About

Pensacola Surf Report is a surf forecast for one stretch of sand: Pensacola Beach. It’s made by a local who got tired of big-name forecasts missing the mark on our part of the Gulf.

Where the numbers come from

Everything comes straight from public government sources, refreshed every 30 minutes:

• Surf height at the beach and rip current risk: the National Weather Service Mobile office’s Surf Zone Forecast for Escambia County coastal waters.
• Swell, wind chop, wave height and wind: NOAA National Data Buoy Center buoys 42012 (Orange Beach) and 42039 (Pensacola, offshore).
• Water temperature: NOAA station PCLF1 in Pensacola and buoy 42012.
• Week-ahead waves and wind: the NWS forecast grid for Pensacola Beach.
• Tides: NOAA Tides & Currents predictions for Pensacola, station 8729840.
• Sunrise and sunset: worked out with NOAA’s solar equations.

Pensacola Surf Report is independent. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by NOAA, the National Weather Service, Escambia County or the Santa Rosa Island Authority.

How the rating works

Each morning and afternoon gets a score out of 10 from three things: how big the waves are at the beach, how long the swell period is (more seconds means more power), and the wind (offshore and light is best, strong onshore is worst). Swell that comes from a direction the beach doesn’t face counts for less.

The score is Poor (0–3), Fair (4–5), Good (6–7) or Epic (8–10). It’s tuned for the Gulf, where an 8 is a great day.

Keeping it honest

After every session the site re-scores it from what the buoys actually measured and compares that with what it forecast. Your “Surfed lately?” votes are read too. Neither one changes the formula automatically. Changes are made by hand, after checking that the numbers and the votes agree.

Be safe

Forecasts can be wrong. Always check the beach flags, swim near a lifeguard, and stay out when the red flags are up.