You've found a surf forecast app, pulled up tomorrow's report, and stared at a wall of numbers and arrows that means absolutely nothing to you. Don't worry — this is a rite of passage. Surf reports are information-dense, but once you understand what each variable means, reading them becomes second nature.
Swell Height
Swell height is usually the first number you see, and it tells you how big the waves are likely to be. It's measured in metres or feet and represents the height of the open-ocean swell — not the wave face you'll actually surf.
As a rough rule, wave faces tend to be roughly double the reported swell height at many beach breaks, though this varies enormously depending on the shape of the seabed (the "bathymetry"), the direction of the swell and local conditions. A 1-metre swell at a powerful beach break might produce head-high waves; at a sheltered bay it might barely break at all.
Beginner range: 0.3–0.8 metres. Intermediate: 0.5–1.5 metres.
Swell Period
Period is the time in seconds between successive waves. This is one of the most important — and most overlooked — variables in a surf report.
A short period (6–9 seconds) usually means wind swell: choppy, disorganised waves that are hard to read and often close out quickly. A long period (12 seconds or more) indicates groundswell: waves that have travelled long distances from powerful storms, arriving with energy packed deep into the water column. Long-period groundswell produces cleaner, more powerful and more consistent waves.
Given identical swell heights, a 14-second swell will almost always produce better, more surfable waves than a 7-second swell.
Swell Direction
Swell direction tells you which compass direction the swell is arriving from. A north swell comes from the north. Whether that direction produces good waves at your spot depends entirely on the orientation of the break.
A southwest-facing beach break will light up on a south or southwest swell. The same beach might be completely sheltered — flat, in other words — on a north swell. Local knowledge is irreplaceable here: learn which directions work at your home break and use them as a filter when reading forecasts.
Wind
Wind is often more important than swell on the day you actually surf. There are two types worth knowing:
- Offshore wind blows from the land toward the sea — into the face of the wave. It holds the wave up, creates cleaner faces and produces the famous "feathering lip" look in surf photos. Offshore conditions are almost always better for surfing.
- Onshore wind blows from the sea toward the land — with the wave. It creates choppy, messy, unpredictable conditions and closes waves out faster. Generally unfavourable.
- Cross-shore wind blows across the break. Depending on the angle and strength, it can be neutral or slightly negative. Lighter cross-shore winds are often surfable.
Always check wind direction alongside swell. A solid swell with strong onshore wind can be unsurfable; a modest swell with clean offshore conditions can be one of the best sessions of your year.
Tide
Tides dramatically affect how a break performs. Most surf spots work best at specific tidal stages, and this is almost entirely dependent on the shape of the seabed.
- Low tide exposes more of the reef or sandbank, sometimes creating hollow, powerful waves — and more risk of hitting the bottom.
- High tide covers the seabed with deeper water, often making waves softer and less defined. Some spots close out completely at high tide.
- Mid tide works well at many beach breaks as a general starting point.
Tide times and heights vary by location. Check a local tide table, not just the generic tide indicator in your forecast app — local geography can shift tide timing significantly from the nearest reference station.
Putting it Together
A good session looks like this: 1–1.5 m swell, 12+ second period, swell direction that suits your break, light offshore wind, and a tidal stage that works for your spot. Once you can identify that combination on a forecast, you'll consistently show up to better waves.
As you improve and start getting more specific about your equipment choices, browse our range of surf fins — the right fin setup can help you get the most out of whatever conditions you find. If you also paddle a stand-up paddleboard, check out our SUP fins for the same performance gains on flatwater and waves.
If you're based in Munich and surf the Eisbach, understanding swell reports is less relevant than reading river flow and water temperature — but the wind and tidal principles still apply to coastal sessions on your next trip.