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Capt_Keith
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Joined: Feb 03, 2011
Posts: 60
Location: Holden Beach NC/ Little River SC
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 Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 10:41 pm Post subject: How to use REEFCAST |
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REEFCAST - "The Best Offshore Forecasting tool in Decades" - NWS, Jan 08.
http://www.newyork-offshore.com/New_York_Offshore_Weather_Forecast.html
REEFCAST WORKS WITH SMART PHONES, including APPLE IPHONE!!
Reefcast is an Offshore Forecasting system. It forecasts Wind Speed, Wind Direction, Wave Height and Wave Period for any 3 mile x 3 mile area that we cover. You click on the map and we produce a 2 graphs. The top one is Wind Speed and Wind Direction, The Bottom one is Wave Height and Wave Period.
Reefcast also comes in 3 flavors....
(1) ReefCast...Outlined Above...
(2) ReefCast with Extra Wave Data...You know those days when you have multiple waves from multiple direction....we track this and call this here...
(3) ReefCast ensemble...This shows an overview of the last 5 model runs. When the model agrees with itself (The lines are tight and on top of each other) it is VERY accurate. When the lines are spaced out....take it with a grain of salt.
In Jan 08, ReefCast was called "The Best Offshore Forecasting tool in Decades" at a NWS conference by one of the forecasters presenting.
ReefCast Testimonials:
"Out 3 days....it is pretty rock solid!!" - Dave
"Reefcast always seems to be more accurate than our good friends at nws (nat'l "whatever enjoy your sloppy ride" service)" - SC
"SUPER PROGRAM!!! " - Tom
"Try Reefcast for your offshore weather. It really works well! - Ken
"One of the best resources is to click on the REEFCAST. Once you understand how to interpret the data, it’s the number one place to go to make the call if the sea of fair enough to poke out of the inlet to fish offshore weather wise." - WB
ReefCast Q & As:
Q: How often is Reefcast updated?
A: Reefcast updates every 6 hours. It will generally update at 4am, 10am, 4pm, and 10pm.
Q: Can I use Reefcast to get inshore & nearshore forecasts?
A: Reefcast is based on a deepwater model. 60ish foot or deeper. It is not made to handle shallow waters. Waves get steeper as they get in shallower water.....just like a wave rolling up on the beach.... Reefcast is meant to be a Deepwater Model. It does not take into account the depth of the water in its predictions.
Q: Have you guys found Reefcast to be pretty accurate?
A: Yes. If Reefcast has been consistent, then you can feel very confident in its forecast.
Q: How does 5' every 10 seconds feel? Just checking out the forecast....
A: Just a swell for the most part. Anything over 9 is swell.
Q: What is Reefcast Ensemble?
A: The Ensemble Reefcast is made to address unstable patterns. What it does is show the last 5 models runs over top of each other so you can see how "Stable" the model has been for that area and that day.
This is a quick, simple Reefcast How To.....
First go to ReefCast 1 of 2 ways.....
(1) Click the Reefcast link on the hompage: http://www.newyork-offshore.com/New_York_Offshore_Weather_Forecast.html
(2) OR you can go into Supermap, display your waypoints, select Reefcast & click on the fishing areas for which you want a forecast.
Once you're in Reefcast, select your options....
This shows the last 5 model runs.....If the runs are close to each other.....it is a good forecast.
Reefcast with Extra Wave Data
There are also Reefcast How To Video Tutorials in the Videos section of the site
Link to REEFCAST video: http://southcarolina-offshore.com/modules.php?name=Video_Stream&page=vidpop&id=90
VIDEO: How to Read REEFCAST Ensemble: http://southcarolina-offshore.com/modules.php?name=Video_Stream&page=vidpop&id=92
VIDEO: How to Read REEFCAST w/ Extra Wave Info Mode: http://southcarolina-offshore.com/modules.php?name=Video_Stream&page=vidpop&id=91
_________________
Captain Keith
Admin of www.southcarolina-offshore.com
Cell: 843-907-0064
http://www.NorthMyrtleBeachFishingCharters.com
http://www.feedinfrenzycharters.com
http://www.southchathamtackle.com
http://www.BarefootFishing.net
Last edited by Capt_Keith on Sat Mar 26, 2011 10:48 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Capt_Keith
Newbie
Joined: Feb 03, 2011
Posts: 60
Location: Holden Beach NC/ Little River SC
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| Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 10:42 pm Post subject: |
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What do the red dots represent? The red dots are just our example additions to a reefcast screenshot, to show the comparison between reefcast & the exact buoy readings at that time - so everyone can see how Reefcast matches the hourly buoy condition readings. The plotted red points were used to show how accurate Reefcast is ...
What are the different color lines on the lower charts? The bottom reefcast is the Ensemble - it shows the last few model runs, which show how good the forecast is (lines tight together = good forecast... lines varying apart = forecast is iffy, wx wants to change...)
_________________
Captain Keith
Admin of www.southcarolina-offshore.com
Cell: 843-907-0064
http://www.NorthMyrtleBeachFishingCharters.com
http://www.feedinfrenzycharters.com
http://www.southchathamtackle.com
http://www.BarefootFishing.net
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Capt_Keith
Newbie
Joined: Feb 03, 2011
Posts: 60
Location: Holden Beach NC/ Little River SC
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| Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 10:43 pm Post subject: |
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The question was ask about Reefcast? Reefcast vs Reality
I have a question about how to interpret reefcast to real world predictions. NOAA states wave heights as the avg upper most 1/3 of the wave. so in reality 2-3 is a 4-6 from trough to crest measurement (which is what really matters anyway). On reefcast for Sat. It was predicting 8 sec periods. What I saw 3-4 sec. all the way to and from the steeples. You may have had sec between largest waves but there were 3 smaller waves between each one of those (what really matters anyway). So can you please explain how to read reefcast to predict what the seas will look like??? Thanks this will help a lot
_________________
Captain Keith
Admin of www.southcarolina-offshore.com
Cell: 843-907-0064
http://www.NorthMyrtleBeachFishingCharters.com
http://www.feedinfrenzycharters.com
http://www.southchathamtackle.com
http://www.BarefootFishing.net
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Capt_Keith
Newbie
Joined: Feb 03, 2011
Posts: 60
Location: Holden Beach NC/ Little River SC
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| Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 10:43 pm Post subject: |
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The period ReefCast works with is the "Primary" sea period.
You can also look at ReefCast with Extra Wave Data and it will show Primary and Secondary if there is any.
ReefCast predicts the average 2/3 waves and it is showing mean wave height.
That means it throws out the top 1/3.
If it calls for 2 foot....you will see some 3 footers.
If it calles for 3 foot....you will see some 4.5 footers.
All of these are "Mean Wave Height" from water level to crest....not crest to trough.
So that means a 2 foot sea is 3 foot from trough to crest.
I hope that helped explain it.
One other thing I might add about this weekends forecast....we were talking about this earlier this week in the forum....Ensemble all week showed a lot of movement in the forecast for the weekend. That means you should take it with a grain of salt...the model could not agree with itself as to what was going to really happen.
_________________
Captain Keith
Admin of www.southcarolina-offshore.com
Cell: 843-907-0064
http://www.NorthMyrtleBeachFishingCharters.com
http://www.feedinfrenzycharters.com
http://www.southchathamtackle.com
http://www.BarefootFishing.net
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Capt_Keith
Newbie
Joined: Feb 03, 2011
Posts: 60
Location: Holden Beach NC/ Little River SC
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Capt_Keith
Newbie
Joined: Feb 03, 2011
Posts: 60
Location: Holden Beach NC/ Little River SC
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