END OF JUNE - UPDATED FORECAST

Had a pretty nice run of south swell since late last week.  That event is winding down with some left overs today at 2ft @14 from 190.   Northwest winds will be on the rise and stay elevated through the weekend.  North windswell will develop and be largest north of the Bay.   Background southwest swells will come in through the end of the week - waist to maybe shoulder high at the best summer breaks.   Spots protected from the northwest wind will be the call all week long and into the holiday.  Cya in the water.

UPDATED FORECAST - JUNE 19

Not much change anticipated over the coming week, but we will see some pulses of back to back small southwest swells in the water, with the first one slated to arrive late today, followed by two others throughout the period.   Nothing epic mind you, small, probably waist to chest high at times at the best facing south breaks.   Windswell will continue and winds will ramp up to near gale force again as the week goes, with high pressure in the Pacific interacting with low pressure over land.   Know your spots and you'll probably find something to ride - keep your expectations in check.   Cya in the water.

UPDATED FORECAST JUNE 5

North winds all weekend have dropped water temps back to 49.   Unorganized windswell in the water - 7-10ft depending on location.   Southwest swell continues through Thursday this week, but really only showing a south facing spots protected from the winds.  We have a solid chance of rain coming this week - unseasonable for June - Thursday into Friday.   Look for the most rain Sonoma County and points north as a fairly strong late season storm comes ashore.   The official end of the rainy season is June 30 with new season starting July 1, so it is quite rare to get an organized system this late into the year.   Take what you can get this week, waves round to ride if you know where to look.   Cya in the water.

Few Boards for Sale.....

If anyone is interested, selling a couple boards:
6.6 Hypto Crypto with fins - $250.00 - thruster, round pin - great condition.
6.6 Fowler Fountain of Youth with fins - $250.00 - squash tail, thruster, great board to gravel in small waves and goes solid in bigger surf.   Also in great condition.
email me at bnovick@me.com

UPDATED FORECAST 5-16

You'll notice my reports getting a bit stretched out.  It's spring in Nor Cal - so not much to report.   Winds are blowing from the west/northwest and a storm system is diving down from BC that will bring rain to far northwest CA and maybe some showers are far south as Sonoma/Marin late today.   Windswell is our primary source of waves and looks to stay that way through the week.  Looking ahead we might see a better run of south swells as we start the month of June.   Until then, get what you can when you have an opportunity.   Should be enough windswell around to get wet somewhere. Cya in the water.

UPDATED FORECAST 5-8

As noted this morning by the SF NOAA forecaster - Bodega Buoy reporting water temp of 47 degrees (almost hit 46) - coldest since June of 2013.  All the wind over the past weekend has the upwelling machine in full motion.   Nothing that exciting on tap this week - mid range windswell and northwest swell thru the period - winds will continue to blow over the outer and northern waters all week - lightest day looks Thursday - nearshore winds harder to forecast so might be worth a look through the week.  Could also be a good week to get some work done too.   Cya in the water.

MAY 1 - UPDATED FORECAST

Northwest winds continue to blow over outer waters this am - but near shore, winds are light and variable.   This has been the pattern the past few days.   Forecast calls for very warm temps and offshore winds mid week - with those winds making it to the coast - will see if that materializes.  We have a small southwest swell in the water today (1.6 at 18 sec) and north windswell continuing.  The evolution this week of waves and weather goes like this:   new pulse of southwest swell fills in Thursday and peaks Friday.   Deepwater swell is forecast at 3ft from 195-200.   At the same time, a storm system in the Gulf of Alaska is going to develop and kick up a northwest swell event which by Friday is forecast to be running 8-10ft.    There will be slight chance of showers late in the week into the weekend, and northwest winds will pick up strongly after that low pressure system ejects off to the east.    Winds are going to be highly variable all week - so check it.   Should be something to ride each day at the right spots.   Cya in the water.

UPDATED FORECAST - END OF APRIL

It would appear that the record breaking winter of 2017 is finally over, high pressure, specifically the spring/summer East Pacific High Pressure ridge has arrived and should keep the storm track well to the north for extended period.   Could still see a chance of rain during the month of May, but climatology doesn't favor much.   Along with the high, north to northwest winds have been blowing the past few days and will continue to do so - especially over the outer waters and far northern waters.   As a result, SST's (water temps) have dropped to 50 at Bodega Buoy and 49 at San Francisco Buoy.   So if you like cold water and junky windswell this weekend is certainly your time to hit it.   Pretty much look for winds and short period windswell through next week.   Windwell will be 7-10ft at 8, 9,10 seconds.   Good times.   Cya in the water.  

