Weekend Forecast

Strong north-northwest winds continue over the outer waters - 25-29kts already this am.  Short to mid period (8-10 sec) north swell filtering in from a storm that was up in the Gulf of AK the past couple days.  Look for this swell to stick around through Sunday and mix in with shorter period windswell.  Also in the mix will be some southwest swell, but only noticeable at south facing breaks.  Probably see head high plus at north facing breaks, but hacked by wind.  Cleaner, smaller at south facing breaks.  Big tide swings this weekend - low tides for AM sessions.  Incoming in the PM.  Water temp still hovering around 49.  Should be something to ride if you know where to look.  cya in the water.

Week Ahead and Hand Planes

 Good friend of mine is shaping these great hand planes.  We did some test runs on them yesterday in some local windslop - super fun.  The lift, drive and pocket position you can achieve using one of these is really special.  If you're interested in one, let me know and i'll get you connected.

Meanwhile, strong late season storm out of the Gulf of Alaska is dropping rain this morning and bringing sw winds.  Swell is a mix of small north and new south showing with some longer periods.  But conditions are trashed due to the wind direction.  Northwest winds for the remainder of the week as high pressure takes control.  We will have a mix of windswell, small traces of north swell and background swell from the southern hemi.  Best bet will probably be breaks protected from the wind.

Week Ahead

Mid period northwest swell filled in overnight - now 4 -5 ft at 12 from 290 +.  Problem remains the winds - onshore already this morning, but much lighter than over the weekend.  We will have a better shot of north swell late in the week - but winds will remain from the northwest.  We have a brief warm up starting Wed/Thur - but not certain that will make it all the way to coastal areas to provide some relief from the onshore push.  But i would check the winds very early both days just in case.  Not much doing from the southern hemi - just background pulses throughout the period.  cya in the water.

Buoy links off line...not that it matters....

La Jolla Scripps/buoy links (deep water and nor cal links) appear to be offline - not that it matters much because i don't think anyone is surfing today.  Fog, onshore winds, slop windswell the rule.  Cool temps.  Doesn't look any better for Monday either, through next week as we'll have fog and onshore winds all week from the looks of it.  Only three more months until September.

Updated Memorial Day Weekend Forecast

Howling northwest winds is what we have.  Junky short period windswell a result.  Very deep, unseasonably cold low pressure system in BC will drop south by the Friday giving us a chance at rain in the North Bay.  We also have Tropical Storm Bud in the East Pac - but probably won't make it into the Nor Cal swell window before turning north onto the Mexican Coast.  But a good sign, maybe we'll have a strong local hurricane season off Mexico.  La NIna is on her last legs, which is also good, meaning we'll probably return to a neutral pattern for next winter.  If we're lucky, perhaps even a swing more toward El Nino.  Either way, should be a better Fall for waves.  Until then, we will have an increase in windswell and short period north swell through the week - but conditions will probably be pretty messy except for breaks sheltered from the wind.  That system will be out of here by Saturday and Sunday and Monday look to be pretty nice inland, with perhaps lighter winds near the coast.  Have to wait and see.  As always this time of year - surf early, check the winds.  cya in the water.

Updated Forecast

Small surf continues through the weekend, mix of south and north windswell.  Winds look lightest in the morning and find some place protected.  Small wave tools probably the call.  Loving this summer quiver from Ashley Lloyd in Santa Cruz.  6.10 Egg/2 + 1 and a 9.4 log.  Pretty much has all the slop covered from here to Santa Cruz for the next three months or so.  Cya in the water.

Spring Surf

Fog and s-sw winds on it.  Small mix of north swell and south swell - looks pretty bad.  Next week will feature a mix of windswell and south swells most of the week.  South facing spots will probably feature something to ride.  Just check the winds.  Only 4 1/2 months until September.  Hang in there.  cya in the water.

Updated Forecast

Southerly background swell will continue much of this week and looks to increase in size later through the month of May.  We also have a late season storm taking shape in the N Pac that should send in a decent shot of WNW swell on Wednesday and Thursday this week - pushing swell heights back up in the double overhead range at N facing breaks this Thursday. Warm temps thru the region should continue at least through Tuesday AM then we might have a return of fog and low clouds near the coast. Could see a swing back to warm temps coast side late in the week.  Should be something to ride this week, check your winds and know your spots.  cya in the water.

Water 48, NW winds at 25

Yep, it's May - water dropped to 48 again, winds howling nw at 25kts or so.  Junky windswell with a small south pulse 1.8 at 14 sec (windswell around 6ft at 10).  Rain comes in on Thursday with south wind.  High pressure builds in strongly behind that front for the weekend.  Models are hinting at "offshore" flow and warmer temps (i'll believe it when I see it) for Saturday/Sunday - so who knows, it might be a surf weekend.  cya in the water.

Updated Forecast

Orion setting in the Western sky each night. Always depresses me.  However, we've had some clean conditions this week so far - just on the small side wave wise.  Look for NW to jump up on Friday - back into the 6-10 range.  Building s to sw swells over the weekend as well in the background.  Winds looks to pick up from the nw later in the week - that's the only fly in the ointment.  Just when the water was starting to warm up a tad as well.  If the winds go more north to ne - it might be good for certain spots - just keep an eye on it around Friday.  Cya in the water.

