Doldrums.
SURF:
Had some fun NW early in the week and great conditions. Then a storm came down the coast yesterday with sort of an inland track and gave us some odd N windswell and variable winds. It was either strong NE offshore winds where you were or strong N winds blowing the swell to bits. Today we have lighter winds with smaller N windswell . Most beaches around town are waist high to chest high with bigger sets in south SD and clean conditions. The winds are forecasted to pick up again today but not as strong as yesterday. Hopefully the storm will settle on a better track as it exits the region and give all of southern California light offshore winds. Looks like another odd inland storm is headed down the coast tomorrow and winds may be variable again. No rain from this system- just clear cool and slightly less breezy conditions. Winds may be variable again like the storm yesterday so some sessions up and down the coast will have good winds, others not so good. At least the storm generating these winds will also bump up the surf a little bit from the NW on Saturday evening/Sunday morning.
Tides have finally settled down after the crazy 9’ tide swings last weekend. Tides are about 3’ at sunrise, 2’ at 10am, 3.5’ at 3pm, and back down to 2’ at sunset. Water temps are in the high 50’s. Keep up to date on the waves and weather at North County Surf/Twitter.
FORECAST:
Then the doldrums set in. After a little NW this weekend we’ve got really really really flat conditions for next week. I mean really flat. We’re supposed to be working or at school anyway, so I guess it’s time to put the head down and power out some paperwork before the holiday break. We’ve got some storms on the charts from the NW
and
SW but both swells won’t show up until next weekend. Nothing more to say unfortunately, there’s just nothing out there coming our way in the short term. Bummer!
WEATHER:
Nice day today with light winds as low pressure exits the region. We’ve got another storm headed our way tomorrow with an inland track so look for breezy conditions from the NNE (not as strong as yesterday) and cool clear conditions. High pressure sets up after that and we’ve got cool fall conditions next week. Another weak storm is on the charts for the second half of the weak and it’s too early unfortunately to see if this will be wet and/or windy. Most likely look for the sun to go away towards Thursday and be replaced by clouds and wind with showers.
BEST BET:
Probably today with nice conditions and left over NW swell. Or maybe Sunday morning with more of the same. Definitely not next week with flat conditions on the horizon…NEWS OF THE WEEK:
With global warming rapidly affecting the world, NOAA has been monitoring the changes and this week put out a report on the Arctic region. An international team of scientists who monitor the rapid changes in the Earth’s northern polar region say that the Arctic is entering a new state – one with warmer air and water temperatures, less summer sea ice and snow cover, and a changed ocean chemistry. This shift is also causing changes in the region’s life, both on land and in the sea, including less habitat for polar bears and walruses, but increased access to feeding areas for whales. Changes to the Arctic are chronicled annually in the Arctic Report Card, which was released today. The report is prepared by an international team of scientists from 14 different countries. “This report, by a team of 121 scientists from around the globe, concludes that the Arctic region continues to warm, with less sea ice and greater green vegetation,” said Monica Medina, NOAA principal deputy under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere. “With a greener and warmer Arctic, more development is likely. Reports like this one help us to prepare for increasing demands on Arctic resources so that better decisions can be made about how to manage and protect these more valuable and increasingly available resources.”Among the 2011 highlights (or lowlights) are:
•Atmosphere: In 2011, the average annual near-surface air temperatures over much of the Arctic Ocean were approximately 2.5° F (1.5° C) greater than the 1981-2010 baseline period.
•Sea ice: Minimum Arctic sea ice area in September 2011 was the second lowest recorded by satellite since 1979.
•Ocean: Arctic Ocean temperature and salinity may be stabilizing after a period of warming and freshening. Acidification of sea water (“ocean acidification”) as a result of carbon dioxide absorption has also been documented in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas.
•Land: Arctic tundra vegetation continues to increase and is associated with higher air temperatures over most of the Arctic land mass.
So with the warming of the Arctic, is it finally time for surf exploration up there? Is this the new British Columbia? Maybe we can convince O’Neill to throw down some cash for their next Coldwater event up there…
BEST OF THE BLOG:
PIC OF THE WEEK:
When the weather and water turns cold, west coast guys rush to Hawaii to brush off the cobwebs during winter swells. For the east coast, Puerto Rico is the go to spot. With warm water also, heaps of solid surf from cold fronts coming off the U.S. mainland, and a quick flight from Miami, it definitely has its rewards for taking a Christmas break in the tropics. Leave the snow to Santa, I’ll take warm water barrels on my 6’8” over any holiday.
Keep Surfing,
Michael W. Glenn
UnchainedRepublican Presidential Nominee- Might As Well
On the 1st Surfer Mag Cover
