As part of the NOAA Coastal Storms Initiative (CSI) a joint NOAA/NRL coastal wave modeling initiative supported the coastal forecasts at National Weather Service Forecast Office (WFO) in Jacksonville, Florida, with the model being run and provided remotely by NRL Stennis Space Center.

This study reports the results of the coastal wave model as Hurricane Isabel approached and passed off the North Florida coast. A brief review of the NOAA initiative, the development of the SWAN model delivery methodology and relationships in the project, as well as model forecast results and its impact on WFO coastal forecast operations will be discussed. The specific prognostic results from the Hurricane Isabel case will be presented along with some probable explanations for the model forecast skill.