wave size and wave time

[surf-legend]

im going surfing on friday to south wales nd its forecast that the waves will be 4ft and 4 seconds can you please tell if thats good or bad and what it means

[scuba steve]

The time is in reference to the length between the waves, so the longer the time, the more structured and powerful the sets will be. So you want the biggest time for the best waves.
Unluckily for you that means it will be pretty much flat.

[Kabazz]

It's gonna be flat, sorry

I'm assuming you got this from magicseaweed.com? Read the instructions on forecasting on the site

Good job you made this thread and didn't make the journey only to find there's nothing. Where were you going to surf?

[The Fafanator]

Unsurfably flat, plus a magicseaweed 4fter is PATHETICLY small, it is actually a 2 foot, because they take the size of the wave, not the hight of the face OR the hight of the back, a magicseaweed 7fter is the smallest that will actually give you a nice ride, and 5 1/2 for any ride at all.

[surferdude_scarborough]

mate you cant make a blanket comment like that about msw. it gives swel data which you have to interpret for your self at any given spot. ive had good surfs with msw showing 3ft @ 8 secs before on the east coast but i know that would be flat here. stop shooting your mouth off when you are clearly ill informed.

[surferdude_scarborough]

unfortunately 4 ft @ 4 secs is definately flat in south wales

[surf-legend]

it now says 4 ft 16 seconds

[Sillysausage]

looks like there will be waves on the weekend down there. where abouts you heading? there hasnt really been that many unsurfable days at home since christmas. (as for the forcast that is going to produce a nice wave!!)

[surferdude_scarborough]

hmm yeah i was quite worried when you said it was saying 4 ft@ 4 secs coz ive been keeping an eye on that swell too. looks like a good weekend again.

[surf-legend]

dont kno for sure yet but where im going to go. most likely going to go south

[drowningbitbybit]

Unsurfably flat, plus a magicseaweed 4fter is PATHETICLY small, it is actually a 2 foot, because they take the size of the wave, not the hight of the face OR the hight of the back, a magicseaweed 7fter is the smallest that will actually give you a nice ride, and 5 1/2 for any ride at all.

Fut the shuck up you ignorant kook.

You're hardly the person to be telling people about wave height

[Sillysausage]

lol. magicseaweed is ok but if you use the actual buoy data its better. (well its ok for south wales anyway) you shouldn't have much problem if you surf porthcawl area but some places on the gower may be more difficult (unless you surf somewhere that has less powerful swell)

[Otter]

Magic Seaweed, Wave Watch, Surfline, Wave Rider, U.S. Weather Service, more often than not, they're wrong.

Pay your dime and take your chances, just go! They've said carp waves when it's been great, they've said great waves and it's been carp. Don't rely on them, find out for yourself.

My 2 cents.