THE Surf Report

 

SURF:

Great surf this week (and ok conditions) thanks to solid SW swell and typical springtime low clouds. The SW peaked this morning but we'll still have fun chest high surf on Friday (and a touch bigger towards the OC). The fly in the ointment is that we have a weak low pressure system moving by the N so we'll have stronger than usual afternoon sea breeze. 

For the weekend, we'll see less wind and a smaller reinforcing SSW swell for more chest high sets (and a touch bigger again in the OC). No complaints. And here’s the sun, tides, and water temps for the upcoming weekend:

• Sunrise and sunset:
• 6:12 AM sunrise 
• 7:23 PM sunset 

• Water temps are low 60's

• And here's the tides for the weekend:
• about 3' at sunrise
• just over 4' at breakfast
• just above 0' mid-afternoon
• and back up to 4' at sunset

FORECAST:

For Monday, the SSW drops but the NW picks up to keep us in chest high waves. 

Then there's a reinforcing waist to chest high SSW late on Tuesday and holds mid-week. After that, the N and S Pacific take a breather and next weekend looks pretty small. If anything changes between now and then, make sure to follow North County Surf on Twitter.

WEATHER:

The rain has backed off and the April Graypril has returned. As mentioned above, a weak cold front is passing by to the N of us tomorrow and we'll have more low clouds and breezy conditions on Friday. For Saturday and Sunday, the sun returns and the wind backs off for a nice weekend. Another weak cold front moves by to the N of us Monday/Tuesday for more low clouds and then... the 2nd half of next week should be nice. Here's what we have on tap for the next several days:

• Friday: Mostly cloudy and breezy. Temps 65/53.
• Saturday: Sunny and nice. Temps 65/53.
• Sunday: Lots of sun and warmer Temps 70/55.
• Monday/Tuesday: Mostly cloudy. Temps 63/53.
• Wednesday through the week: Mostly sunny and pleasant. 

BEST BET:

• Friday: Leftover SSW but wind may be an issue.
• Saturday/Sunday: Smaller SSW but better cleaner.
• Monday: New small NW and leftover SSW.
• Tuesday: New small SSW late, leftover NW, but suspect conditions.

NEWS OF THE WEEK:

As if we didn't have enough to worry about with our water supply. A new report from UH Manoa states that as sea levels continue to rise, coastal groundwater is lifted closer to the ground surface while also becoming saltier and more corrosive. Awesome. Here are the details:

A recent study by earth scientists at the University of Hawai'i (UH) at Manoa compiled research from experts worldwide showing that in cities where there are complex networks of buried and partially buried infrastructure, interaction with this shallower and saltier groundwater exacerbates corrosion and failure of critical systems such as sewer lines, roadways, and building foundations.

"While it has been recognized that shallowing groundwater will eventually result in chronic flooding as it surfaces, what's less known is that it can start causing problems decades beforehand as groundwater interacts with buried infrastructure," said Shellie Habel, lead author and coastal geologist in the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) at UH Manoa. "This knowledge gap often results in coastal groundwater changes being fully overlooked in infrastructure planning."

The research team aimed to create awareness about these issues and offer guidance from world experts on managing them. Habel and co-authors reviewed existing literature to examine the diverse effects on different types of infrastructure. Additionally, by employing worldwide elevation data and geospatial data that indicate the extent of urban development, they identified 1,546 low-lying coastal cities and towns globally, where around 1.42 billion people live, that are likely experiencing these impacts.

"The IPCC 6th Assessment Report tells us that sea level rise is an unstoppable and irreversible reality for centuries to millennia," said Chip Fletcher, study co-author, interim Dean of SOEST, and director of the Climate Resilience Collaborative (CRC) at UH Manoa. "Now is the time to prepare for the challenges posed by this problem by redesigning our communities for greater resilience and social equity."

Well before the visible effects of surface flooding, sea-level rise pushes up the water table and shifts salty water landward. With this, the subsurface environment becomes more corrosive to critical underground infrastructure networks -- buried drainage and sewage lines can become compromised and mobilize urban contamination, and building foundations can weaken. Extensive research conducted by the CRC has substantiated that critical infrastructure around the world, including drainage and basements, is likely currently experiencing flooding from rising groundwater levels. "The damage caused by sea level rise-influenced coastal groundwater is often concealed and not immediately perceptible," said Habel, who is based at the CRC and Hawai'i Sea Grant in SOEST. "As a result, it tends to be overlooked in infrastructure management and planning efforts."