UPDATED FORECAST 4-22, SOUTHWEST SWELL

SW swell in the water this am - 3-4ft at 17-18 seconds from 195.   Small north swell continues as well.   Winds are generally east or non existent as a weak front is moving through Northwest CA - actually bringing rain north of Jenner at present.   Crazy swing from the great day yesterday.  Winds will most likely pick up behind the front tonight and tomorrow and west swell will increase back to 9-10 ft at 14 seconds and that swell will pretty much hold through Monday, back off some Tuesday and then increase again on Wednesday as the Pacific remains very active for this late in the season with more rain forecast on Monday/Tuesday - heavy rain in fact far north, with much less around the Bay Area.   Southern Hemisphere season has started at this point and is also pretty active.   The current sw swell will probably be lost in the more dominant energy tomorrow, however spots that like swells from that direction will be fun.   Check the winds - plenty to ride for the coming week.   Cya in the water.  

UPDATED FORECAST - EASTER WEEKEND

With this past week's storms Nor Cal just broke the all time wettest season on record surpassing 1982-83 (which was a strong El Nino event).   The eight station recording index now shows a cumulative total of over 90 inches of rain for the year.   Surf wise, not bad to start today, winds are light northeast and surf is overhead at west/north facing breaks.   North swell is 5-7ft at 10 sec, very small background SSW swell in the water too - but mostly lost under the northern energy.   There is a new northwest swell filling in today - deepwater should stay in the 6-7ft at 14 sec range.  Winds will turn south overnight as the first in a series of weaker storm systems comes ashore bringing more rain. Easter Sunday should feature south winds - swell 4-6ft at 15 with rain becoming likely during the day.  Two more systems slated to come through until next Wednesday, then high pressure will build once again.   Winds don't look that heavy for the first part of the week - fluctuating between south and west as systems come and go.   Check the winds and you'll probably find a spot to ride.   Swell will stay in the small to medium size range through the period.  Cya in the water.

JANUARY IN APRIL - UPDATED FORECAST

More rain today as another short wave pinwheels at the bottom of a low pressure trough located in the Gulf of AK - brief high pressure should build later today - into tomorrow, but another spoke of energy is going to rotate in on Sunday - best chance rain North Bay.   Another break and then models are hinting at another very significant storm mid to late week - like the system that came through a few days ago bringing high winds, heavy rain and very large swell.  Surf is 11ft at 12 sec from 300.   Winds are west/southwest and water temps 50 degrees in the Bay Area - colder further north.   Might not be a surf day unless you like the junk.   Not seeing a real break in winds over the next week - will fluctuate between south/southwest as systems come through and then northwest behind front passage.   Plenty of swell on tap as more swell trains will move through the waters.   Check the winds each day and you'll probably find spots to ride.   Climate models are saying La Nina is over and El Nino is already starting to show signs of coming back to life for next winter.   I'm not sure what that is going to look like, given we are about to break the all time record for wet weather (1982-83) during a season that i don't think any of the experts predicted would happen.   Cya in the water.  

UPDATED FORECAST 3-29

Strong northwest winds are blowing this AM after passage of a cold front overnight which dropped some rain throughout the region.   High pressure in control now through the weekend and likely beyond with strong northwest winds forecast.   Decent size swell is in the water and will build through the weekend - 10-13ft on Saturday, 15-18ft on Sunday, fading some on Monday.   Spots protected from the northwest winds will obviously be cleaner.   Anything facing west/northwest will be shredded from the wind.   Water temps will likely begin to cool off with the never ending spring time winds that are setting up.   Long range models still hinting at more rain late next week will see if that comes to pass.   The region is just shy of the all time rainfall record from the 82-83' Super El Nino - we need about 5 more inches to surpass that.   The current rainy season doesn't end until Jun 30.   Cya in the water.  

