Tuesday, April 24, 2007 | Today we have a good deal of NW ground swell along the California coast with some southern hemi SW, fair weather, mild winds, and a receding AM tide. Some bigger NW swell is due late Wednesday into Thursday, and it looks like we’re still on track for that significant SW’er on the 4th-5th.
Right now, the California Buoy is checking in at 9 feet with 20-second periods, showing some of the forerunners of the late Wednesday into Thursday swell. Closer to the coast, the buoys are showing today’s ground swell with the Half Moon Bay buoy at 10 feet with 14-second periods, and the Cape San Martin buoy is at 7 feet with 16-second periods.
Overall, the predominant swell energy in the water shows NW periods averaging 14 seconds from 290 degrees, and SW from 220 with 14-second periods.
In SoCal, wave heights are running chest to head high at most west facing breaks, overhead at times at standouts. South facing breaks are running chest high, bigger though at dual exposure spots.
Northern California and the Central Coast are seeing sets running DOH around west facing breaks, chest to head high at south facing spots.
The tide is recuperating back to more normal levels and will even out further as the week progresses. The tide is receding though throughout the AM hours to near-zero lows around lunchtime…[more]
Water temperatures are averaging 58 degrees in San Diego, 57 in Orange County, 56 in LA, 55 in Ventura County, 53 in Santa Barbara, 53 along the Central Coast and 50 degrees in NCal.
Winds as of 8:00 this morning were light and variable most everywhere with a light offshore element. Afternoon onshores are expected to reach 15 mph. On Wednesday, the ridge of high pressure blessing us with clear skies and a light offshore flow will…[more]
Substantial NW by Thursday…[more]
Tracking potentially potent SW’er for 4th-5th…[more]