Weekend Forecast

Tricky forecast this weekend - very hot temps Saturday inland, not sure all that warm stuff will make it to the coast.  We've had very dense fog the past two mornings.  But wake up, check it out on the cams.  Swell wise - very typical spring mix of small wnw swell and some windswell - 3-5 ft range. Very tiny background south.  Sunday could still be warm inland at most spots - but a big surge of southerly fog and low clouds is forecast to come up during the late afternoon to put an end to our brief heat wave.  Winds could be light at least both Sat/Sun mornings.  Worth checking. cya in the water.

Updated Forecast - Week Ahead

Sad to hear over the weekend that four sailors died off the Farallones during the Full Crew Race .  The "Low Speed Chase" was based out of the Belvedere Yacht Club.  Accident happened on Saturday in 25kt winds and 15 foot waves.  Thoughts and prayers go out to all involved.

For the rest of us, Spring has finally arrived with low clouds, fog, onshore winds.  High pressure is starting to shove the winter jet stream into hibernation and we're forecast to get a nice warm up this coming weekend.  Swell wise - the N Pac is still active with a good shot of WNW swell due in today through Wednesday from 270-300,  Swell will peak Tues/Wed with deepwater swell in the 10-12ft range.  S Pac is staying relatively active with smaller pulses through Friday, but mainly lost in the more dominant NW energy.  Look for NW winds through the week.  Surf early and find protected spots from the NW wind.  Cya in the water.

More Rain, Wind, Swell

Next system winding up offshore and will come ashore tonight with potential heavy rain.  Swell behind it - in the 6-10 ft range Friday - bigger Saturday.  NW winds too.  Surf will be out there if you know where to look. cya in the water.

Wind is on it

NW winds in full force today.  Fading west swell in the water and a very small south.  Protected spots are probably the only game in town.  Look for winds to hang around - probably lightest on Saturday morning.  Next chance of rain looks late Sunday (might have south winds on the rise Sunday as well).  Unsettled weather looks to stick around through next week as our late rainy season keeps going with low pressure parked in the gulf of alaska.  Good for sending swell however - just going to be hard to find a clean place to ride.  Check the winds, surf early. cya in the water.

Large

The Weather boys in Monterey are all excited about the imminent swell train.  This is a very large swell event heading our way.  Be careful out there Sunday.  I'm up in Tahoe with a foot of fresh since Noon today:

.MARINE...AS OF 3:00 PM PDT SATURDAY...UPGRADED ADVISORY TO A HIGH 
 SURF WARNING. BUOY 59 HAS REPORTED SEAS FROM 25 TO 33 FEET ALL DAY.
 NOT EXPECTING TOO MUCH DECAY AS THIS WAVE TRAIN HEADS TOWARDS THE
 COAST. HIGH SURF WARNING STARTS AT 5 PM AND OFFICIALLY GOES THROUGH
 5 AM MONDAY. WE`LL ACTUALLY FALL OUT OF WARNING CRITERIA BY TOMORROW 
 AFTERNOON AND THEN CONVERT TO ADVISORY...BUT THATS SEMANTICS. WENT 
 AND LOOKED BACK AT HISTORICAL DATA AND FOR THE MOST PART THE LAST
 TIME WAVES WERE THIS BIG WAS THE JAN 4TH 2008 STORM AND OVER THE LAST
 DECADE THERE HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY FEW EVENTS WHERE 25 FOOT SETS
 PASSED OVER THE BUOYS. 

RIP Michael Peterson

Super sad to hear MP passed away. He was 59.  Do yourself a favor and rent Morning of The Earth.  This is probably one of the most famous cutback's of all time.  A true surfing genius and he'll be missed.  

Another Stormy Weekend - Large Swell Sunday

Another storm is loading up offshore - will get to the North Bay Friday night and spread south through the day Saturday. Strong south winds and heavy rain.  The storm will be a quick mover and out of here by Sunday morning.  Large swell train will follow - deepwater heights Sunday may push 20ft.  Finding some place clean to ride will continue to be the issue for the next few days.  Southwest to south winds the rule until Sunday when winds will blow hard from the northwest behind the departing cold front.  If you know your spots you might find some waves to ride.  cya in the water.

Week Ahead - Rain and South Winds

Active storm pattern remains through the end of March.  This week will feature mainly south winds and various swell events.  Best bet will be wind protected spots that like southerly winds.
cya in the water.

Weekend Forecast - More Rain Incoming...

Our late season run of storms will continue this weekend - rain should come ashore Saturday heavy at times in the north - lighter south.  Showers will continue through Sunday.  Winds will be an issue for sure - probably starting s/sw and turning nw at some point behind the front.  Swell will be up - deepwater 6-10 ft on Saturday and 5-7 ft on Sunday - but finding a clean spot to ride will be the issue.  Cya in the water.

First Full Day of Spring

Spring arrived last night around 1020pm.  Amazingly, we have offshore winds this morning and a small northwest windswell at 5 ft 10-11 seconds from 295.  Look for the swell to jump tomorrow as a new pulse of northwest fills in - deepwater heights projected to go 10-15 ft.  We're under a "dirty ridge" as the forecast boys like to call it - weak high pressure today will give control back to low pressure starting late Wednesday as we get another shot of very light rain in here into Thursday.  Rest of the week looks unsettled with the weekend trending stormy with rain, northwest winds.  Winds look highly variable the rest of the week - right now might be the cleanest for the next several days.  South wind, northwest wind - all going to depend on front arrival and passage as the jet stream aims several disturbances our way.  Check the winds and know your spots and you'll find something to ride.  cya in the water.