Holiday Weekend Forecast

Mix of windswell and nw groundswell should keep surf in the waist to head high range through Monday at west/north facing breaks.  Bigger sets certainly possible - as we have deepwater in the 6 ft at 12 range - with some larger surf up north.  Southwest swell is minimal through the period.  Winds aren't that bad, even this afternoon - light onshore right now.  I'd say early mornings will still be your best bet with variable winds forecast - then turning stronger onshore for the PM sessions.  High pressure building from the desert southwest - if it makes it all the way to the coast it should wipe out the marine inversion - however - super tricky to pinpoint - so you might run into patches of fog/low clouds for those morning surfs.  Have a great holiday weekend - cya in the water.

Week Ahead - Rain!

Yep, rain in the forecast for Tuesday into Wednesday as a strong system is dropping down from the Gulf of AK.  Highly unusual - but that's what we got.  Small southwest swell at 2.9 at 17 today - should stick around most of the week along with northwest windswell.  Could see an increase in northwest groundswell (small swell) later in the week.  Winds - mix of onshore to west to northwest most of the week - once high pressure builds in strongly on Thursday/Friday we might see light to variable winds for the morning sessions.  So worth checking how hard it's blowing both mornings.  We will see much warmer temps later into the weekend - just a question of how hot in does get and if it's enough to wipe out the marine layer near the coast.  More on that mid week.  Cya in the water.

Week Ahead/Summer Arrives

Summer solstice is tomorrow.  It's going to feel like summer with very hot temps inland and warm temps forecast to make it to the coast, especially Tuesday.  High pressure is moving right overhead - squashing the marine inversion for now - although we'll probably see a return of a strong seabreeze later in the week.  Today and tomorrow, and possibly Wednesday morning - winds might stay light for AM sessions - otherwise - best bet will probably be protected spots as west/northwest winds will likely pick up each day.  Check the winds - very hard to predict the wind flow when we get these type of patterns in the summer - especially with cool water temps still offshore - fog can form quite easily.  Swell wise - northwest windswell to stick around all week - and a new southwest swell starts to show late Tuesday - through Thursday.  Could see some fun waves at south facing breaks mid week.
**I'm out of town Wednesday to Sunday this week - so I won't be updating the report later in the week.  Cya in the water.

Weekend Forecast

Windswell and fading south swell forecast. Saturday look for south to southwest winds with low clouds and fog. Sunday, high pressure builds to the north and east to ramp up north winds. Fog should clear Sunday but conditions for the whole weekend just don't look that great. Look around and you might find something to ride. Cya in the water.

Updated Forecast -

Windswell on the rise all day - as gale warnings are up in the outer waters.  Should top out in the 8-12ft range at 10-11 seconds on Thursday.  New south swell mixes in for the rest of the week - however i think the size is going to get the piss knocked out of it as it rounds Pt Conception and comes up the Central Coast.  South facing spots will be your best bet - as winds are going to howl from the northwest.  If you know where to look you might find something to ride.  Cya in the water.

June Gloom

This is a good week to get caught up with work, your kids, wife/girlfriend etc.  It's June, probably one of the worst months for surf in Nor Cal - and this week will be no exception.  Background south swell most of the week - maybe a "tad" bigger later in the week - but nothing to get all excited about.  And then we have that famous summer windswell - you know the stuff in the 7-9 second range?  Short period slop.  Northwest winds the rule, fog.  Grim.  However, if you have a longboard, patience and a smile - you might be able to find something to ride at south facing breaks.  Only two more months until September.  Cya in the water.

Weekend Forecast

Fog and onshore winds will continue all weekend. Our current sw swell is winding down and will be joined by a new sw for Sat/Sun. Look for waist to chest high waves at the better south breaks. Just windswell in the water from the North Pacific. Surf early and check the winds. Cya in the water.

Week Ahead

Thanks to the proximity of the storm system that brought us heavy rain yesterday, winds stayed pretty light this AM - in fact blowing east early - with a fun mix of southwest storm surf and north windswell.  Waves will wind down as we go through the afternoon.

