Messy Monday – Lots of wind and rain

Monday will not be a surf day…in fact (if you hadn’t already guessed considering Sunday Night’s conditions) it will be pretty craptacular in more ways than one.

The swell will be on the way up thanks to the increasing amount of storm swell associated with the current weather, and some longer-period energy being pushed out by the larger system that is still moving in.



Wave heights…sort of hard to gauge since there will be a bunch of really short-period chop tearing things up…but overall the swell energy will be increasing both from the local S-SW windswell, and in the form of longer-period W-WNW energy from the storm as it was tracking across the mid-latitudes. It won’t be super-sized on Monday but it will be coming up…likely setting up some consistent overhead, but very sloppy surf, for the exposed spots.

Winds and weather will be super poop…the models are showing rain throughout the day and the possibility of gale-force winds through parts of the day. Oh there may be a few really protected spots, protected from the S-SW winds (particularly if the winds are more S than SW), but the water quality is going to be nasty, and thanks to the continuing rain, will probably just get worse as more of our sewage/run-off infrastructure gets overloaded.



Tomorrow isn’t going to be particularly interesting from a surf perspective…it won’t be huge, it will be blown out, and spending any real time checking it will probably be a waste. Personally I would just check a cam or two…and go back to bed (if you have the day off). Later in the week, around Wednesday, the swell will get a lot bigger (the weather will still be crap) but at least there will be something worth checking out. Check out what is lining up off the coast…that is a lot of red for being right up next to California.



Tides-shmides…it will be high around brunchtime, other than that we don’t really need them.

I am skipping the regional stuff tonight…expect messy conditions pretty much everywhere with slightly less messy conditions at spots that can block out some of the S-SW winds.

Random Surf Report - Saturday Morning - Stay in bed

Just giving the cameras/buoys/wind-stations a quick check this morning.

Not only is the surf small but we also have some light WNW winds creeping through the region. Check it out.



So we have micro surf with an onshore crumble. It sounds like a good day to go back and surf my pillow for a while followed by my lucky charms and Saturday morning cartoons.

Tuesday’s Surf – You have got to be kidding me

The surf looks pretty crap for Tuesday. More onshore winds, more sloppy windswell and leftover energy from all over the place.

Our surf will be around waist-waist high+ for most spots with a few bigger, but junkier waves at the top NW windswell spots.

Winds are expected to be onshore, in some form or another but mostly out of the W-NW, throughout the day. Rain will come through on and off as well. Check out the CDIP from this afternoon...it doesn’t get much sadder than this.



Oh wait yes it does...



Anyways I have decided to take up the “send us surf” campaign a notch...check it out.

Dear Santa,

All I really want for Christmas is to go surfing again.

Over the last 2 weeks we have been seeing some of the worst winter surf that I can remember and between the lack of waves, rain, and total economic collapse I have to say that I am getting a bit down.

I have a good board and a shiny new wetsuit that are sitting in my garage ready for action...but have stayed woefully dry for quite a while now.

I would really appreciate it if you could load up some new storms into both the North and South Pacific storm tracks and send us some waves, with maybe a touch of Indian summer and/or Santa Ana winds to make it extra special.

Please Please Please send us some surf! I will be the bestest ever if you do!

With Love,

Adam
Your Friendly Neighborhood Surf Forecaster

P.S. I will leave out extra cookies and carrots for you and your reindeer!


I am dropping a copy in the mailbox today. (Addressed to the North Pole of course). I think it will work!

Monday’s Stormy Mess – Yeah it is going to be total crap

Monday will not be a surf day…we have the worst of both worlds rolling through. The weather is going to be poo…and the storm sending the weather is positioned in such a way that we won’t really see an increase in swell (expect for the sloppy windswell nonsense that you get with strong afternoon winds).

Basically it means that unless Mother Nature really just wants to screw with my forecasts, and somehow miraculously whisks the storm away and sends us a new swell, we aren’t going to be doing much surfboard riding tomorrow.

I won’t bore you with the details so I will give you the broad strokes…just expect surf below chest high, SW-WSW winds around 20-25 knots, and rain.

On a happier note the freeways will be totally f-ed up since none of us here in SoCal can drive when there has been more than a 1/10th of an inch of rain. Ah good times.


how do you turn the wipers on!?!

Wednesday's Waves - A good reason to get some chores done

Wednesday is not really going to be a surf day. There will be a few "rideable" (and I use the term loosely) waves at some of breaks that can power through the morning tide but overall I am not expecting much.

We have a couple of leftover swells in the water...some weakening SW energy and touch of NW swell that is holding in the background. Here is the CDIP from this afternoon...it is going to be very similar tomorrow.



Look for most spots to be in the knee-waist high range tomorrow, with nearly flat to shorebreaky shape as the high tide peaks midmorning. Top combo spots, mostly in San Diego, which is doing slightly better on picking up some of the NW energy, we will have some chest high sets...but again expect tide problems at most breaks.

Winds look ok in the morning...mostly light and variable through midmorning. Looks like there is still a chance at some fog...at least according to the NWS models but I would probably get up and check the cams for visibility and see if we get lucky like we did on Tuesday. Afternoon winds come onshore out of the NW around 10-15 knots.

I would probably plan on getting some work done tomorrow...or chores...or just catching up on some sleep...there just isn't much going on surfwise tomorrow. It won't be totally flat but it won't be worth spending much time surfing. That being said it won't be a bad beginner day, the waves will be soft, probably uncrowded, so you might be able to get a little training session in. Bring your small wave gear, longboards will be best, and try and pick a spot that can handle the tide.

03:10AM 1.8' Low
09:16AM 6.0' High
04:28PM -0.2' Low
10:39PM 3.8' High

Random Friday Morning Surf Report: Stay in bed

Hey gang the dawn patrol isn't looking very fun this morning.

There are a few rideable waves but there is a touch of morning sickness to it and the tide is already starting to mush it out. Wave heights are generally in the knee-waist high range through Ventura, then jump up to about waist-chest high+ through most of North LA and the South Bay.

OC is holding around waist-chest high+ with some very inconsistent bigger sets lurking around out there at times. San Diego is about the same but it has a little more onshore texture and is a touch more consistent thanks to the windswell hitting just a little better down there.

If you absolutely have to surf make sure to check the better high tide spots and try and shine areas that need a low tide to work.

Really, if you can hold off, try and surf on the other side of the high tide...it may be a bit bumpier from the wind but size and consistency will be a lot better.