UPDATED FORECAST 3-26

Last week of March.   Chance of rain later today (it's raining further north) and then overnight this system will exit giving way to northwest winds on Monday and northwest swell 9ft at 11 seconds.  Expect swell size to continue at 9-11ft with short periods pretty much through next Friday, along with northwest winds 15-25kts most of next week - getting stronger late week as we are seeing the Pacific High start to set up for Spring.   Could see a minor system brush the region mid week with chance of rain, beyond that - dry weather will prevail.   Spots protected from the northwest wind will be your best shot at anything clean and rideable.   Cya in the water.

UPDATED FORECAST 3-17

Storm door opens this weekend with rain on and off forecast through next Friday.   Strongest storm of the cycle will be next Thursday to Friday.   Looking for mainly south to southwest winds through the period as well with small to mid size west/northwest swells propagating through our waters.   Should be waves to ride - just check the winds.   Winter is not done with us yet.  Cya in the water.  

MARCH 11, UPDATED FORECAST

Spring ahead tonight and set your clocks forward.   Winds are light near shore at the moment but that will change later as northwest winds are blowing offshore around 15-18kts.   Steep angled swell - 5-7ft at 10 seconds from 315.   Looking a lot like spring.   Small west to northwest swell forecast through the period at 4-6ft 10-12 seconds along with northwest winds pretty much through next Wednesday.   Winds might be lighter for AM sessions - doubtful for PM sessions.   Next chance of rain might be mid week - north of Marin - but the North Pacific Spring High Pressure is looking to set up and might put an end to what has been a very historic rainy season in CA.   Cya in the water.

MARCH 1ST

Generally nice conditions expected through Friday with lighter morning winds and small west to northwest swells.  While northwest winds will blow over the outside waters, AM sessions like this morning should feature northeast to offshore winds, although a small change in the pressure gradient could bring the northwest winds closer to shore.   Afternoons will for sure see an increase in winds.  Swell should stay around 5-7ft through Saturday.   The high pressure ridge will begin to break down by the weekend with rain returning to the north early in the weekend and through the Bay Area by Sunday.   Longer range models continue to show a wet pattern returning for next week.  So get these nice days while you can.  As we are starting March, you can generally expect an uptick in northwest winds in general as we move through the month and the East Pacific high tries to establish itself for spring/summer.   Remains to be seen when that happens and I think we could be in for a fairly wet spring given the winter we've had.  Cya in the water.

UPDATED FORECAST, 2-25, MARCH LOOMS.....

Mid period northwest swell rolling in at 6ft 14 seconds.   Winds are blowing offshore - east to southeast as a storm system off our coast is dropping down from south of Oregon.  Cold rain showers and low elevation snow will be possible over the next 36 hours or so.  South winds will blow tonight giving way to north winds on Sunday.  Thereafter, it will start to look a lot like Spring with northwest winds and smaller northwest swell through next Wednesday.  Swell will hover around 4-6 ft.   March 1st is the official end of the "good" surfing season up here, but I suspect we will plenty of decent days in the weeks ahead as the Pacific isn't done with CA yet.  Cya in the water.

UPDATED FORECAST - 2-18

Northwest winds are howling - big chunky northwest swell/wind swell at around 12-14ft with 11-12 second intervals.  Winds may drop down some tomorrow but another very strong storm will be knocking on our door late Sunday, south winds will ramp with heavy rain through Tuesday.   Looking beyond the next 4-5 days - might see high pressure re-establish itself around next Wednesday or Thursday.  We are moving towards March 1, the traditional end of the "good" wave season up here and the start of northwest winds and diminishing swell.  However, this has been anything but a normal winter and we could be in for a very wet spring and more swell than usual.  In the meantime - always spots along the coast to ride no matter what the wind and swell is doing - as well as how desperate one might be to get wet (i happen to be very desperate for surf today, so i'll probably hit it somewhere).   Cya in the water.

UPDATED FORECAST 2-13

Few more days of dry weather until the next cycle of winter storms slams into California.  Fairly light winds and small/mid size surf as well.  Look for the winds to pick up from the south/southeast through the day on Wednesday.  Then it stays unsettled through early next week.  Get it while you can.

UPDATED FORECAST 2-7

No surf for you this week.   Storms lined up across the Pacific will continue through Friday.  The weekend looks like we might dry out - northwest winds and good size swell so certain spots will work.   Until then, get some work done.