The study authors emphasize the importance of research efforts that can contribute to informed adaptation strategies. "Being aware of these hidden impacts of sea level rise is of significant importance for the State of Hawai'i due to the concentration of communities situated along low-lying coastal zones where groundwater is generally very shallow," said Habel.

The CRC actively collaborates with partners across the nation and infrastructure managers in Hawai'i to gain a comprehensive assessment of how vital infrastructure, encompassing pipe networks, roadways, and buildings, is impacted. Understanding the impacts and risks associated with sea level rise-influenced coastal groundwater enables more effective management and adaptation.

BEST OF THE BLOG:

We got 2 ways to double your fun this spring!

First up...

The sun is out, spring is here, and we got surf- there's no better time for a Surf Meeting! Come on down to George's (just south of the Chart House in Cardiff) next Friday, April 26th at 8 AM to network, grab a bite before work, learn about our next charity event, and maybe catch a barrel or two. And the best thing- it's free! All you have to do is have a passion for surfing and want to support your community. What could be better on a Friday? Look for the tent as usual and hit up northcountyboardmeeting@gmail.com with any questions!

And secondly...

Just a reminder that our NINTH ANNUAL charity golf tournament- sponsored by Venture LLP- is happening FRIDAY, MAY 17th at... Goat Hill. Where else? This year we'll be benefitting Foster the Earth, an organization dedicated to helping vulnerable children and young adults in the foster care system through exposure to the great outdoors. Cost is just $150 to play (and includes lunch from our friends at Senor Grubby's) and hole sponsorships are $250. It's first come, first serve- so give a shout at northcountyboardmeeting@gmail.com or rich@logicopy.com to reserve your spot. Thank you in advance for your support!

PIC OF THE WEEK:

Looks like the Margaret River WCT event could end up with firing surf on finals day. Make sure to tune in to worldsurfleague.com at 4 PM on Saturday afternoon to watch the world's best (minus myself of course- I'll be at small Grandview if you want to watch me on surfline.com instead). 

Keep Surfing, 
Michael W. Glenn
Medalist
Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential
54 Years Of Age But Surf Like I'm 53

THE Surf Report

 

All Signs Point To YES

SURF:

Beautiful week with just a touch of small SW being broken up with small NW. Today the NW dropped off as the small SW held and the fog picked up from an approaching low pressure system. Friday looks to be the same with breezy conditions. 

For Saturday, the SW picks up to the waist high+ range (chest high in the OC) but showers and breezy weather is on tap. 

Sunday the NW picks up to the chest high range (along with more fun but small SW)- but showers may linger. All in all a touch more surf this weekend- but bumpy conditions. And here’s the sun, tides, and water temps for the upcoming weekend:

• Sunrise and sunset:
• 6:21 AM sunrise 
• 7:18 PM sunset 

• Water temps are 60 +/-

• Tides are MELLOW this weekend:
• about 0' at sunrise
• and up to 3' at sunset

FORECAST:

For Monday, conditions are cleaner as the NW (and smaller SW) peaks with shoulder high sets. For Tuesday, the NW windswell will be pick up late in the day as well as a new good SW for chest high waves. 

And then... I'll be turning on the Emergency Boardriding System on Wednesday as the NW windsweIf peaks and a good SW kicks off the southern hemi season. Look for head high+ surf and clean combo swell lasting into Thursday. We have a smaller, reinforcing SW later in the week to keep us in chest high surf. If anything changes between now and then, make sure to follow North County Surf on Twitter.

WEATHER:

Theres a reason they say 'April showers bring May flowers' because... showers are common in April? Friday is a transition day with low clouds hanging around and winds from the SW in the 15 mph+ range. For Saturday, showers kick in- as well as the wind- for 25 mph gusts. Sunday is a transition day, then the rest of next week is sunny and cool. Here's what we have on tap for the next several days:

• Friday: Mostly cloudy and breezy. Temps 66/54.
• Saturday: Showers and windy. Temps 63/49.
• Sunday: Clearing skies and a stray shower. Temps 60/50.
• Monday through the foreseeable future: Patchy fog in the AM then mostly sunny. Temps 64/52

BEST BET:

• Sunday: Fun combo swell BUT a touch of wind from the departing low pressure system.
• Wednesday/Thursday: Good combo swell and clean conditions.

