Wave Height

Wave height is the vertical distance from the trough of a wave to its crest. In marine forecasts it commonly refers to significant wave height: the average height of the highest one-third of waves in a sea area. Individual waves can be much larger, so forecasts should be treated as guidance for likely conditions, not a maximum.

For boaters, wave height affects comfort, speed, fuel use, crew fatigue and the risk of slamming, broaching or taking water aboard. A moderate height with a long Wave Period may be manageable, while steeper seas can quickly worsen Sea State, especially with Wind against Current near headlands, bars or tidal gates.

PredictWind displays wave height in Forecast App and web wave maps, GRIB downloads in the Offshore App, and routing tools. Compare wave height with swell direction, wind waves and Primary Swell to choose safer departure windows, better routes and more comfortable angles to the sea.