I 
L.A.
SURF:
Let's be honest; this just isn't our summer around here. The past 2 months (if you remove the 4th of July swell) have been pretty meager. And the long range models have been inconsistent to say the least. The past 2 months have shown hope in the long term but as the day gets closer to a storm actually coming to fruition- it fizzles. AND... if the the tropics and southern hemisphere did actually produce a swell, they've been:
- small storms, or...
- due S which isn't the best angle for San Diego or...
- pointed towards South America
So while the OC and L.A. also haven't been all that big, it has been rideable up there. Leaving us just meager waist high+ surf down here. But don't worry- we'll get the last laugh this winter. So until then, embrace mediocrity! So what do we have going on this weekend? Glad you asked! The answer is... just more of the same.
We've got background SW swells from the southern hemisphere on Friday/Saturday for waist high+ surf and models show another small hurricane off Baja forming that may give far north county SD chest high sets and a chance of shoulder high surf in the OC/LA areas late Sunday/Monday. And if you're looking for good news, we've got tropical moisture streaming overhead and warm air temps which will finally make it feel like summer around here. Add in WSW wind (vs. that pesky WNW wind) and our water temps may hit 70 again by Monday. Let's hope. As far as the sun/water temps/tides go, here's what you need to know:
- Sunrise and sunset:
- 6:13 AM sunrise
- 7:33 PM sunset
- As mentioned above, all that WNW wind the past week (as well as lingering clouds at the coast), dropped our water to the mid-60's again, which is a few degrees colder than it should be for mid-August. But if the heat wave this weekend holds, look for 70's in the water early next week.
- And the tides are medium to high this weekend (no negative tides in sight):
- 2' at sunrise
- 4' mid-morning
- 2' after lunch
- 6' at sunset
FORECAST:
Monday's potentially small hurricane swell will fizzle and Tuesday/Wednesday will be tiny again.
More small storms off Antarctica/New Zealand this week though will give us waist high surf with chest high sets late Thursday into the weekend.
There may even be a 3rd hurricane lining up early next week too which could add to the mix late next week- but most likely just for the OC/LA (may need to buy a 2nd house at the Wedge or Malibu. Anyone got a spare $20 million they could float me? After that, it's looking slow again but make sure to check out Twitter/North County Surf if anything changes between now and then.
BEST BET:
Late Sunday/early Monday with a chance of small hurricane swell (if you live in the OC) or later next week with waist to chest high SW swell. Set those alarms!
WEATHER:
High pressure in the SW, along with weaking tropical depression Elida, will send a heat wave and tropical moisture overhead this weekend. Look for temps in the high 70's at the beaches and cool looking sunsets. Due to our colder than normal water temps, fog may return to the beaches on Sunday and linger in the nights/mornings with only partial afternoon clearing next week.
NEWS OF THE WEEK:
Amazing to think that Shark Week on the Discovery Channel is over 30 years old now. So in celebration of our toothy friends, Newsweek has put together some facts you may not know about them...
- Each whale shark's spot pattern is unique as a fingerprint: Though the image of a large, sharp-toothed great white on the poster for Jaws might be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about sharks, they come in many shapes and sizes. Whale sharks, which are the largest species of shark as well as one the largest creatures that live in the ocean measuring around 40 feet long. As is the case with human fingerprints, the spotted patterns on the back of each whale shark are unique. Organizations like the World Wildlife Fund can use this to help identify and keep track of the animals.
- Not all sharks live in salt water: Just like how all sharks don't look the same, they also don't all live in the same environments. While the majority of sharks do live in the ocean, some species prefer fresher water, like bow sharks. But there might be a good reason so many sharks prefer salt water, and it can be found in their livers. Unlike many underwater creatures, sharks do not have swim bladders—which help animals with buoyancy. They do have quite large livers that can help a bit with buoyancy, but scientists have found that the composition of salt water is easier for sharks to float in making it a more obvious choice for where they choose to spend their time.
- Sharks can be pregnant for over three years: Many large animals in the animal kingdom have long gestation periods: Elephants can carry their babies for up to 22 months before giving birth, Walruses for up to 16 months, but some species of sharks will carry their young for over three years. The frilled shark has the longest record and can be pregnant for three-and-a-half years before giving birth.
