any discounts on tolls or to utilise transit, carpool, or HOV lanes. A new feature to assist drivers in navigating roundabouts is one of the most significant enhancements recently released. This will provide you with precise instructions on where to exit, which lane to take, and when to enter. Users of Android are starting to receive the update this month, while iOS users will be able to access it later in the year.