NEWS OF THE WEEK:

It's long been debated on how our oceans formed. Comets were prime suspects, potentially delivering their icy payloads through impacts, but a new discovery throws a wrench in that theory. This new theory was originally based upon the atmosphere and the ocean accumulated gradually over millions and millions of years with the continual 'degassing' of the Earth's interior.

According to this theory, the ocean formed from the escape of water vapor and other gases from the molten rocks of the Earth to the atmosphere surrounding the cooling planet. After the Earth's surface had cooled to a temperature below the boiling point of water, rain began to fall—and continued to fall for centuries. As the water drained into the great hollows in the Earth's surface, the primeval ocean came into existence. The forces of gravity prevented the water from leaving the planet.

Now imagine though if an ocean vaster than all the water on Earth's surface combined, was hidden over 400 miles beneath our feet. This is the mind-boggling discovery scientists at Northwestern University have unveiled, shaking our understanding of where Earth's water comes from.

Researchers, led by geophysicist Steven Jacobsen, stumbled upon a colossal water reservoir trapped within the Earth's mantle, a scorching hot layer beneath the crust. This hidden ocean, three times the size of its surface counterparts, is cradled within a mineral called ringwoodite.

Scientists deployed a network of 2,000 seismographs across the US, listening to the whispers of the Earth itself. By analyzing the faint tremors from over 500 earthquakes, they noticed a curious slowdown in the seismic waves as they passed through specific regions of the mantle. This slowdown hinted at the presence of water, acting like a sponge within the rock.

This discovery completely rewrites our understanding of Earth's water cycle. It suggests water isn't just a surface phenomenon, but potentially exists within the mantle, migrating through cracks and crevices. Jacobsen emphasises the importance of this reservoir, stating, "Without this internal water source, Earth's surface would likely be a barren landscape, with only mountain peaks peeking out from a vast ocean."

The implications are far-reaching. Scientists are now eager to gather seismic data worldwide to see if this hidden ocean is a global phenomenon. This could revolutionize our understanding of how water moves within our planet, a fundamental process shaping Earth's history and potentially influencing the existence of life.

BEST OF THE BLOG:

Just a reminder that our NINTH ANNUAL charity golf tournament- sponsored by Venture LLP- is happening FRIDAY, MAY 17th at... Goat Hill. Where else? This year we'll be benefitting Foster the Earth, an organization dedicated to helping vulnerable children and young adults in the foster care system through exposure to the great outdoors. Cost is just $150 to play (and includes lunch from our friends at Senor Grubby's) and hole sponsorships are $250. It's first come, first serve- so give a shout at northcountyboardmeeting@gmail.com or rich@logicopy.com to reserve your spot. Thank you in advance for your support!

PIC OF THE WEEK:

Spot the lucky surfer. 

Keep Surfing, 
Michael W. Glenn
Pioneer
Not My First Rodeo
40 Years Of Surfing (April 14th, 1984). I'm Old

THE Surf Report

 

Impatience Is A Virtue

SURF:

Not much surf this past week EXCEPT for that funky day on Saturday. Just when it looked like all hope was lost during the storm, the wind stopped, the surf cleaned up, and there was surprisingly good surf for a short window on Saturday. And then that was it. I'm starting to get impatient. For the upcoming weekend, we may have a similar situation- or we may not- just depends how the storm tonight behaves. 

NW wind/groundswell is filling in off Central CA today and we'll see head high surf on Friday (bigger towards SD)- but who knows how the wind will behave. For Saturday, the skies clear and the surf drops to the chest high range. Sunday is clean and small. And here’s the sun, tides, and water temps for the upcoming weekend:

• Sunrise and sunset:
• 6:29 AM sunrise (paddle out at 6:15?)
• 7:13 PM sunset (paddle in at 7:30)?

• Water temps are 60 if you're lucky. 