Mainly light winds possible for morning sessions this week and look for northwest or onshores most afternoons.  Certainly check the winds early - as things dont look all that bad for June. Only swell of mention will be a decent southwest (205-220) due in here Tuesday through Thursday.  Could see a fun run of waist to head high surf - perhaps a tad bigger at best breaks during the peak of this event.  Also look for some inconsistency with this swell - it's coming from a long way down under.  Not much of anything expected from the North Pacific for the upcoming week.  Cya in the water.

Weekend Forecast - More Rain!!

Another late season storm about to roll in - it's going to rain on and off until Monday.  South to southeast winds - small mix of west windswell and south.  Find some place that likes south winds and you'll have small waves to ride.  Cya in the water.

It's going to rain most of the week.....

Rain on and off through the week - potentially heavy rain next weekend.  There is some precedent for this much weather in June - but you have to go back to the 1960s to find it.  Unusual to say the least.  No big warm up or high pressure in sight.  Just on and off rain showers with s/sw/west wind.  There will be swell - mix of northwest and south swell mid week (from fairly extreme angle 175-190) - but you'll have to find some place that likes onshore to south winds to ride anything.  No tan for you.  Cya in the water.

Memorial Day Weekend Forecast

Ongoing mix of west/northwest wind/mid period swell - (right now 5-6 ft at 9-11 seconds) plus a small pulse of south (2 ft at 17).  Another front is dragging through the region with very light rain today north of the Golden Gate.  Winds are southwest/west - and look for a return of northwest winds through the weekend.  Temps forecast to stay well below normal - and it's going to get quite windy on Sunday.  West/northwest swells will keep up through Sunday - with background southern hemi energy.  So, upshot - waves to be had - but you need to find someplace clean to enjoy them.  Cya in the water.

NW Winds, rain, swell

NW winds howling and will do so most of the week.  We have another storm coming in on Wednesday - winds will turn southerly ahead of that front - and then shift back to westerly to northwest - late Wednesday through Friday.  Long period west swell in the water today - 6ft plus at 17 seconds - and we will have another pulse of more southwest swell showing Tuesday - through Thursday.  Not as big as this past weekend - probably in the 2-3 ft range deepwater.  We will continue to see pulses of west/northwest swell/windswell all week - the key will be finding spots clean enough to surf.  Memorial Day weekend looking windy and on the cool side - but more on that late in the week.  cya in the water.

South Swell Update

Probably dont have to tell you there is a big south swell hitting most of CA tonight - plenty of frothing surfers running about.  Spots to our south like Santa Cruz and Malibu are macking.  But like so many (hyped) long period/very southerly swells - up here on the north/central coast it can be a very shifty event.  Because the angle is so steep - 175-180 degrees, some places may be missing the energy completely, or just getting sideband wrap.  Pretty impressive deep water buoy readings as well - 8-10 ft at 17-20 seconds is a big south swell.  Look for this swell to continue through the weekend - and we have a mix of northwest windswell with decent size too.  Conditions aren't that clean - with fog and west/northwest winds - best bet will be protected spots.  Plenty of swell if you know how to look.  cya in the water. 

Winter returns - Mix of North/South swells this week

Very strong late season storm ramping up offshore and about to bring some decent rains to our region starting this afternoon.  Showers will last on and off into Wednesday.  Winds are light s/se right now - but forecast to really blow out of the south later as the front comes in.  We have northwest windswell in the water - 5-6 ft at 10 sec (deepwater).  Look for swell to increase from the south Wednesday - forerunners in the 2-3 at 21 sec range - from about 180.  Many spots will not gather this swell due to the angle of approach - so keep that in mind.  Swell will really start to fill in on Friday/Saturday - Friday look for 4-5 at 17 from 180 - Saturday 3-4 at 16 from 180+.  South on tap for Sunday and Monday - but fading.  At the same time - we'll have a north swell in the water - starting Friday 6-7 at 13 from 298 - continuing through Sat/Sun at 4-5 at 13 from 291.  Winds are going to be highly unpredictable most of the week - varying between south and west/north/northwest.  My advice is to check daily and see what's on tap.  We're in a pretty dynamic weather pattern at the moment and there will be windows for good surf. Cya in the water.

