Swell Trends

Master how to spot “Swell Trends” using Old Man’s Surf Report. Swell trends can be seen by looking over the buoy data during 12 am through 9 pm hours. You will notice a pattern within the green, orange or red bar graphs on the apps main screen. 

For example, looking at the orange bar graph, the top number gives you the swell size breaking at your local break (ex. 8am 3.5’ and at 10am 5.6’), this indicates a trend that the swell is growing. 

The number below the swell size is the swell period (in seconds) and lastly, the time of day is located below the bar graph. Swell trends can be seen by looking at the hours of the day from 12 am through the 9 pm hours and comparing the numbers, if they are rising or falling. Are the numbers going up or coming down or staying the same?

The swell could be growing throughout the day, hour by hour, indicating the swell size is getting bigger. Also, if the swell period numbers (ex. 8am 14’s and at 10am 15’s) are getting bigger, this indicates the swell is growing and gaining power.

From the main screen within the app, 5 day future trends can be seen by taping on the green arrow in the upper right corner and looking at the hours of the day from 12 am through the 9 pm hours and comparing the numbers, looking to see if the swells are rising or falling, and if the swells are gaining power or weakening.