Rincon, Puerto Rico Surf Forecast – May 3, 2015

Get Ready to surf!

Unlike last week’s FAIL swell, this coming week is looking like it will pan out. I say this because it’s backed up by live buoy data. The real life data suggests at least two days of surf in the chest to head high range at this time. The forecast models are keeping a waist to chest high wave through the work week. Puerto Rico still has a high pressure force field over it which will keep the weather really hot and put up a fight against the swell and try to push it away again, but I think the setup will only serve to groom the swell as opposed to kill it like this past week. Only time will tell.

Using Automated Forecast Tools:

Remember that no matter what a computer model tells you, what you see on the beach might be completely different. That's why i go take pictures of the beach every day. These tools help give an idea of what to expect, but weather prediction is not always exact especially the further out you try to forecast. Surf forecasting takes into account the general correlation between past weather data and resulting surf conditions. Another thing to keep in mind is the difference between actual swell height and the face height of the rideable wave it creates. For example. When the waves are forecast to have a 6ft swell at 13 seconds or higher with a NW angle we normally get waves that most people would call double over-head on sets. Swell angle is also important, especially for shorter period swell (9-11 seconds). For example 3ft at 11 seconds from the NW will make a bigger wave than 4ft at 9 seconds from the NE. Normally longer period swell (13+ seconds) will be more powerful and keep the surf size a little better even if the angle isn't a direct hit to Rincon. Generally any swell less than 9 seconds is super weak here in Rincon unless it has a lot of west in it. Also, most NE swell under 12 seconds is weak and mushy. 2ft at 8 seconds is generally small to flat. ENE swell will almost never make it into Rincon unless it was something like 10ft at 18 seconds from the ENE.