Westport Alert Guide

Washington, USA · part of the Westport spot guide

The Grays Harbor buoy (46211) is a waves-only Waverider that reports no wind, so this observation alert keys on swell only — judge wind separately. The height below is open-ocean; The Groins and the sheltered Half Moon Bay run as different size regimes, and the face runs smaller than the buoy reading.

The forecaster's checklist

1. 1.Read the Grays Harbor buoy (46211) for a height of about 4 feet or more at 11 seconds or more for a proper Groins session; 7 feet and up at 13-plus is overhead.
2. 2.Want swell direction from the west to northwest (about 250–320°); south-southwest works but softer.
3. 3.Favour 11-to-17-second groundswell and discount short-period wind-sea as junk.
4. 4.Judge wind separately — the buoy has no wind field — and want a light east-to-south offshore, ideally dawn glass, since strong west or southwest is blown out.
5. 5.Aim for the low-tide window, mind the strong ebb current near the harbour mouth, the groin rocks and drifting logs, and wear a hooded suit.

Local winds & tide

Best wind: E–SE–S offshore (dawn) — from 90° to 200° (E–SSW).

Tide matters — often best around low tide, with the Groins sandbars and Half Moon Bay’s steep inside changing character quickly across the tide, and the harbour entrance channel running a strong ebb current that is higher-risk at the Groins.

Dial it in