Comparing Weather Forecast Tools

Most riders check more than one forecast before they drive to the beach. Each tool has a different strength. Some focus on waves, some on wind tables, some on visual maps, and some on foil-specific data.

This guide compares four popular tools and explains when to use each one. It also shows you how to combine them for better decisions.

The Four Tools

We will compare these four services:

• Surfline — Swell, cameras, and surf-focused forecasts
• Windguru — Detailed wind tables and custom spot data
• Windy — Global weather maps and multiple forecast models
• WingFoilWeather — Foil-focused forecasts with gear recommendations

Surfline: Best for Swell and Live Cameras

Surfline is the strongest choice if you care about the waves as much as the wind. It gives you swell height, swell direction, swell period, and tide times. The live HD cameras let you see the actual conditions before you leave home.

Surfline uses its own surf model called LOTUS (Lola Offshore to Upcoast Surf). It blends offshore buoy data with computer models to give spot-specific surf forecasts. This is useful when the swell is changing quickly or when you want to see how the waves will break at a particular reef or point.

Surfline does show wind, but it is not the primary focus. If you only care about wind strength and gusts, other tools may give you clearer data. The premium subscription includes 16-day forecasts and rewind footage.

Windguru: Best for Detailed Wind Tables

Windguru is known for its clear tables and long-range wind forecasts. It shows you the forecast for every hour across the week. You can compare multiple forecast models on the same screen. You can also save custom spots, which is helpful if you ride at small beaches or lakes that do not appear on other services.

The tables include wind speed, wind direction, gusts, cloud cover, wave direction, swell period, and tide information (where supported). This gives you a full picture of the conditions in one grid.

Windguru's PRO version allows you to overlay multiple models (GFS, ECMWF, ICON, NAM) and see where they diverge. This is invaluable for assessing forecast confidence. If all models agree, you can plan with confidence. If they show wildly different wind speeds, the forecast is uncertain.

Windguru suits riders who enjoy reading raw data. If you prefer visual maps or simplified summaries, it may feel overwhelming at first.

Windy: Best for Big-Picture Weather Systems

Windy is a global map-based weather platform. It displays live and forecasted wind on a large interactive map. You can zoom from a local beach to an entire ocean basin. This helps you see how the wind develops across the whole region.

Windy includes several forecast models, such as ECMWF, GFS, ICON, and more. You can switch between them to see how they differ. This is useful when you want to understand whether a forecast is stable or uncertain.

The map also shows cloud cover, pressure lines (isobars), swell movement, rain radar, and storm tracks. For travel planning, or for reading large weather systems, this is extremely useful. You can see the entire lifecycle of a low-pressure system and track frontal passages.

Windy gives you the full weather picture, but it does not tell you which wing size to use or whether the conditions are good for foiling. You need to interpret the data yourself. The premium version includes airport METAR data and ensemble forecasts for uncertainty analysis.

WingFoilWeather: Best for Foil-Specific Forecasts

WingFoilWeather is designed for wing foilers first. It shows you the most important information at a glance. The graph view uses clean color coding for wind strength, gusts, and direction. The table view is readable and quick. It works well on both desktop and phone.

You can save your favourite spots and set your own preferences, including rider weight, wing size, foil type, and conditions you like best. The site then highlights sessions with a simple star rating so you can see the best windows of the week instantly.

It also includes a growing Knowledge Base HQ. These guides help riders understand wind density, swell period, tidal effects, cloud-based signs, and more. This helps you learn to read the weather instead of relying on a single number.

WingFoilWeather is not a replacement for the other tools. It is a complement. It takes the data and arranges it in a way that makes sense for foilers, filtering out noise and emphasizing the variables that matter most for wing foiling.

How to Combine Multiple Tools

Most experienced riders use more than one tool. Here is a simple workflow:

Which Tool Should You Start With?

If you are new to reading forecasts, start with WingFoilWeather. It gives you a clear answer and helps you learn the basics. Once you understand what makes a good session, add Windguru to see the detailed hourly data.

If you ride in areas with complex weather, add Windy to see the big picture. If you care about waves and want to see live conditions, add Surfline.

Most riders settle on a combination of two or three tools. The key is to understand what each tool does best and use them together.

Common Mistakes

Here are three mistakes riders make when using multiple forecast tools:

• Trusting one model too much: All forecast models are wrong sometimes. If you only check one source, you will miss important changes. Always compare at least two models.
• Ignoring the swell: Wind is only half the story. If the swell is too big or too choppy, the session will be difficult even if the wind is perfect. Check the wave period and direction.
• Not checking the time of day: Many spots have wind that builds in the afternoon and dies at sunset. Check the hourly forecast, not just the daily average.
• Forgetting to verify: Forecasts can be wrong. Use live cameras, local reports, or real-time buoy data to confirm before making the drive.

Summary

Each forecast tool has a different strength. Surfline is best for swell and cameras. Windguru is best for detailed wind tables. Windy is best for big-picture weather systems. WingFoilWeather is best for foil-specific forecasts and gear recommendations.

Use them together. Start with the big picture, check the detailed data, verify with live cameras, and get a foil-specific summary. This workflow will help you make better decisions and spend more time on the water. No single tool is perfect—consensus across multiple sources builds confidence.