• Tides are swinging for the fences this weekend:
• about 4' at sunrise
• up to 5.5' at breakfast
• down to -0.5' mid-afternoon
• and up to 4' again at sunset

FORECAST:

For Monday, a weak cold front moves N of us and will kick up the NW windswell again to the chest high range. 

For late Tuesday, a small SW fills in for waist high waves in north county SD and a touch bigger in the OC. After that, the N Pacific looks to be going into hibernation mode while the S Pacific MAY be coming to life. 

A storm today off Antarctica looks to send chest high sets our way around the 13th from the S while better storms could form in the coming week and send good SW swells around the 17th and 20th. If anything changes between now and then, make sure to follow North County Surf on Twitter.

WEATHER:

A new "storm" is headed our way tonight- but it's nothing like last weekend. Look for a breezy day tomorrow with up to 1/4" of rain (for comparison's sake, last Saturday's storm dropped up to 2" of rain) along with chilly temps (for SD). Saturday is a transition day and Sunday is sunny and cool. Monday has a touch more clouds- then sunny skies are here again for the rest of the week! And here's what we have on tap for the next several days:

• Friday: Breezy with showers. Temps 56/46.
• Saturday: Clearing. Temps 60/45.
• Sunday: Sunny and cool. Temps 60/50.
• Monday: Mostly cloudy. Temps 62/48.
• Tuesday to until forever? Sunny. Temps 71/53.

BEST BET:

• Friday if you can find a clean window as it will be the biggest day in quite awhile.
• Saturday- smaller and cleaner.
• Wednesday with small SW but clean.

NEWS OF THE WEEK:

THIS WEEKEND IN WEATHER HISTORY!

2019:
A storm system brought strong winds to the mountains and deserts. A wind gust of 98 mph was clocked at Burns Canyon.

2012:
A strong cold front moved through the region, bringing strong mountain wave activity to the deserts. Winds gusted as high as 80 mph, resulting in road closures and damage to a few mobile homes.

2010:
Two funnel clouds were observed by the John Wayne Airport. Five funnel clouds were observed by a police helicopter off the coast of Crystal Cove.

2000:
A storm that started on 3/4 and ended on this day brought up to 17 inches of snow in 24 hours to the mountains. 14 inches fell at Forest Falls. Strong thunderstorms produced golf ball size hail at Garden Grove, Santa Ana, and Running Springs. Strong thunderstorm wind gusts measured 60 mph at Huntington Beach. Property was damaged and trees were downed along the coast from Huntington Beach to Sunset Cliffs. 

1995:
Heavy rain that started on 3/5 and ended on this day dropped six inches in 24 hours and 10.34 inches in 48 hours at Idyllwild. 10.52 inches fell in 48 hours at Palomar Mountain. On this day eight inches of rain fell at Palomar Mountain, the third greatest daily amount on record. Floodwaters washed out a stretch of I-5, closing it for over a week. The overall toll from a series of Pacific storms: 27 killed, $3 billion in damage, and 10,000 homes damaged.

1992:
A series of storms that began on 3/1 and ended on 3/7 brought one to four inches of rainfall and local flooding.

1983:
This day marked the end of nine consecutive days (the most on record) of measurable precipitation in San Diego, which started on 2/26. This also occurred on 2/13-21/1980 and 2/5-13/1978. This day marked the end of 11 consecutive days (the most on record) of measurable precipitation in Idyllwild, a streak that started on 2/24. 1968: Heavy rain that began on this day ended on 3/8. One drowning death resulted. There was local flooding and damage to buildings, homes, and schools. Landslides closed several highways.

PIC OF THE WEEK:

It's almost Mainland Mexico time. Can we get The Search 'CT event back?!

Keep Surfing, 
Michael W. Glenn
Healthy, Wealthy, & Wise
No One's Beating UConn
Inventor Of The Tri-Skeg Surfboard

THE Surf Report

 

Welcome Back!

SURF:

Just when you thought winter was over, it pulls you back in. Got quite a mess this weekend- hope you enjoyed the relative calm this past week. Looks like we have a late season storm headed our way tomorrow and it will bring with it waves, wind, and wet weather. Friday starts off with partly cloudy skies and small conditions. 

