# Surf Report and Forecast Tool — NOAA WaveWatch III Data

> Surf forecasting tool using NOAA buoy data for swell prediction. (iPhone/iPad app by LW Brands, LLC.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surf-report-and-forecast-tool/id1023612933 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [LW Brands, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/963599018)
- Category: Weather, Sports
- Price: $0.99
- Rating: 4.04/5 from 52 App Store ratings · 29 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 12.1 · 10 MB
- Languages: English, French, Portuguese
- Released: 2015-08-21
- Data updated: 2026-06-10
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surf-report-and-forecast-tool/id1023612933/reviews.md

## What is Surf Report and Forecast Tool?

THE BEST SURF REPORT / FORECASTING TOOL PERIOD
... and it's all based on NOAA buoy data...

** Now available for iPad and iPhone **

Indicators is the only iPhone app that gives you 'spectral energy density' buoy data and makes it easy to understand... so you can truely know if it's firing at your favorite spot...

FEATURES INCLUE:
  - Real-Time NOAA Buoy Data
  - 6 Hour History NOAA Buoy Data
  - 7 Day Forecasted NOAA Buoy Data

- Real-Time NOAA Buoy Data
Spectral wave energy data collected by offshore buoys is the best indicator of surf conditions in your area. Indicators makes it simple to read this wave energy data so you can determine the best swell windows (combinations of swell period and direction) for your favorite breaks. Buoys report data every 30 minutes, giving you a much better idea of how much swell is in the water rather than a subjective "cam watching" report.

- 6 Hour History NOAA Buoy Data
Too often, swell arrives later than predicted. Use the 6-hour history feature to determine if the swell has arrived. If not, go back to bed. 

- 7 Day Forecasted NOAA Buoy Data
Graphically view forecasted buoy data, giving you a better idea of how the swell is changing with time.


Indicators allows you to:

STOP WASTING TIME WATCHING SURF CAMS
Waves come in sets... So if you are watching a cam...
Are you sure you've watched long enough to see a good set? Are you sure you weren't fooled because you saw a rogue set? If you did see a good set... wouldn't you rather be riding it?

STOP READING REPORTS THAT ONLY UPDATE TWICE PER DAY
Who makes these reports? Dudes watching cams... (flawed). How often are these updated? Twice per day... Really? Buoy data updates every 30 mintues... (I'd pick this one)

KNOW WHEN THE SURF IS GOOD IN SECONDS
You only need buoy data... but not just any buoy data... You need swell height, direction and period for each swell. You can use this app to determine the optimal swell direction / period for your favorite breaks...

## Key features

- Real-Time NOAA Buoy Data
- 6 Hour History NOAA Buoy Data
- 7 Day Forecasted NOAA Buoy Data
- Spectral Energy Density Analysis
- Swell Window Prediction
- Buoy Data Graphing

## Recent user reviews (10 of 29)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surf-report-and-forecast-tool/id1023612933/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Do not waste your money.

*2023-12-17*

No data for my area. You have to purchase the app before you can search for your local information. On top of that , the three closest buoys to my area , are not transmitting. Waste of $1

### 5/5 — simplicity at its finest

*2022-07-12*

I like this little no nonsense app. It works great.

### 1/5 — Santa Monica

*2020-12-15*

Useless if your not in So Cal, mistake purchasing this app.

### 3/5 — Was going good...

*2020-09-23*

was a great app but has been crashing on launch for almost a week now.

### 1/5 — Pretty useless if you don’t surf in Santa Monica

*2020-07-08*

Only forecasts for SantaMonica California.
Duh.

### 5/5 — Better than all other forecast apps by a long shot

*2020-04-12*

Absolutely the best data any surfer could want.

### 1/5 — The only buoy I need doesn’t work.

*2019-07-14*

Then I’m stuck on the “select a buoy please page and it won’t let me cancel and get to a home page.

### 2/5 — Bouys don’t lie but sometimes they don’t work

*2019-07-09*

The 1 bouy in the area I need keeps showing the same error message. Just pick another bouy it says....... next one is 30 miles down the coast.

### 1/5 — No Buoys in South Florida

*2019-04-09*

I live in the Miami area and there are no buoys listed anywhere in South Florida. Seems strange that there would be no buoys in what must be the largest boating community in the world. This app is useless to me.

### 5/5 — Great app and great support

*2017-06-28*

Very clean design and easy to use. Great customer support. They responded to my questions in a few hours over email.

## Frequently asked questions about Surf Report and Forecast Tool

### What does this surf report app do?

This app provides detailed surf conditions and forecasts by utilizing real-time and historical data from NOAA buoys. It helps users understand spectral energy density, which is a key indicator of surf quality, allowing them to predict optimal swell windows for their favorite surf spots.

### What are the key features of this app?

Key features include access to real-time NOAA buoy data, a 6-hour history of buoy data to track arriving swells, and a 7-day forecast of NOAA buoy data presented graphically. It also analyzes spectral wave energy density to help determine the best swell periods and directions.

### Is this app free to use?

Based on the provided information, the application is available for free. There are no mentions of in-app purchases or subscription models, suggesting it is a free tool for users.

### What devices is this app compatible with?

The app is available for both iPad and iPhone devices. This means users can access detailed surf reports and forecasts on their Apple mobile devices.

### How does this app help surfers?

This app helps surfers by providing more accurate and timely surf information than traditional methods like watching surf cams or relying on twice-daily reports. By analyzing NOAA buoy data, users can make informed decisions about when and where to surf, saving time and maximizing their chances of catching good waves.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.41 — 2021-03-27

+ Updated WaveWatch III to GFSv16

Thank you for the positive feedback!

### 2.40 — 2021-02-11

- Fixed a few minor bugs

Thank you for the positive feedback!

### 2.39 — 2019-02-06

* Critical bug fix - this update fixes the 'crash on launch' issue caused by HTTP to HTTPS migration
Thank you for the positive feedback!

### 2.37 — 2018-09-21

Minor performance improvements.

Enjoy!

### 2.36 — 2018-08-06

Minor performance improvements. 

Enjoy!

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## More apps by LW Brands, LLC

- [Marine Weather Forecast Pro](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marine-weather-forecast-pro/id1191010451)
- [High Tide - Charts and Graphs](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/high-tide-charts-and-graphs/id1200137686)
- [Canada Marine Weather Forecast](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/canada-marine-weather-forecast/id1221819178)
- [Great Lakes Boating Weather](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/great-lakes-boating-weather/id1229966319)
- [Florida Boating Weather](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/florida-boating-weather/id1231321595)

All apps by LW Brands, LLC: https://appshunter.io/developer/963599018

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*