What is wind swell?
Wind swell is made by winds blowing near the coast. It arrives as short-period, less organised waves that usually break with less power than groundswell of the same height.
Last updated · Surf & waves glossary
About Wind swell
Related terms
- Groundswell
- Groundswell is swell generated by distant storms that has travelled a long way across the ocean, arriving as long-period, well-organised waves. It is the opposite of wind swell, which is made by local winds.
- Swell period
- Swell period is the time, in seconds, between one wave crest and the next passing the same point. Longer periods mean more energy: a long-period swell of the same height breaks bigger and more powerfully than a short-period one.