By the time Saturday rolls around, we've got S wind and heavy rain while the storm surf picks up throughout the day. Sunday has more W wind, showers, and overhead jumbled NW surf. In summary- a stormy weekend with not much surf until Saturday afternoon for the die hards. And here’s the sun, tides, and water temps for the upcoming weekend:

• Sunrise and sunset:
• 6:37 AM sunrise
• 7:09 PM sunset 

• Water temps have dropped slightly to the high 50's.

• And an odd weekend for tides:
• about 1' at sunrise
• down to 0' mid-morning
• and up to 2.5' at sunset

FORECAST:

For next week, the storm exits the region on Monday and we'll leftover head high NW and breezy conditions. Most of next week looks small unfortunately as no real storms are forecasted to generate surf in the northern or southern hemispheres. 

Models though do show more storms off British Columbia late next week which could bring an additional round of showers and NW windswell for next weekend. And charts show the southern hemisphere getting it's act together later next week which could bring us good SW around mid-April. If anything changes between now and then, make sure to follow North County Surf on X/Twitter.

WEATHER:

Nice weather we're having. Too bad that will end this weekend. As mentioned above, a late season winter storm will bring up to 2" of rain this weekend and maybe 18" of snow to Big Bear (can't complain I guess). Most of next week should be sunny- then more showers next weekend? Who knows. And here's what we have on tap for the next several days:

• Friday: Partly sunny. Temps 62/50.
• Saturday: Heavy rain and breezy S winds up to 35 mph. Temps 58/50.
• Sunday: Showers and... windy with gusts to 25 mph. Temps 59/48.
• Monday: Transition day with clearing skies and NW wind. Temps 61/48.
• Tuesday to Thursday: Sunny. Temps high 60's to low 50's
• And showers again next weekend?...

BEST BET:

Really not much to say other than the rainy/windy days will have storm surf and the sunny cleaner days will be small! 

NEWS OF THE WEEK:

Did you know there is an artificial reef at San Onofre? Now before you get too excited and start paddling out, the reef lies half a mile offshore and sites in 40' of water. BUT... it is thriving with fish, and more importantly- kelp. Here's the San Diego Union Tribune with more:

An artificial reef built to offset marine life killed by the seawater cooling system at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station is finally doing its job, now that the power plant has been shut down for more than a decade. The reef is essentially an anchor for giant kelp, which grows tall and thick to create the forests of the sea. A form of brown algae, the kelp reaches from the sea floor to the surface, creating a shady tower of shelter for all kinds of fish, spiny lobsters, sea otters, sea lions, sometimes whales and even birds.

Kelp forests provide a habitat for important commercial species of fish such as black rockfish and kelp bass. The slightly slimy ocean vegetable also is used to make a number of human products including shampoo, toothpaste, pharmaceuticals and food. Scientists knew early on that the nuclear power plant’s cooling system would stir up the ocean and degrade nearby kelp beds. They also knew it would vacuum up small fish. However, it took them years of study and collaboration to determine the full effects, design a plan to compensate for that loss, and tailor the plan for the desired results.

The Wheeler North Reef project met its required performance standards for things such as kelp growth and fish production for the first time during the past three years, according to the California Coastal Commission. Now the reef just needs to keep up the good work for an additional 27 years. The nuclear power plant, often called SONGS, shut down in 2013 after defects were found in its replacement steam generators. The commission requires the plant’s operator, Southern California Edison, to assure that the reef continues its contributions to sea life for as long as the plant operated, a total of 32 years. “It’s great to see this work moving forward ... to meet these restoration goals within these habitats,” said Commissioner Justin Cummings at this month’s Coastal Commission meeting.

The reef is named for Wheeler J. North, a marine biologist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the California Institute of Technology. North, who died in 2002, was noted for his studies of California’s coastal kelp forests. His namesake reef is north of the power plant, a half-mile offshore and from 38 feet to 50 feet deep, extending 2.5 miles from San Mateo Point to the San Clemente Pier. It’s built entirely of rock mined from a quarry and pushed off a barge into the ocean.

As a result of the reef’s recent success, this month the commission unanimously approved a program to reduce monitoring, which will save the utility time and money. Instead of monitoring a total of 233 locations across the reef, the utility will be required to check only 166 locations beginning this year. “A lot of time and effort went into determining what the reduction would look like,” said Commission Executive Director Kate Huckelbridge. “Time and cost were factors ... but also that we would still have confidence in the results.”