- Sharks have a sixth sense: We all probably know that sharks have a keen sense of smell, especially if that smell is blood, but what might come as a surprise is that they actually have a sixth sense that picks up electric fields given off by animals in surrounding waters. In fact, they are the best electrical sensors on the planet, having more sensitivity to electricity than measuring equipment built to detect such currents. This is also why sharks are able to hunt in dark or murky water. Scientists are also trying to use this feature to help protect sharks against accidents with fishing equipment by developing a system of magnets that could repel sharks from nets and lines.
- Shark embryos in eggs can sense danger: This supercharged skill doesn't just begin after birth, sharks can start detecting these electrical currents from inside an egg. While some sharks have live births, like humans, some sharks lay eggs. As the shark develops and grows inside of the egg, the bottom of the "mermaid's purse," as the sac is called, opens up so the shark can start getting the nutrients from seawater. But, when the sac opens, it does make the undeveloped animal a bit more vulnerable to surrounding predators, which is when the sixth sense comes in. Scientists say the sense develops after the sac opens, which allows the animal to sense the electricity of a possible predator and freeze themselves to not cause a stir.
- Great white sharks can go weeks without eating: Great white sharks are probably one of the most famous species of sharks—certainly since Jaws. As the name suggests, these animals are quite big, which means they do require a lot of food to survive—though not as much as you might think. They eat around 11 tons of food of year, but considering one of their favorite foods—a sea lion—weighs more than half a ton, they reach that 11-ton mark pretty quickly. In fact, after a large meal, a great white shark can go up to three months without consuming another meal.
- Humans kill sharks far more often than sharks kill humans: In 2019, just two people were killed as the result of a shark attack and the amount of total unprovoked shark attacks was down to 64 from an average of 82. Both fatal shark attacks happened outside of the United States, one near Reunion Island and the other in the Bahamas. The majority of attacks, however, do happen in the U.S. Conversely, humans kill about 100 million sharks per year on average worldwide. The odds of being attacked by a shark and in turn killed by a shark are so slim—you are more likely to be killed by a wasp or dog than you are a shark. With that in mind, though, keep a lookout for shark sightings and always respect local guidelines for swimming at a beach.
- A shark's life span is much longer than previously believed: For years, scientists have estimated that the average life span of sharks is roughly 30 years. The most widely used way of determining a shark's age is by counting bands on the animal's vertebrae. Newer techniques, however, might lead to a more accurate reading on shark's ages. One study found that Greenland sharks can live for more than three centuries. The great white shark and sand sharks are two other species whose life spans have likely been underestimated.
- Sharks are unable to make audible noise: Over 400 species of sharks exist, and not one of them has the ability to make sound—at least an audible one. They do not have the ability to make sound the way humans do, or more relatively, the way whales do. Dory, in Finding Nemo famously claims she can speak whale, which is the sound we all might associate with the sound a whale makes, but there is no such sound associated with a shark.
- Sharks can live in volcanoes: Yup, you read that right. In 2015, scientists discovered sharks swimming around one of the most active underwater volcanoes in the world, which should only really be hospitable to microscopic organisms. They were spotted not long after an eruption which stumped scientists. The volcano, Kavachi, is located near the Solomon Islands in the southwest Pacific ocean. Given the nature of the location, it is hard to study in person so scientists sent down robots to get a closer look. Sharkcano, which is part of Nat Geo's Sharkfest, chronicles scientists' journeys to various underwater volcanoes to study the sharks' behavior further.
New Zealand is approximately the same size as California. BUT...
- There are only 5 million people in New Zealand vs. 40 million in California
- New Zealand has 9,300 miles of coastline vs. 840 miles for California
Now you know why this break is empty. Anyone else want to buy a 1 way ticket to New Zealand with me?
Keep Surfing,
Michael W. Glenn
Knowledgeable
Traded In My Ford Pinto For A Hyperion XP-1
Saw A Shark Bite The Ear Of Mike Tyson