Weekend Forecast - Stormy

Interesting weather this weekend for Mid May - strong storm dropping down out of Gulf of AK will bring a good shot of rain and thunderstorms Saturday night - through Sunday.  Cold temps forecast as well.  NW windswell will come in with the front - winds probably going to be an issue all weekend - so not sure how clean any spot will be.  Best thing to do is check it early and see what the winds are doing.  System sticks around through next Monday/Tuesday - high pressure rebuilds late next week.  Still tracking a decent southwest swell for late next week - probably late Thursday through Sunday.  Size is still tbd - but if we dont get hammered with northwest winds could see some decent swell.  More on that early next week.  Cya in the water.

Week Ahead

Light north winds this AM - mix of north windswell and small southwest swell in the water.  Look for this mix of swells to continue most of the week.  Best bet is going to be sheltered spots as winds will be a problem most of the week with continued onshore/northwest flow.  By the weekend - a very deep, unseasonably cold low pressure system is forecast to drop down out of the Gulf of Alaska and bring us a chance of rain - and temps will be much cooler by late Friday into Sunday.  I am tracking a pretty significant sw swell for around May 19-22.  A big storm is just getting started east of New Zealand and will track north and east over the next few days with very strong winds.  Most of the energy will hit South America, Central America and Mexico but plenty of swell will make it to the West Coast. More on that late in the week. Cya in the water.

Weekend Forecast - Lower Your Expectations.....

Waist to shoulder high windswell through Sunday (bigger at north facing breaks, head +)  - with onshore winds.  That's what we got.  MAYBE - early mornings will be best when winds are light - but it's not going to be very groovy at the coast.  Fog is going to be on the move in Friday - pretty extensive Saturday - our warm weather of the past two days is pretty much over for now.  Cya in the water.

Week Ahead

High pressure gave us a decent Sunday - better than forecast with offshore to light winds most of the day at many spots.  Winds have turned weekly onshore this morning as a low pressure system well to our north pushes fog and low clouds to the coast.  Look for cooler weather still on Tuesday then a brief warm up Wednesday with offshore winds forecast and temps in the 70s at the beach.  Wednesday looks like the best day of the week - with more cooling expected for Thursday through next weekend. Surf remains small - 1.6 at 12 from 310 (deepwater height) and 1.3 at 14 from 180.  Look for surf to pick up Wednesday as a new nw swell fills in - shoulder to overhead sets at northwest facing breaks.  That swell will linger into Thursday, fade Friday.   Cya in the water.

Weekend Forecast - ugh

Well Spring is finally upon us.  Water temps around 49 - steady nw winds and meager swell offerings.  We do have some north windswell in the water - at around 7-9 ft at 10 sec from 280+.  No south to speak of. There is a CHANCE winds turn a bit more offshore over the weekend as high pressure strengthens over the region - best bet is to check it early when the winds will probably be the lightest.  Windswell pretty much the rule this weekend - and actually fading after Saturday.  Really nice weather with sunny skies - so that's at least something.  cya in the water.

Updated Forecast & Rip Curl Search Comes to SF

The Rip Curl Search comes to Ocean Beach this November.  Let's all hope for 14 ft at 17 seconds or so - since they've indicated the pros won't get PWC assist out to the line up.  Should be fun to watch Slater, Parko, Fanning and the boys paddle out.  Until then - we have rain, we have onshore wind and we have some small swell in the water as our soggy spring continues.  SW swell is hanging around but fading.  North windswell at 2.4 ft at 10 from 285.  Look for a bump up in north swell Tuesday into Wednesday with shoulder to head high surf at north facing breaks.  Another pulse of north swell rolls in Friday which will probably keep up through next weekend.  Similar size - perhaps a touch bigger.  Northwest winds all week - lightest in the mornings - so it's not going to be very clean.  Maybe early mornings are the best bet.  It looks like we'll finally see warmer temps next weekend as the storm track shifts north and high pressure begins to build in along the West Coast.  Cya in the water.