A representative of the Surfrider Foundation said that perhaps it is too soon to scale back oversight. “This reef failed to meet performance standards for over 10 years,” said Mandy Sackett, senior California policy manager for the nonprofit Surfrider Foundation. “As of 2018, it had never met the standing fish stock requirement, despite the plant being in operation for decades,” she said. “We are grateful to see that the recent reef expansion has significantly increased the amount of times that the reef has met performance requirements, yet we feel strongly that the decades of insufficient performance would indicate a need for continued monitoring at the original frequency, at least in regard to fish stock assessments,” Sackett said.

Commission officials said they are confident that the reduced monitoring will be adequate and that it will be returned to former levels if any problems are found. “There is a lot of confidence that the reduced monitoring is going to be adequate to meet the permit conditions,” said Dan Reed, a research biologist at the University of California Santa Barbara’s Marine Research Institute. UC Santa Barbara’s Marine Research Institute is employed as the reef’s independent observer by the Coastal Commission with funding from Edison. Reed has been working on the project since 1993.

Construction of the reef was required by the California Coastal Commission in 1991 to offset the power plant’s effects on the marine environment. The commission also mandated the installation of additional barriers on the plant’s cooling system to reduce the amount of fish killed by the plant’s cooling system and the restoration of 150 acres of Southern California wetlands. Scientists found that as much as 65 tons of small fish and other sea life were killed every year when they were pulled into the cooling system’s 18-foot-wide underwater intakes. The plant used 2.4 billion gallons of seawater daily to cool its steam generators.

Also, when the warm water was returned to the ocean, even though it exited through many holes in a long outlet pipe, the resulting current stirred up sediment and clouded the water. The silt covered and killed marine plants and bottom-dwelling creatures. In its heyday, San Onofre produced electricity consumed across Southern California, including 20 percent of the juice used by San Diego Gas & Electric Co. customers.

SDG&E ratepayers also took on a 20 percent share of the costs of building the power plant, its mitigation projects including the reef and the restoration of the San Dieguito Lagoon in Del Mar, and now the ongoing demolition of the defunct power plant. Another ongoing cost to ratepayers and taxpayers is the expense of storing spent nuclear fuel at San Onofre. All of the fuel used since the 1980s remains on the site, packed into dry casks and parked at the edge of the ocean.

Initially, the Coastal Commission required a 150-acre reef to be built of low-lying boulders in the ocean north of the power plant near San Clemente First, plant operator Southern California Edison built a 23-acre experimental reef and monitored it for five years, Then, based on the results obtained from the experimental reef, Edison completed an additional 152 acres of reef in 2008.

However, the larger reef failed to produce the expected amount of fish, based on estimates of fish populations before the plant was built and compared to two similar natural reefs nearby. As a result, the commission required Edison to build an additional 193 acres, creating what Edison and the State Lands Commission say at a total of 373 acres in all is the largest artificial reef in the world.

Completion of the reef expansion in 2021 finally brought the thriving seaweed beds and fish families that the commission had been seeking for 30 years Divers collect data from specific locations, known as transects, to monitor the reef’s production. That data is compared to data for two natural reefs nearby in the region, but outside the influence of the power plant.

Each transect measures 3 meters wide, 15 meters long, and 1.5 meters up from the bottom. Initially, the transects were marked with cables anchored into the rock, but today divers use GPS coordinates to find them. “We dive a lot,” said Reed, of the Marine Research Institute, in a recent telephone interview. Two boats with six to eight divers visit the reef for about four days a week from the end of May through the end of October every year, he said.

“We basically just count fish and kelp, for the most part,” he said. However, some of the information needed requires the divers to collect the fish, mainly samples of five key species, and take them to a lab to be autopsied. Studies of the samples’ guts, gonads and eggs help determine how much the fish eat and reproduce. A close look at their ears determines age.

“The growth rate can be seen in ear rings, which add a layer of bone each year, much like tree rings,” Reed said. With the information collected the past three years, along with the previous cumulative results, the reef has met its production standards for a total of five years, according to the commission. Now it needs 27 additional years of continued satisfactory marine life production to meet the commission’s requirement.

