GoSurf Alert(sm) - 'Know When To Go!' - a surf alert / buoy report txt msg sent to your cell phone.sm   [ click logo for home page ]
FAQs -- The What, When & Where of the "GoSurf Alert".


The "GoSurf Alert" is a data-rich text message sent to your cellphone.

· A software program .. running automatically every hour - between sunrise to sunset every day .. collects swell data (current buoy reports) and weather conditions from sources on the web .. formats it all together with tide, moon and other data into a compact text message, and then puts the "GoSurf Alert" into the palm of your hand (literally!) .. wherever you are!

· The "GoSurf Alert" is very effective when used in conjunction with your favorite surf forecast.  In other words, a good forecast tells you when .. over the next few days .. there may be waves, but the "GoSurf Alert" indicates if waves may be happening at your local beach right now!

· Much more than a standard surf alert .. more than just a buoy report .. designed by a surfer (and windsurfer) .. get your own "GoSurf Alert" today and "Know When To GoSurf!"

• Here's an example alert message with a line-by-line explanation:
· example "GoSurf Alert"   · explanation of the data
 
LI-W@3p   Region: "Long Island - Western" here, plus
Hour: when data posted to web (EDT/EST for LI)
---
Note: if "[OLD]" appears most recent swell data available is -1 hour (or more...) old.
_1.6_/_9.1/SSE   Swell: height (ft) / period (sec) / direction (from)
---
Example: "Swell in LI-Western region at 3:00 pm was about 1.6 ft at 9.1 seconds from the South-SouthEast"
_0.0_/_0.0/_na   swell: -1 hour ago (in this example was not reported)
_1.6_/10.0/_SE   swell: -2 hours ago (ht / per / dir)
Wd_WNW_18G22   Wind: direction and speed / gusts in mph (at the buoy)
Td_0804H/1430L   Tides: times (24-hr) for 1 Hi / 1 Lo during daytime
Mn_Fl_Ap05   Moon: next Full or New moon (eg. "Full on April 5th")
Sn_5:52/6:07p   Sun: sunrise / sunset for current date
Pr30.15r/Wt38.5   Air Pressure (barometer): inches with "Rising" / "Falling" / "Steady" indicator; plus
Water Temp: in degrees F (at the buoy)
    "FYI" notes:
  • total message length is less than 140 characters
  • this should  work with most cell phones and most carriers .. though some phones or carriers may chop off part of the end  of the message (but this does not affect the main 'data content' of the alert!)
  • wireless service - and especially text messaging over wireless - is still an evolving technology ... message delivery can not be guaranteed...

 More about "reading" the GoSurf Alert: 
• Swell:
· quickly spot trends .. eg. swell has been picking up, or period increasing, or direction shifting .. over the past few hours .. get a "mental picture" of wave conditions now at beaches in your area
* a note re: swell size vs. observed wave height at the shore:
 - recorded swell at the buoy [usually] translates into larger breaking surf at the shore, depending on things like:  swell period, distance from the buoy to the shore, and the direction the swell is coming from .. all combined with the particular bottom contours of the shore, and the direction the beach faces, where the swell hits.

 - The data in a "GoSurf Alert" is an indicator  there may  be rideable surf ... you must use your own judgment and knowledge of local conditions to determine if  there may be good, poor or even unsafe  surf at your beach.

· please also note: swell data is obtained from web pages published by NOAA ... in this example swell data "-1 hour ago" was "n/a" .. ie. either not recorded at the buoy or not published to the web .. this can occur frequently; buoy data is notoriously "iffy"...
• Wind:
· check if wind is coming onshore, is blowing offshore, or is calm
· wind readings are from the buoy (not from onshore airports)
• Tides:
· times (24-hour format) are approximate (these are predictions anyway), and are relevant to the particular region of your alert
· for example: "LI-W" region alert gives tides for Demo Point … note that tide times from Robert Moses to Rockaway are generally within +/- 10 minutes
• Moon:
· determine the current tidal range; ie. tides have a greater range ("Spring" tides) around Full and New moons
· similarly, if it's ~1 week before a Full or New moon then the tide range is smaller ("Neap" tides)
• Sun:
· how early can you go / how late can you stay out?
• Air Pressure:
· general weather indicator; eg. high pressure and rising = clearing, or low pressure and falling = changing weather
• Water Temp:
· that all-important consideration: how much rubber protection do you need?

(OK! ..if you've read this far .. don't worry! This page is the longest one...)

Screenshot of the GoSurf Alert 


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