Weekend Forecast - Yeah, it's almost September 1st

You know it almost looked a bit like Fall today for a short while at the beach.  Fun southwest and northwest windswell peaking today, should still be around tomorrow for chest high sets at breaks that like the combo swell.  Winds, probably lightest early most of the weekend.  Swell will fade through Sunday.  Long term is looking more promising with our first possible small northwest swell of the season a week out.  It's just a blip on the models right now - but i'll get it dialed in early next week.  I think tomorrow is the best day of the weekend.  Cya in the water.

Last Week of Summer - Updated Forecast

Well, we've almost made it.  September 1 looms.  Now we just need the weather and surf to act like we're almost into Fall.  Fog, onshores and small surf prevail at present - although winds are light this morning.  Look for an increase in northwest windswell and southwest groundswell for Friday/Saturday - nothing beyond 2-3ft mind you - but a bit bigger than we've had of late.  Not tracking anything from the North Pacific or South Pacific beyond that.  Weak low pressure is anchored in the Gulf of Alaska with some wind associated and impulses moving thru - this will probably serve to keep the windswell going.  Upcoming weekend does look a bit on the slow side surf wise.  More on that later in the week.  Cya in the water.

Weekend Forecast

Looks like small windswell and background south swell for the weekend - and mostly onshore winds and fog at the coast.  Winds will be lightest in the early mornings.  Look for the windswell to come up a bit late today into Saturday - but overall it's looking pretty poor.  Long range not showing that much yet, from either hemisphere.  Cya in the water.

Weekend Forecast

Small WNW windswell - both from the Gulf and localized remains in the water.  Minimal background SW dribbles too.  While the North Pacific is showing more activity, no groundswells on the charts yet - however we will see ongoing WNW mid period swell (8-11sec) from Sunday thru next Tuesday.  Issue remains the onshore winds and fog.  Best to check early AM's for the lightest winds.  Could see the pressure gradient relax enough next week for some cleaner morning sessions.   Waiting on the jetstream to get more active. The only thing that will break up the pattern will be for storm energy to start hitting Oregon and Washington, dive into the Great Basin and give us offshore or at best some north wind flow.  No sign of that yet.  Cya in the water.

That's something....

That's an afternoon Sat shot and wind profile in the Gulf of Alaska.  There's actually a small storm getting some traction today and tomorrow.  Those Red wind barbs are showing wind and direction.  We will probably see a bit of a bump up in 8-10 sec windswell for Thurs/Friday and the weekend.  I know i'm reaching here - but when was the last time any of us had something to be excited about from the North Pacific.  More to come.  Cya in the water.

Updated Forecast - South Pac asleep, waiting for Nor Pac to open for biz

Upcoming week will feature onshore winds and fog at the coast - lightest winds early, and sheltered spots will probably be the cleanest.  Blocking high pressure down under is keeping the storm track zonal.  Probably have to wait until the end of the month for the pattern to change and perhaps send up some swells.  In the meantime, really waiting for more signs of life in the North Pacific/Gulf of Alaska. Could see some short to mid period west northwest groundswell by next weekend from a couple storms that are forecast to pull together in the Gulf  - however with the windswell in the water it will be hard to notice.  Cya in the water.

Not much relief

The local cams and spot checks seem stuck on pause - fog, onshore, small, crappy.  Seems like it's been that way for an eternity at this point in the summer.  There is a storm circulation out in the Nor Pac which will send us a very small pulse of mid period/windswell by the weekend - but it's going to be fairly insignificant and probably hard to detect with the local windswell.  That's about all the hope i have for all of us as we move into Mid August.  Southern hemi has gone to sleep for with no storms producing swell this week - fog and low clouds and onshore winds to continue - with winds "lightest" for the morning sessions.  Good week to get work done and maybe plan a trip to warmer waters.  September is one day closer and hopefully this stubborn weather pattern will break down soon.  Cya in the water.

Another small pulse of south

Look for another small pulse of southwest swell to fill in over the weekend - probably showing late Saturday and sticking around through Sunday.  Spots that favor a southwest swell will be the call.  Winds will remain onshore - but lightest in the mornings and some protected spots might have little to no wind during the early mornings.  Windswell around too - and still watching for a bit of a bump in the northwest windswell around Aug 4-5 - from a small storm that formed this past week in the Gulf of AK.  No luck on our potential tropical swell from the former Hurricane Gil - he was too small to generate anything decent for Nor Cal.  Surf early and keep your expectations low.  Cya in the water.

Things to get more interesting

Inconsistent SW swell pulsing up tonight - 3.6 ft at 17 seconds.  Not bad when it shows.  But the lulls are long.  This swell should hang around for two more days.  Winds are still an issue, but lightest in the mornings.  Of more interest, some very minor storm activity starting to show in the North Pac.  Could see some small pulses of mid period north windswell the first few days in August (next week) if everything comes together as forecast.  I'll keep an eye on it - but it's encouraging.  Also - Tropical Storm Gil has formed 700 miles sw of Cabo - will move northwest over the next few days and if it stays on that course - we could see a shot of tropical swell up here around Aug 4-5th.  Cya in the water.  

Weekend

Dog, dog days.   Onshore winds, small surf.  Good weekend to find something else to do around these parts.  Fog remains at the coast, no swell of interest from any direction to speak of.  It's almost August.  A few subtle signs of change already in spots - but we have a few more weeks to go before I get too damn excited.  Hang in there.  Cya in the water.