After the results are achieved, the reef probably will remain in place, Reed said. No further monitoring will be required under Edison’s permit from the commission. “To me, it’s a success,” he said. “We get giant seabass through there ... weighing 400 to 500 pounds, white sharks. It’s a functioning reef.”

The area is completely open to the public, he said. During lobster season, it’s one of the most popular spots for lobster fishing along the Southern California coast. Well beneath the waves, the reef is only affected by the underwater tidal surge and currents. The rocks were placed in an area of relatively shallow sand supported by a hard substrate, so the reef is unlikely to sink into the ocean bottom. Sometimes ocean currents cover small areas with sand, but they also uncover other areas.

Edison does a sonar survey every five years to measure the actual coverage of the reef, Reed said. “It’s really about what it was when we put it in,” he said. “It hasn’t changed much at all.” The revised monitoring program should significantly reduce the time needed for diving and lab work, he said. The team will continue to report the reef’s status annually to the commission.

PIC OF THE WEEK:

Beacons going OFF this morning. Too bad the trail is still closed.

Keep Surfing, 
Michael W. Glenn
Cultured
Had A Blast This Year At MTV's Spring Break!
Been Called The Evel Knievel Of Surfing

THE Surf Report

 

Doesn't Get More Spring Than This.

SURF:

Spring is officially here! All we need now is solid combo swells to really kick off the season. This week wasn't bad though with fun NW and better than expected SW mixing it up. Most NW and SW beaches had rideable surf- along with some odd weather. We're back though to cool temps, coastal low clouds, and maybe some spring showers this weekend (more on that below). For the surf though, we had peaking NW/SW today so Friday will be a touch smaller with sets in the chest high range. For Saturday, the SW will be a shell of its former- which doesn't matter since a storm will be moving into the region. Look for small conditions, gusty SW winds, and rain. 

Sunday has messy overhead NW swell and lingering showers. Long story short- Friday will be clean, Saturday flat and windy, and solid Sunday but windy again. And here’s the sun, tides, and water temps for the upcoming weekend:

• Sunrise and sunset:
• 6:46 AM sunrise
• 7:04 PM sunset 
• We have more than 12 hours of sun finally! Know why? Spring of course (more on that below in the News of the Week).

• Unlike 2023, with no strong NW wind (yet), our water temps are a pleasant 62 +/-. Time to put away the 4/3? Jinx!

•  And tides are starting to fluctuate again this weekend- but not too bad:
• about 3' at sunrise
• up to 5' mid-morening
• down to 0' late afternoon
• and back up to 3' at sunset

FORECAST:

For next week, Monday is cleaner with leftover NW and head high surf. Tuesday/Wednesday drop to the waist to chest range before our next expected storm rolls through. 

Thursday sees building overhead NW again- but with windy/rainy conditions. Then charts show ANOTHER cold front next weekend? As far as the southern hemisphere goes- nothing of importance- yet. If anything changes between now and then, make sure to follow North County Surf on Twitter.

WEATHER:

As mentioned above- lots of spring type storms lined up in the near future. Not a ton of rain- but windy and consistent. Look for rain this weekend, rain later next week, and maybe rain again late next weekend. And here's what we have on tap for the next several days:

• Friday: Partly sunny. Temps 60/50.
• Saturday/Sunday: Showers/breezy. Temps 58/48.
• Monday to Wednesday: Sunny. Temps low 60's to low 50's.
• And long range charts show a chance of showers or rain late in the week and maybe again late next weekend. 

BEST BET:

Friday with smaller but cleaner combo swell. Or Monday with leftover head high NW and cleaner conditions. And later next week is a roll of the dice!

NEWS OF THE WEEK:

The Vernal Equinox is here! The Vernal Equinox is here! Hurray!

