Windy Mess for Tuesday – peaking WNW energy and onshore winds

Tuesday is not looking like much of a surf day.

We will have a mix of building WNW-NW wind/stormswell and some medium period WNW energy (275-300 all mixed together) along with a touch of SSW swell from the Southern Hemi.



Surfwise the average spots are going to see some sloppy waist-shoulder sets, while the average WNW facing spots see more consistent chest-head high surf. The standout NW breaks, the spots will excellent exposure to the swell mix, will be consistently shoulder-overhead on sets with some bigger waves sneaking through at times. Unfortunately the most exposed spots will also be the most exposed to the onshore wind so shape looks pretty ugly for most of the area.

Winds will be out of the WNW-NW around 10-15 knots for the morning with gusts hitting around 15-20 at the average spots. The really windy areas will have 15-20 knots winds in the morning with gusts topping out around 25-knot+ at times. Winds will stay around the same speed most of the day.



Personally I think Tuesday is going to be a good day to stay in bed…onshore winds, cold air temps, and sloppy surf just doesn’t motivate me very well. I do however think that we might want to give the cams and wind stations a quick check in the morning, sometimes these fronts don’t push through the way the models expect and there is a small window of surf time early in the day. Also the NW wind direction doesn’t blow everything completely out…there are a few small pockets in Santa Barbara and North LA that don’t get super junky…the only drawback with those spots is they also don’t pull in much NW swell, particularly when the periods are short, so you might see cleaner shape but much smaller surf. I always think it is prudent to give the surf a check anytime there is swell in the water, despite what the winds say they are going to do.

Here are the tides…lets cross our fingers that the winds come through lighter and cleaner than the forecast says.

12/22/2009 Tuesday
01:22AM LST 3.7 H
06:23AM LST 2.7 L
11:38AM LST 3.9 H
07:03PM LST 0.8 L

Waves for Friday – Peaking WNW swell

Friday will be another surf day…not as crossed up as it was earlier in the week but the new WNW swell will be starting to peak and the winter spots will end up being pretty good.

So swellwise we will have a mix of new WNW-NW swell (280-300 with most of the energy in the 290-300 range)…and some fading SW swell (200-220).



Most of the average spots, with just ok exposure to one swell or the other, will be in the waist-chest high range with a few more shoulder high sets showing on the lower tides. Look for some shoulder high+ sets mixing in on the better exposed, but still “average” NW facing spots.

Standout breaks, like those in San Diego, Ventura, and the South Bay, will be in the chest-head high range with some overhead…sets mixing in at times. Looks like the best NW combo spots may even have touch more size…I wouldn’t be surprised to see some bigger overhead+ sets sneaking through.

Winds and weather look good again…mostly light and variable to light offshore winds in the morning. There will be some areas of patchy/dense fog at times, so watch for some texture around the edges of those banks. W-SW winds in the 10-12 knot range are expected by the afternoon…though we may see a bit of a cleanup in some areas by the early evening.



The top NW facing spots are going to be the call tomorrow…the well exposed points and reefs are going to have the best shape and the most size…though if you don’t have one close by, or you just don’t want to have to navigate the sea-of-fiberglass, you might give the better exposed combo breaks a check as well…hopefully there will still be enough SW swell in the water that it can help break it up. Even though it will be rideable almost everywhere surf size will definitely drop off as you move out of the well-exposed areas (that I highlighted above) so if you are a size-queen plan on sticking to the top breaks in those areas…the combo of bigger swell and still clean conditions, will make driving an extra 20-minutes or so worth it.

Here are the tides…

02:43AM LDT 3.2 H
05:26AM LDT 3.1 L
12:06PM LDT 4.8 H
08:35PM LDT 0.8 L

Random Friday Morning Surf Report - WNW swell is showing nicely

Hey Guys...I just got out of the water and I thought I would throw up a a quick report. The WNW'er is showing pretty good...I was out in North HB for the dawn patrol and there was some definite size.

Most waves were running around shoulder-head high+ but a few of the (less consistent) bigger sets were overhead to a couple of feet overhead. Shape was good, peaky with hollow shoulders and some zippy sections as the waves lined up on the inside bar.

The swell is a bit fickle from a swell direction standpoint...between where I was this morning and the pier the size dropped about 2-3' feet off the sets...it was still fun by the pier but a bit smaller. Check out the CDIP from this morning and you can see how the swell is wrapping through the Nearshore islands.



Most of the energy is heading to SD, in particular south San Diego, but there is plenty of swell hitting Southern Ventura, the South Bay, North OC, and the rest of San Diego as well. (The green and yellow colors are your friends).

Anyway I hope you are out getting some this morning (and not reading this on the computer)...if you are stuck in an office somewhere try and sneak out. The surf may slow down a touch as the tide fills in but it is sunny, winds are light, and we have a fun winter swell in the water. Definitely a good reason to go home, uh...sick.

Friday's Surf - A good argument for a 3 day weekend

Friday will be a surf day.

The new WNW swell (285-300) started filling in on Thursday...it was showing best up around Ventura but there were some new sets starting to sneak into the better NW facing spots throughout SoCal before sundown. This new WNW'er will continue to build overnight and will be peaking on Friday. There will also be a touch of background S-SW energy out there as well so the summer spots, while they will be much smaller, will still have a few waves as well.

Check out the CDIP model. This is showing the energy this afternoon...



Look for most spots with some exposure to the WNW swell to see surf in the chest-shoulder high range. The average combo spots will be about the same size as well. The top winter NW facing spots, mostly in San Diego and Southern Ventura, will have surf in the shoulder-head high range with fairly consistent overhead+ sets mixing in as well. The top combo spots will be a little smaller but should have plenty of fun shaped surf throughout the day.

Winds are looking good as well...mostly light and variable to light offshore for most spots through the morning. Passes and Canyons in Ventura and LA Counties may see some moderate offshore flow for the morning. NW winds around 10-knots build in through the afternoon...so there is a definite chance at getting rideable if not fun surf as we head toward sundown...which is like at 3:30 or something.

San Diego and Ventura are going to be your best bet if you are looking for consistently larger surf...but there is going to be plenty of playful waves spread throughout SoCal so you won't need to drive very far unless you want too. I would still try to get your session lined up with the lower tides, just because I like the faster shape you get on the lower tide, but the high-tide isn't that bad so it should stay surfable for most of the day as well.

If you have to work tomorrow...don't sweat it too bad, there will be plenty of waves over the weekend, even a couple of slightly bigger WNW and S swells lining up for Sunday/Monday. Man I love surf.

Here are the tides...hope you get some tomorrow!

03:25AM LST 3.9 H
09:07AM LST 2.8 L
01:49PM LST 3.6 H
08:57PM LST 1.0 L