I like to look at the actual buoy data. Buoy 41043 is a good predictor for 8 hours out. Scroll down to wave summary and check swell direction, period and height.

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=41043

We used this in January to plan our move from the north to the south side as a big north swell came through.

Cheers, RickG