What the heck is the Vernal Equinox? We'll it's the official start of spring of course, which occurred at 11:06 PM on March 19th with the first full day being March 20th. Every year the earth goes once around the Sun; that is, after all, the definition of a year. The earth spins on its axis, and the axis happens to be tilted about 23.5 degrees relative to earth's orbital plane. As a result, sometimes the northern hemisphere is tilted toward the sun and sometimes the southern hemisphere tilts toward the sun. The change isn't severe, but it is enough to cause the seasons. When the north is tilting toward the sun we generally experience warmer weather in the north. When the south is tilted toward the sun then the southern hemisphere generally experiences the warmer weather. (The actual distance from the earth to the sun is not the cause of the seasons. People in the north sometimes find it hard to believe that during the northern winter, the earth is actually a little closer to the sun than it is during the northern summer.) As the earth revolves around the sun there are two moments (not whole days) of the year when the sun is exactly above the equator. At these times neither pole tilts toward the sun. These moments are called "equinoxes". One occurs in March as the northern hemisphere starts to tilt toward the sun. In the north, that equinox is called the "vernal, or spring equinox", the beginning of spring.

The other, in September, is the autumnal equinox and is the first day of fall (autumn). In the southern hemisphere, the March equinox is autumnal, and the September equinox is vernal. Around the time of either equinox [equal-night] the daylight period of the day is close to the same length of time as the night time period. The term Vernal Equinox has another meaning in astronomy. It refers to the point in the heavens which is the location of the sun at the moment of the northern vernal equinox. This point is useful as an astronomical marker, but because of something called 'precession' it moves very slowly. At one time this point was called the "First Point of Aries", because it was located just over the boundary of the constellation Aries. So what does spring really mean for us? Well we should see the storm track start to lift with storms producing just showers from fast moving fronts- not steady rain (like this weekeend). With the fast moving fronts and lifting storm track, expect less NW groundswells and more WNW windswells (ugh). The southern hemi also starts to kick into gear and the best SW of the seasons will occur. Our El Nino is also waning so expect temps to be cool in the atmosphere and in our waters. So crack a cold one this weekend out of respect for the Vernal Equinox.

And in case you're wondering, here's San Diego sunrises and sunsets during the equinoxes & solstices:

• Spring: Roughly March 20th: 6:58 AM, 6:58 PM. 12 hours of sunlight and darkness
• Summer: June 20th: 5:40 AM, 8:00 PM. Almost 14.5 hours of sunlight but only 9.5 hours of darkness.: 12 hours of sunlight and darkness.
• Winter: December 20th: 6:50 AM, 4:50 PM. Only 10 hours of daylight but 14 hours of darkness.

BEST OF THE BLOG:

SAVE THE DATE(S)! 

As a reminder, the North County Board Meeting will be hob nobbing it at the beautiful Alila Marea Beach Resort in Leucadia next week on March 28th. Looking to network with like minded individuals? Want to give back to your community? Want to learn more about this amazing hotel? Want to talk a little surf over a cold one? Done, done, done and DONE. Come join us at 5:30 PM sharp to get an exclusive behind the scenes look at this highly touted hotel. Don't be late though as you won't be able to find us once we get moving on this sprawling property. Sponsored by our good friend Andrew Becht from Acrisure, meet your fellow surfers to make some new connections, learn about the Alila brand, and finish it off with a bite and refreshments. 

And mark your calendars- our NINTH ANNUAL charity golf tournament is happening FRIDAY, MAY 17TH at... of course it's at Goat Hill. Where else? This year we'll be benefitting Foster the Earth, an organization dedicated to helping vulnerable children and young adults in the foster care system through exposure to the great outdoors. Cost is just $150 to play (and includes lunch from our friends at Senor Grubby's) and hole sponsorships are $250. It's first come, first serve as usual- so hit me up ASAP to reserve your spot (and thank you to everyone that has already reached out to play and sponsorships)!

PIC OF THE WEEK:

It's time to play... "HOW. DID. THEY. DO. THAT?!"

Our first contestant today is a secretive island in the N Atlantic. Look closely at the point in the foreground- you'll notice roughly half a dozen surfers. The million dollar question today is... how did they get out to the line up?! The beach is steep and there's no road, so that's out of the question. They could have walked on the 'beach' but it's full of boulders, so forget that idea. Maybe a boat (but there are none anchored). Which leaves... a paddle from the jetty roughly half a mile away? I guess that wave is worth it. 

Keep Surfing, 
Michael W. Glenn
Masterful
Go Aztecs
World's Foremost Expert In Everything Surf Related