UPDATED FORECAST 7-28 - ACTIVE TROPICS ** New forecast links

Just need to get through the next couple days and then we should start seeing some swell from tropical systems to our south as well as southwest swell from way Down Under.   Tropical Storm Irwin and Hurricane Hilary are both about 900-1000 miles off Cabo.   Irwin is not going to be a swell producer, in fact will get sucked up into Hilary over the next few days and orbit each other in a rare event called a Fujiwhara interaction.   Swell from Hilary should start to show Sunday 7-30 at 3-4ft deepwater at 13 seconds (maybe longer period forerunners of 17-18 sec before) and peak Monday 7-31 with deepwater swell at 4ft 13 seconds.   Very steep angle at 165 - so it's going to miss a lot of our coast as it comes in.  At the same time two longer period fetches from the south will arrive - both will max out at about 2-3 ft 15-18 seconds but a better swell direction with both of these events at 175-180 - which is still rather "south" for our area.   Winds are going to be an issue as the northwest wind machine will be ramping up with the normal Pacific high pressure/thermal low pressure inland deal that is so common up here during the summer and has been quite persistent this summer.   There is a West Pacific Hurricane called Noru that has brought surf to Kauai today and tomorrow - an early sign of things changing as we move towards August.   Redwoods are also starting to get some brown brambles which is also a good indicator.   One more month to go until Sept 1 and right on cue - the patterns out there - both on land and in the ocean are following suit.
Note - i've added two links in the forecast section.   CDIP All Pac Buoy link gives you a look at deepwater swell around the Pacific Basic and even points beyond.   Stormsurf/Quik/CAST - these guys are the best in my mind at predicting weather, swell, wind and everything else as it applies to surfing on our coast or anywhere for that matter.   This is a summary page for Nor Cal - I've used for years when i want a quick look at what is going on.

UPDATED FORECAST - 7-20

It's pretty ugly friends.   No swell from the south to speak of - dribble from the northwest and day after day of winds.   Water is cold too.   Looks to stay this way for the remainder of the month up here - a few background pulses of south now and then.   Things might improve as we start August - but that's way out there.   Best bet is to travel south - anywhere but here.  Cya in the water.

UPDATED FORECAST - JULY 8TH

Long period forerunners tonight of a series of south swells due for the region.  Deep water swell is 1.3ft at 18 from a steep 175.  Swell looks to be around all next week - with deep water heights around 3ft - forecast to increase Wednesday and Thursday 3-5ft.   So it should be a pretty good run of south swell.   Winds - you know the deal - it's July - northwest winds will be the norm - lightest morning and late afternoon/early evening.   Spots protected from the northwest winds will be best and those spots tend to be south facing and will pick up all the swell.   Cya in the water.

JULY 4TH WEEKEND

Good weekend to mountain bike, play golf, travel to Mexico for waves etc....It's not really happening around here.   The good news?  It's July - we're closer to September 1, and perhaps we might be closer to some decent waves at some point in the near future.   There is a chance we may see a good run of southwest swell starting around the 7th, lasting through next weekend - with lighter winds forecast starting tomorrow.   Don't expect epic non wind conditions mind you, but better than it's been.   Until then - get what you can or do something else.   On another note - i've added another link in the forecast section of the blog - NOAA Pacific Viewer - this will give you the global view of significant wave height in both the N Pac and S Pac.   Enjoy.   Cya in the water.