Swell Approaching

Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008 | We have a good deal of NW ground and wind swell along the coast. Bigger NW ground swell will hit the coast this weekend. Small to moderate surf is in the forecast next week, but it looks like we just might see a significant southern hemi SW swell on the 27th. Condition-wise, a weird weather and wind pattern has setup across the region, but the weekend is looking nice. Next week though weather will shift, and we’ll be dealing with a tidal swing next week as well.

Right now, the California Buoy is checking in at 11 feet with 14-second periods. Closer to the coast, the San Francisco buoy is at 10 feet with 15-second periods, the Monterey buoy is at 14 feet with 16-second periods, the Cape San Martin buoy is at 16 feet with 14-second periods, and the Pt. Conception buoy is at 14 feet with 16-second periods.

Overall, NW ground swell periods are averaging 14-16 seconds from 300 degrees, and NW wind swell is running 11 seconds from 310.

In SoCal, direct west facing breaks are seeing sets running head high to a couple feet overhead. Direct south facing breaks are running waist to at times chest high, but SW exposed spots are doing better. Note that due to the angle of the incoming swell, island blockage is affecting the OC region today where size is smaller.

Northern California and the Central Coast are seeing sets with face heights running 14-17 feet at direct west facing breaks, well overhead at south facing spots picking up the wrap.

The tide isn’t too much of an issue now, but we will see another radical tidal swing starting this weekend, swinging quite widely early next week…[http://www.wetsand.com/swellwatch/report.asp?locationid=1&tabid=0&subtabid=0&catid=295&subcatid=0&SPLTabID=350“target=”_blank”>more]

Water temps are averaging 57 degrees in San Diego, 57 in Orange County, 56 in LA, 56 in Ventura County, 56 in Santa Barbara, 55 along the Central Coast and 53 degrees in NCal…[http://www.wetsand.com/swellwatch/report.asp?locationid=1&tabid=0&subtabid=0&catid=295&subcatid=0&SPLTabID=350“target=”_blank”>more]

Winds at 7:00 this morning were all over the map with NE winds gusting to 20+ around VC and parts of LA, calmly offshore in OC, but SW to 20 in SD. This weird wind pattern is the result of an inside slider gone bad, taking a more westerly trek than usual. Since the low has tracked off the coast a bit, not only will winds be iffy today, but so will the weather with rain chances in the forecast for some areas. On Friday, the…[http://www.wetsand.com/swellwatch/report.asp?locationid=1&tabid=0&subtabid=0&catid=295&subcatid=0&SPLTabID=350“target=”_blank”>more]

Significant NW swell this weekend…[http://www.wetsand.com/swellwatch/report.asp?locationid=1&tabid=0&subtabid=0&catid=295&subcatid=0&SPLTabID=350“target=”_blank”>more]

Smaller surf next week…[http://www.wetsand.com/swellwatch/report.asp?locationid=1&tabid=0&subtabid=0&catid=295&subcatid=0&SPLTabID=350“target=”_blank”>more]

Weather shifts next week…[http://www.wetsand.com/swellwatch/report.asp?locationid=1&tabid=0&subtabid=0&catid=295&subcatid=0&SPLTabID=350“target=”_blank”>more]

Tracking potentially significant southern hemi SW swell for 27th…[http://www.wetsand.com/swellwatch/report.asp?locationid=1&tabid=0&subtabid=0&catid=295&subcatid=0&SPLTabID=350“target=”_blank”>more]