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 sent once - or sometimes twice - each day.

· Once - every day:
  a "Sunrise Alert" is sent out informing you of the current conditions.

*Please note: the service relies on data from sources not under our control .. there may be days when this data is not available or is "old".
· Twice - maybe: if  during the day...
    1. the swell picks up and is now bigger than the swell height of the "Sunrise Alert",
    and
    2. the "threshold" values (see below) for Height / Period / Direction are all met,
  then a second "GoSurf Alert" (as in, "Go Surf!") message is sent out.

· So - the "GoSurf Alert" service frees you from sitting at your computer constantly doing wave checks (or waiting for a friend to call from the beach!) .. sign up and you'll "Know When To GoSurf!"

• "Thresholds" for determining if the second "GoSurf Alert" is sent:
· swell criteria   · value   · explanation
 
height   3 feet   hopefully waist - chest high at the beach
(may be bigger on set waves!)
period   6 seconds   any shorter is generally wind slop
direction   not NW - N - NE   relevant to LI's south-facing beaches

· For example: let's say the swell height on the current day's "AM Alert" was 3.0 feet.
   Each hour the program runs to check the latest buoy data..
    -- if  the latest swell height is 3.1 feet or more,
    -- and  the swell period is 6 seconds or more,
    -- and  the swell direction does not contain "N"
    ..then a second message is sent out.

* Please Note:
"Threshold" values are a general "rule-of-thumb" to indicate there may  be surf .. receiving a second "GoSurf Alert" does not  mean there actually are rideable waves at your beach. Obviously, many factors affect the quality of waves at any spot at any particular time.


    "FYI" -- future enhancement:
  • Subscribers will be able to request - via email from their cellphone - the latest alert message. So .. anytime during the day, wherever you are, you'll be able to get the latest buoy readings!


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