Waves for Wednesday – the Combo swell continues

Wednesday will be a surf day.

In the water we will have a mix of SW swell (200-220), some NW swell (290-300), and a little dash of local WNW windswell…all of which are blending nicely together at the better exposed beaches. There are a few shadowing issues here and there…so make sure that you pick an area that is getting the full exposure. Check out the current “Nowcast” from the CDIP…



And here is what it is going to look like tomorrow...



Average spots will have surf in the waist-chest high range with some inconsistent chest-shoulder high sets if the break has a little combo exposure. The best SW facing spots and the best combo spots will be in the shoulder-head high range with some inconsistent overhead sets mixing in on the lower tides.

Winds look good on Wednesday…we will start off with mostly light and variable winds, even some light offshore flow in a few spots. Expect some pockets of patchy fog. This will burn off by the afternoon but the winds will shift onshore around the same time…and come in out of the NW at 10-15 knots along the really exposed breaks.



Looks fun tomorrow…there will be plenty of waves at the exposed areas…and some decent size at the standouts. Orange County and parts of San Diego are going to be the most exposed to this swell mix…but LA and Ventura will have their pockets of awesomeness as well. Santa Barbara gets a bit left out…but after all the west swells this winter I am not feeling all that bad for them. The tide is a little high in the morning so if you are venturing out to get it right at dawn you might want to stick with spots that can handle a little extra water.

I’m skipping the regional forecasts tonight…but they should be back in action tomorrow.

Have a good one…send me some photos if you get some good ones (and surf reports…I love surf reports).

03/24/2010 Wednesday
04:21AM LDT 4.6 H
12:16PM LDT -0.2 L
07:04PM LDT 3.5 H
11:51PM LDT 2.2 L

Monday’s Surf – Monday Morning quickie

Monday is looking like surf day…but there may be some more fog issues in the morning (and a little fog texture to go along with it) which may keep it from being a “very good” surf day.

In the water we have a mix of holding WNW-NW swell (285-300) and some building SW swell (200-220). The swell models really like this SW swell for some reason but I am still a little leery of both the size and consistency since the energy heading towards Socal is going right through the the SPAC islands and that always does some funky chicken with the energy, usually chewing out some of the size and the consistent.



That being said…some initial energy from this new SW’er is actually showing on the buoys this evening…O-side has about ½ a foot of energy around 20-seconds right now…and the swell is supposed to get bigger as it fills in more over the next couple of days. Check out the buoy from Sunday night.



Sizewise…things look pretty fun…the average spot will see lots of surf in the waist-chest high range with a few shoulder high sets sneaking into the well exposed combo breaks. The standout SW/WNW-NW facing spots will see more consistent chest-shoulder high surf with some head high (and probably bigger) sets sneaking in when the two swells manage to combo up properly.

Winds look ok…only ok…in the morning. There is still a little instability holding in the upper level of the atmosphere…which tweaking out stuff down on the surface. For the most part it looks like light and variable winds on tap for most areas…with a few pockets of some light offshore texture around LA and Ventura…and then some similar onshore pockets around Orange County and parts of San Diego (which is German for “whale’s vagina”…well at least that is what Ron Burgundy told me! )



Winds shift onshore around midmorning and then continue to increase…going variable onshore around 10-15 knots for most exposed areas.



I think it is going to end up being a bit of a funky day on Monday…mostly because the wind/weather/swell aren’t lined up all that well. For example we might see plenty of S-SW/WNW-NW swell at a break but most of the surf will be buried by the fog and roughed up buy the winds that always see to go along with it. That being said…sometimes you can pony up for a foggy session and find some playful peaks hiding out in the mist. At this point I think that getting on it early will be the best call…the winds start to push in pretty early during midmorning and it looks like they it could be a bit breezy by the afternoon. I would probably stick with the S-SW facing points/reefs…but the combo spots, particularly the beach breaks with good exposure and groomed sandbars…could end up being pretty fun too.

Here are the tides…have a good one…looks like more offshore winds and bigger swell on tap by the middle of the week…so if you don’t get some of this one…there will be some more chances later.

03/22/2010 Monday
01:16AM LDT 4.7 H
09:48AM LDT 0.4 L

Friday’s Surf – lingering combo with cleaner conditions

Friday will be a surf day.

The WNW-NW swell (285-300) will slowly, very slowly fade out on Friday…it gets a little medium period reinforcement swell that helps to prop up the bigger energy from Thursday. Our S-SW swell (180-210) will stick around and continue to be a bit inconsistent on the sets. Winds look a little better for Friday and it looks like they should stay lighter longer and help us extend the surf window.



Most of the average WNW facing breaks and the better combo spots will see some waist-shoulder high surf. Standout NW facing breaks and the excellent combo spot (mostly in Ven/So-Bay/South SD areas) will see surf more in the chest-head high range with some inconsistent overhead sets showing on the lower tides. Remember the NPAC swell has most of the energy coming in pretty steep (above 290) so only the really exposed spots will have the bigger sets.

Winds look decent on Friday…mostly light and variable for the morning but with some pockets of light offshore flow near the usual passes and canyons. There may be some fog early in the morning but it looks like it will burn off or push offshore pretty quickly after sunrise. Afternoon winds look light as well…expect some variable onshore flow around 10-12 knots for most areas.



Friday looks like a much better surf day than Thursday…the winds are supposed to cooperate a bit more and it looks like the mix of WNW-NW/S-SW swell will even out a bit and let the swells combo up a bit better than they have been. Personally I am going to try and get out and surf in the morning while the winds are light and the tide is low...but I don’t think that dawn-patrol is totally critical…conditions should hold together long enough to get a few clean ones through mid-morning and the “high” tide is only a 3-footer that finally rolls in around lunchtime…so it shouldn’t hurt us too bad either.

Here are the tides…

03/19/2010 Friday
06:07AM LDT 0.3 L
12:04PM LDT 3.2 H
05:17PM LDT 1.5 L
11:39PM LDT 5.0 H

Surf for Thursday – More combo swell

Thursday will be a surf day.

Our mix of WNW-NW swell (285-300) will hold into Thursday while the S-SW swell (180-210) will actually strengthen just a touch more than we saw on Wednesday. The tidal swings and the locations of the sandbars have been playing a pretty key role in finding quality waves the last couple of days…this will continue on Thursday so keep it in mind when you are selecting a spot.



Most of the average WNW facing breaks and the better combo spots will see some waist-shoulder high surf. Standout NW facing breaks and the excellent combo spot (mostly in Ven/So-Bay/South SD areas) will see surf more in the chest-head high range with some inconsistent overhead sets showing on the lower tides.

It looks like temps will cool off a bit on Thursday…chance for some fog in the morning and some low clouds moving in as well. Winds, fortunately, look pretty good for the morning…expect light and variable to light-offshore flow for most areas. Things get a bit sloppy by the afternoon…W-NW winds 10-15 knots will start to arrive around lunch and peak by mid-afternoon.



Overall Thursday looks fun…not outstanding, but fun and playful at the spots that can pick up more of the swell mix. I think your best bet will be to get out and dawn-patrol…the lighter winds and the lower morning tides (and the eventual tide-push) will offer up the best shape. Watch the winds and the tide…choppy swamp surf doesn’t sound like much fun.

Here are the tides…

03/18/2010 Thursday
05:24AM LDT 0.2 L
11:19AM LDT 3.6 H
04:57PM LDT 1.2 L
11:08PM LDT 5.0 H