Swami's Alert Guide

California, USA · part of the Swami's spot guide

The Leucadia Nearshore buoy (46274) is a waves-only Waverider that reports no wind, so this observation alert keys on swell only — judge wind separately. On a lined-up long-period west-northwest the breaking face runs at or above the buoy’s open-ocean height below.

The forecaster's checklist

1. 1.Read the Leucadia buoy (46274) direction — a west-to-northwest swell (about 270–300°) is the money window; straight south or southwest is a lesser summer-mode day.
2. 2.Prioritise period — long-period (14 seconds and up, ideally 16-to-20) is the on-off switch, since short-period swell won’t make it through the island shadow.
3. 3.Expect the breaking face to meet or exceed the buoy’s open-water height on a lined-up long-period west-northwest.
4. 4.Judge wind separately — the buoy has no wind field — and want calm or an east-to-northeast offshore, dawn patrol before the sea breeze.
5. 5.Aim for low-to-mid or an incoming push, avoid dead low on the shallow reef, and expect a crowd whenever it is good.

Local winds & tide

Best wind: E–NE offshore (dawn) — from 45° to 110° (NE–ESE).

Tide-sensitive; best low-to-mid with a mid or incoming push favoured — low tide exposes more reef for steeper, faster walls but maximises rock hazard, high tide softens and sections it, and bigger swells want a bit more water.

Dial it in