Surf Check 3/13/12

All kinds of stuff going on this week- some good, some bad. Let's start with today though first. We've got some waist high SW with chest high sets in far north county SD and an odd better set in the OC. There's also a touch of NW but it's pretty N and it's having a hard time wrapping into so-Cal.

Winds are currently calm but will blow W at 10mph this afternoon just like yesterday. It's at least looking rideable and the low clouds should clear out by lunch. Tides are pretty mellow today.

Only 0' at sunrise, 3' at 2pm, and down to 2' at sunset.  The NW backs off tomorrow and the SW continues to build and peaks tomorrow with shoulder high sets in north county SD and head high+ sets in the OC. Once that starts to back off towards Thursday, there's not much surf on Friday except small leftover SW and no real NW to speak of. The weather stays cool too with hazy sunshine in the afternoon and temps in the low 60's.

Then the real fun starts. Check out the weather image above. There's a solid storm bearing down on the state. Currently buoys in the Aleutians are running 30+' at 17 seconds and the Sierras are forecasted to get 4'+ of snow above 7,000 feet this weekend. For us, we'll start to get a slight pick up from the NW on Saturday but the storm will already be upon us and the winds will be blowing from the S around 20mph.

By Saturday night/Sunday morning, expect surf to be in the well overhead range with double overhead+ sets from the NW but complete stormsurf conditions with 30mph W winds and heavy rain. Early rainfall estimates are 1-2". Easily the best storm we've had since last winter. The wind, rain, and surf backs off on Monday but the water will be filthy. Next week things should mellow out. All in all a messy big weekend. Get it tomorrow if you can and batten down the hatches!