One change already is in the works for a new online surf forecast developed by marine meteorologist Pat Caldwell and weather forecaster Bob Burke. Surfers stoked on debut
of new online forecastThe report predicts nearshore swell
and wind directionBy Helen Altonn
haltonn@starbulletin.comThe first caller to the National Weather Service after the surf report made its debut at 2 p.m. yesterday "loved it," said Jim Weyman, Honolulu Forecast Office meteorologist-in-charge. The only complaint was that the forecast is all in capitol letters, he said, adding, "We're in the process of having that changed."
Caldwell, who works for the National Coastal Data Development Center, had developed a huge following for his previous online surf forecasts on the NCDDC Web site.
Hundreds of surfers, fishermen, boaters and others protested after his employer shut down the reports Oct. 30 at the request of the Weather Service, an affiliate within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The Weather Service said the site had contained conflicting and confusing information that threatened public safety.
At issue was the method of evaluating surf heights: from the back of the waves or from the face or front. Caldwell presented both.
The weather service has tried since early last year to standardize all surf observations based on the face of the wave, saying height estimated from the back is only half the size of the actual wave.
After Caldwell's surf report was canceled, the two federal agencies got together to redesign it.
The first revamped version presented a nearshore swell and wind forecast yesterday for Honolulu through Wednesday, with general surf forecasts for north, east, west and south shores.
"I'm glad it's up and I think it's really good," said Dennis Pang, North Shore surfer and surfboard maker. "Pressure on them (federal agencies) worked. Everyone will be stoked. This guy's really accurate, probably 90 percent on."
Pang said the new forecast is a little more detailed than before and not as easy to read as the previous one but "it's really, really comprehensive and educational."
He said he was on the North Shore yesterday and the 8- to 12-feet heights cited on the forecast were "pretty close."
"Personally, I would call it maybe 6 to 8 feet, so it's not that far off."
Pang praised a map of Oahu with degrees and a synopsis that tells the angle of the swell.
"To the surfer, that's important because you'll know which surf spot to go to from the direction of the swell."
One of the most popular features of Caldwell's earlier surf reports continues at the new site: a discussion of Hawaii weather conditions related to storms elsewhere.
Surfer Jeff Overton also found the all-capital format hard to read but said the forecast "looks like what Pat had done before."
"It's all information we're hungry for because he's trying to forecast out," Overton said.
Among factors listed are the open-ocean height from trough to crest and dominant direction and period of the swells in seconds, wind speed and direction.
Overton said that based on the information, it looked like "a blown-out day" today but tomorrow will be a good day to surf. The wind direction will be right and it looks like storm conditions will settle down, he said.
He said this would be good news for surfers in the Vans Hawaiian Pro in Haleiwa, which continues for three days.
The Web site will be available Monday through Friday except on federal holidays.
Weyman stressed that comments and suggestions are welcome.
The Web site is at www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl/pages/marine.html.