Reading a Sea Breeze Before It Fills In

Five cues on the beach that tell you whether the thermal will kick in by two o'clock or fizzle out. Forecast models give you a starting point, not an answer. Local effects like valleys and sea temperature change the picture by the hour.

Reading the signs

Watch the clouds over the land. When cumulus starts building inland, the sea breeze is usually not far behind.

• Compare at least two models
• Watch inland cloud building
• Check the gust factor, not just the average
• Note the pressure trend

The forecast is a rumour. The water tells the truth.

Owen Fairweather, Gustline crew

Gust factor tells you how rideable a day will be. A small gap between the average and the gusts makes for a far easier session.