How does BloomWX calculate the surf condition rating?

BloomWX combines three signals: wind classification (onshore, offshore, or cross-shore based on the bearing between the county centroid and the nearest offshore buoy), wave period (groundswell vs windswell), and wave height. The composite produces one of four tiers — EPIC, GOOD, FAIR, or POOR. Missing inputs lower confidence; without buoy data the rating may be omitted entirely.

Why is the rating not spot-specific?

Specific surf-spot ratings ("Pipeline is EPIC, Sunset is FAIR") require hand-curated metadata per surf break — bathymetric data, the spot's swell window, its wind preferences. Surfline and similar paid services maintain thousands of such profiles editorially. BloomWX provides the regional signal instead: given today's wind, swell, and tide, are conditions GENERALLY good for surfing in this area?

What conditions get an EPIC rating?

EPIC requires offshore wind, clean groundswell (period ≥ 8 seconds), and waves over 4 feet. This combination is rare — most breaks should be firing on EPIC days. Most days fall into GOOD (offshore or light wind with groundswell) or FAIR (mixed conditions, surfable but not stellar).

BloomWX Beach Condition Rating — How It Works

BloomWX Beach Condition Rating — How It WorksHow BloomWX rates surf conditions Epic / Good / Fair / Poor. A regional composite from wind classification, wave period, and wave height. Not spot-specific.

Frequently asked questions

How does BloomWX calculate the surf condition rating?: BloomWX combines three signals: wind classification (onshore, offshore, or cross-shore based on the bearing between the county centroid and the nearest offshore buoy), wave period (groundswell vs windswell), and wave height. The composite produces one of four tiers — EPIC, GOOD, FAIR, or POOR. Missing inputs lower confidence; without buoy data the rating may be omitted entirely.
Why is the rating not spot-specific?: Specific surf-spot ratings ("Pipeline is EPIC, Sunset is FAIR") require hand-curated metadata per surf break — bathymetric data, the spot's swell window, its wind preferences. Surfline and similar paid services maintain thousands of such profiles editorially. BloomWX provides the regional signal instead: given today's wind, swell, and tide, are conditions GENERALLY good for surfing in this area?
What conditions get an EPIC rating?: EPIC requires offshore wind, clean groundswell (period ≥ 8 seconds), and waves over 4 feet. This combination is rare — most breaks should be firing on EPIC days. Most days fall into GOOD (offshore or light wind with groundswell) or FAIR (mixed conditions, surfable but not stellar).

Part of the BloomWX learn library — beginner-friendly explainers covering every surface of the BloomWX weather dashboard. Open BloomWX to see live data for any U.S. county.