Santa’s bringing barrels for Christmas!!!SURF:
Had some fun NW in the water this week and great weather to boot. Kind of like an early Xmas present. Today we’ve got smaller waist high+ NW in north county SD with chest high sets in south county SD. There’s even some smaller SW in the water and north OC has got chest high sets from the combo swell. South OC is waist high. We’ve got some extreme tides today (and this weekend) so it’s pick and choose today with the big tide swings and smallish surf. And if that wasn’t enough to make your head spin, we’ve got offshore winds again today. Tomorrow morning there’s a little more SW in the water for some inconsistent chest high sets in far north county SD and chest high+ waves in the OC. The Oregon buoys are showing some 20’ surf at 17 seconds this morning and that takes about 36 hours to get to us, so… late Saturday we should see some chest high sets. By Xmas morning SD is in a groove with some head high sets south county and shoulder high sets north county. And the weather is going to be great. Not a bad little Xmas present from Santa. Hopefully Santa is bringing you a new 4/3 as the water temps are freezing at 58 degrees AND the air temps are 40 during the dawn patrol. Feels like surfing the North Pole.
As advertised above, the tides the next few days are pretty crazy: 7.2’ at sunrise, dropping 9’ to -1.8’ at 3pm, and up to 0’ at sunset. Amazing. The surf will really change drastically during the day- make sure to keep up to date on the waves and weather at Twitter/North County Surf.
FORECAST:
After the fun surf on Xmas, we get a reinforcement out of the NW on Monday for more shoulder high sets in north county SD/OC, head high sets in south SD, and waist high waves in south OC. Tuesday starts to drop off and Wednesday looks pretty small. Fortunately for us the NW surf kicks back in in Thursday for more shoulder high surf. After that the charts aren’t looking too pretty and next weekend is looking pretty small. Definitely get some surf the next few days!
WEATHER:
As is typical for a Southern California Xmas, it’s going to be hot, dry, and sunny around here. No chestnuts roasting on an open fire or a white Christmas for us. No way. Just temps in the low 70’s at the beaches, dry offshore winds, and girls in bikinis. Isn’t that what the spirit of Christmas is all about? High pressure is in control and we’ve got offshore winds kicking in again today (strongest in Orange County) and temps headed to the low 70’s. Models are showing this scenario lasting through the weekend then gradually weakening each day. Maybe by next Thursday we could have some dense fog at the beaches as storms take aim at Nor-Cal and we get the tail end of the systems, but that’s a long way off- so just expect nice sunny weather for the foreseeable future.
BEST BET:
I hate to say it, but Xmas is looking like the day. I know, I know, I should be hanging out with the family, sipping eggnog, eating fruitcake, and thanking grandma for the sweater I’m going to donate to the Goodwill on Monday, but heck! There’s going to be a good NW in the water, a smaller but fun SW, and amazing weather with extreme tides making mysto spots pop up! Maybe I can sneak out mid-morning between presents and brunch. Hope grandma doesn’t read THE Surf Report…NEWS OF THE WEEK:
From our friends at the National Weather Service I bring you “On this day in history!”...1995: The San Bernadino Mountains got a foot of snow while the high desert got 8 inches.
1990: A frigid air mass descended all over the West. The high temperature was only 22° at Palomar Mountain, the lowest maximum temperature on record. Doesn’t seem that cold but when you think about it, that’s in Southern California AND the temp never got above freezing all day.
1971: A series of wet storms hit the region during this week starting on 12.22 and ending on 12.28. 19.44 inches fell in Lake Arrowhead, 15.26, 7.49 inches in Palomar Mountain, 4.98 inches in Santa Ana, 2.28 inches in San Diego, and 1.24 inches in Palm Springs. This day marked the start of seven consecutive days (the most on record) of measurable precipitation in Victorville, which ended on 12.28. Imagine it raining for a week straight?! I bet the river mouth sandbars were insane!
1940: A massive storm that started on this day ended on 12.24. 3.62 inches of rain fell in San Diego, starting on this day and ending on 12.24, the greatest 24-hour amount on record. Heavy rains loosened soil in Del Mar that led to a landslide along a train track, derailing the train and killing three.
1891: A period of very cold weather started on this day and ended on 12.30. San Diego pools had ice 1/2 inch thick on the surface and ice one inch thick formed on oranges on trees in Mission Valley.
So on that note, be stoked it’s going to be sunny and 70 degrees this weekend!
BEST OF THE BLOG:
PIC OF THE WEEK:
What did you ask for this Christmas? A new board? A new fullsuit? Maybe some knick-knacks like a leash or board racks? I hate to break it to you, but you’re probably getting some cologne, a tie, or a subscription to Golf Magazine. It’s the thought that counts, right? Well, THE Surf Report has got your back and I just bought you this empty overhead barreling beach break. Don’t remember exactly where it is, but if you find it, Merry Christmas! For more pics of Christmas gifts, check out Nathan Smith’s gallery at TracksMagazine.
Keep Surfing,
Michael W. Glenn
BigwigSanta’s Son
Discovered 12,847 New Surf Spots And Counting
