SURF:
Couple little waves this week from the NW/SW. Far north county SD and the OC had some head high combo sets. The weather was a little suspect as the beaches some days didn't completely clear out.
Today we have more of the same as we have continuing NW windswell and some new small SW groundswell fliling in later. Sets are chest high in SD and inconsistent in the OC. Saturday looks to be the same- with maybe slightly better clearing at the beaches and Sunday looks pretty small- about waist high+ from the SW- sorry all you dads. All in all it's rideable for a groveller but when are we going to get some real waves again and break out the 6'6" rounded pin?
FORECAST:
After the little weekend swells it's looking pretty small out there- just no real storms to spark up any surf. Models show a slight bump from the NW windswell on Wednesday but that's only going to be waist high+ in SD.
WEATHER:
BEST BET:
A little more NW today for SD but more SW tomorrow for the OC. Since the weather may be slightly better tomorrow, I have to give the edge to Saturday.
NEWS OF THE WEEK:
After the devastating earthquake in Japan back in March 2011, coastal cities in California have been racing to get themselves 'Tsunami Ready'. Ok, not really racing as an article this week in the San Diego Union Tribune points out. Only 3 coastal cities in San Diego so far (Imperial Beach, Coranado, and Imperial Beach) are prepared to face a tsunami and it's after effects. (And for those of you in Orange County- kudos- all of your towns are up to par). So what gives with the SD beach towns? Here's the lowdow from the UT: Newly released federal documents show 158 communities in California are at risk from tsunamis — by far the most in the country — and fewer than one in seven at-risk areas nationwide has been verified as adequately prepared by NOAA. In San Diego County, only Coronado, Imperial Beach and San Diego city make the cut as “TsunamiReady,” according to the latest assessment published online by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. That leaves lots of local beachfront that hasn’t been certified as having what the agency considers adequate measures in place such as emergency operations support, backup warning systems and a tsunami-response plan. Participation in the TsunamiReady program is voluntary — and it will wither if NOAA ends its financial support as planned, according to Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, or PEER. The group on Monday released documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act that showed 767 communities nationwide deemed at risk of tsunamis with about eight new ones being recognized as TsunamiReady each year. Federal documents project that just three communities a year will join the program if NOAA follows through with a proposal to eliminate funding of about $4 million a year. “We have only made a dent in preparing our at-risk communities for minimizing tsunami impacts. Instead of doing more, NOAA is retreating,” said Jeff Ruch, executive director of PEER. “This makes as much sense as eliminating school fire drills to reduce overhead.” Tsunamis are rare in San Diego County. The county’s emergency management office said the most significant remote tsunami to hit Southern California was in 1960. That’s when an 8.6-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Chile generated a tsunami resulting in 4-foot waves at Santa Monica and Port Hueneme, and caused major damage to the Los Angeles and Long Beach harbors. Since 1800, only four locally generated tsunamis have been observed in Southern California, according to the county. The most significant was in 1812 in Santa Barbara and Ventura County. Waves were reported at 6 to 10 feet high, and several small buildings were damaged and many ships were destroyed.
BEST OF THE BLOG:
Roundabouts in Encinitas streets have been popping up the past few years- with more to come- but why? Is there any financial benefit besides wanting to looking like Europe? The North County Surf Blog has the low down. And Carlsbad's newest residence- WCT surfer Josh Kerr- goes big around town in the Clip of the Day. And of course the North County Surf blog's got the mid-week Surf Check and a more detailed THE Surf Report. All of that and more at www.northcountysurf.blogspot.com!
PIC OF THE WEEK:
One of the world's most crowded waves when it's on, but well worth the hassle. Even with that notoriously shallow reef on the inside. Like Turtle says "When the wave breaks here- don't be there". Check out more amazing shots from arguably the world's best surf photographer, Aaron Chang.
Keep Surfing,
Michael W. Glenn
Ultramasculine
Truckmaster
'86 Triple Crown Champ (of Wavepools- Tempe, Irvine, Allentown)