Updated Forecast

Southwest swell most of the week along with increasing north windswell.  Plenty to ride, but winds will continue to be an issue with southwest flow at the surface.  Might find some windows here and there - stay on the wind links.  It's almost August - we're getting closer to Sept 1 - just hang in there.
cya in the water.

Updated Forecast - No reports July 14-21

Small south swell in the water - 2-2.5ft at 14-17 seconds.  We will see a bit bigger push into the weekend from the storm that slammed South America and Central America this past week.  Unfortunately, due to the extreme angle of approach (165-180) from the south - many spots wont pick up the energy.  Best bet is going to be So Cal, and closer breaks to our south.  There are spots up here that will harness that angle, if you know where to look.  Looking farther ahead - the end of next week a larger southwest swell will approach.  This swell has a better direction 200-225 - and should be a pretty decent event.  Northwest to onshore winds look the rule for the extended.  Lightest in the mornings.  I'm in Mexico next week chasing that upcoming swell - so there won't be any reports until July 22.  Cya in the water.

Updated Forecast

Happy 4th of July weekend.  Water temps tumbled six degrees overnight - from a comfortable 60 degrees down to 54 this afternoon as the north south gradient ramped up and gale force northwest winds are whipping across the outer waters.  Swell is 10ft at 10 sec from 325-330.  South swell is barely a trace.  The heat wave is over and we will return to more typical summer weather - fog and low clouds near the coast with seasonal temps inland.  Windswell the primary source of waves for the next several days.  Winds should begin to let up Saturday over the outer waters and around the Bay Area look for south to southwest winds both Saturday and Sunday morning.  You might find something to ride, just dont expect a miracle.  Cya in the water.

Decent conditions mix of swells

Winds at this hour are much lighter than forecast - last night was actually pretty epic - front passed, gradients dropped to nothing and the WNW swell pulsed nice at north facing breaks.  This AM, WNW is fading a tad - 5.8 ft at 12 seconds - as a new pulse of SW swell begins to show - 2.8ft at 17.  The forecast still calls for winds to start to increase from the northwest today - as high pressure builds from the East which should trigger the winds to jump given the big difference in pressure (land to sea).  WNW swell will hang around as will the SW swell for the remainder of the week.  SW swell to be the main feature this coming weekend.  It's going to get very hot inland as high pressure peaks early next week.  If the high pressure moves far enough to the coast, we might see light winds (especially mornings) - otherwise, it's forecast to remain foggy near the beach with onshore winds - while just a few miles inland it could be extremely hot.  One of those heat events you need to keep an eye on the winds and if you get a window - hit it.  Cya in the water.

Offseason WNW Swell

An unusually strong Pacific weather system will be affecting both our weather and waves for the next week.  Rain in the forecast at times through at least Tuesday.  The system will kick up a longer period WNW swell with well overhead waves forecast at top winter spots for Wed/Thurs - smaller surf Friday into the weekend from the same event. but still something to ride.  Winds will continue to be the issue - south to southwest winds from the storm the next 24-36 hours, then changing back to northwest flow.  So finding something clean to ride will require some hunting.  Cya in the water.

Updated Forecast

NW Winds, no swell to speak of, welcome to the dark days of summer in Nor Cal.  I'm off this week - so there wont be any reports.  Don't worry, you're not missing anything.  Good week to get stuff done.  cya in the water.  September is one day closer everyday.

South Swell Madness

We are a crazy lot us surfers - hit link:

Wedge - So Cal

Week ahead....

Hope you found some waves during our recent southwest swell.  Was a tricky few days with the winds not ideal, but there were some memorable waves up and down the coast.  We're back to reality again this week - nw wind and nw windswell.  The windswell will continue to grow through mid week and then fade into the weekend.  Background southwest swell remains in the water, but quite small.  A longboard, patience and you might find something to ride at a spot protected from the winds.  September is only 2 1/2 months away or so.  Cya in the water.

Southwest swell beginning to show

Seeing some 3-4ft at 22-23 second energy at Monterey Buoy and SF Bar.  Swell just starting to show and will fill in today.  Should be some decent size by sunset.  Look for surf through the weekend and typical June weather - warm inland, fog at the coast.  Winds look to remain out of the west through the period, but might be better the further north you go.  The good news for this swell is the wind offshore has been lighter so we wont see as much swell degradation as it moves into our coastal waters.  Cya in the water.  **note - the 2013 tide link is acting wonky this morning so use the NOAA link i've added until they correct the situation.

South Swell mid to late next week

Large storm complex down under has whipped up a decent south swell which should start to show around our shores Wednesday with long period forerunners (25 sec) in the afternoon.  Swell will fill in and trend up on Thursday with deepwater forecast in the 3-4ft range at 20-22 seconds.  Swell holds Friday as period drops into the 18-19 second range - and residual swell still showing Saturday as period drops to 17 seconds.  This swell will probably be on par with the last south a couple weeks back, perhaps a tad bigger.  Much will depend on the northwest winds at the time and if it's shredding all the way down the coast to Pt Conception - expect this swell to come in smaller.  Souths that get a lot of hype rarely live up to it around our part of the world.  There are certain spots that will harness the energy, but even those spots can be very fickle depending on the direction of the swell, tide and wind.  If you've surfed up here a long time, you already know this.  Points further south always fair much better.  Should be impressive when it hits Mexico and So Cal - we will see what we get.  Cya in the water.