Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2006 | We have a light mix of NW wind swell and decreasing SW ground swell along the California coast. NW will be building along the northern coast later today, hitting SoCal on Wednesday. SoCal sees the peak of this system on Thursday, but conditions are questionable then. NW will be hitting the northern coasts again this weekend, but much of this will likely skirt past SoCal coastal waters.
Right now, the California Buoy is checking in at 9 feet with 12-second periods. Closer to the coast, the Half Moon Bay buoy is at 5 feet with 10-second periods and Cape San Martin buoy is at 5 feet with 10-second periods.
The energy on these buoys reflects the NW element of the energy along the coast. The southerly portion has seas running in the 1.7-2.2 foot range.
Overall, the swell energy in the water shows WNW periods averaging 10 seconds from 300 degrees. SW periods are running 14 seconds from 180 degrees.
In SoCal, wave heights are running waist to at times chest high at most south facing breaks. West facing breaks are running waist high.
Northern California and the Central Coast are seeing sets running chest to shoulder high at most west facing breaks. South facing breaks are running waist high. An increase in size is expected by this afternoon, reaching well overhead at west facing breaks before dusk.
The tide is a problem as we’re still well in the midst of a radical tidal swing due to a Full Moon that peaked on Sunday. This spring tide is bringing highs towards the 7 foot range for mid morning sessions, which can tend to slow things down a bit from the increased depth, and cause plenty of irritating backwash waves as well. Note that lows are dipping quite negative as well. Click here for tide tables.
Water temperatures are averaging 63 degrees in San Diego, 63 in Orange County, 64 in LA, 63 in Ventura County, 63 in Santa Barbara, 60 along the Central Coast, and 60 degrees in NCal.
Winds as of 7 this morning were light and variable most everywhere with a light NNE flow. As a trough approaches the west coast this afternoon, gradients will begin trending onshore. This should create onshores in the 10-12 mph range by mid afternoon. On Wednesday, when the NW swell hits the coast, the winds…[more]
NW hits NCal later today, SoCal Wednesday…[more]
NW peaks in SoCal Thursday, but conditions questionable…[more]
Tracking another NW’er for Sunday the 12th…[more]
Tracking south swell for the 17th…[more]