Wind Swell

Wind swell is wave energy generated by local winds blowing over the ocean close to the coast. Because the waves haven't had time or distance to organize, wind swells have short periods (usually under 10 seconds), irregular heights, and a bumpy, disorganized feel. They die quickly when the wind drops and break messily at most spots. That said, wind swells are the bread and butter of many East Coast and Gulf of Mexico beaches, where groundswells are rare and surfers learn to ride short-period energy. Swell Intel separates wind-swell and primary-swell components in every forecast so you can see exactly what is in the water.