C'mon Genevieve!
SURF:
Was pretty fired up on the chest high surf this week. First 'big' swell in 6 weeks! Looks like that S swell though is peaking today so if you want to surf anything that looks semi-rideable, get on it Friday morning before it's gone. We should also have a small waist high boost from the NW on Friday so that will help out.
Saturday looks pretty small then we get another small waist high boost from the NW on Sunday and MAYBE waist high swell from former Major Hurricane Genevieve (and bigger in the OC). Genevieve last week looked promising on the forecast models but she ended up hugging the Mexican coast the past few days and never got in our swell window. It's been so small around here though that I'll take what I can get. On a more positive note, the lack of wind the past few days and partly sunny skies has resulted in water temps from 75-77. If this keeps up, we may see water temps hitting 80 next week? So we've got that going for us. And here's some numbers to crunch on:
- Sunrise and sunset:
- 6:17 AM sunrise
- 7:27 PM sunset
- Water temps as mentioned above are mid-70's. Seems like decades ago that the water temps were 60 (actually, it was 3 weeks ago). FYI- our warmest water temps of the year usually occur from mid-August to September 1st, so expect a cool down in a couple weeks that will most likely last until mid-February.
- And the tides this weekend are all over the place so plan your session accordingly:
- 0' at sunrise
- 5.5' at lunch
- 1.5' at sunset
FORECAST:
Still no major activity off Antarctica (it's late season anyway) or the Aleutians (it's early season anyway) but we did have a small storm off New Zealand a few days ago that will send more waist to chest high surf to our beaches starting late Tuesday (along with small NW windswell) that lasts into Thursday. The forecast charts are also showing some life off Mainland Mexico next week so there's a small chance we see more tropical swell late next week. But I wouldn't put much stock into it since we haven't seen a hurricane swell yet this year (or maybe we're overdue)? Make sure to check out Twitter/North County Surf if anything changes between now and then.
BEST BET:
Friday with small SW/NW combo. Sunday with small S/NW combo. Or next Wednesday/Thursday with slightly better SW.
WEATHER:
Typical late summer weather around here with lots of humidity, hot temperatures, thunderstorms in our deserts/mountains, and stubborn fog/haze at the beaches. It's been so hot in fact, that Death Valley on Sunday may have hit an all time high- for anywhere in the world. That's just plain scary. As reported last month in THE Surf Report, the highest temperature ever recorded on Earth was also observed in Death Valley — 134 degrees Fahrenheit in 1913. However, many experts contend that temperature reading, along with various other temperatures recorded that summer, was likely an observer error. A 2016 analysis by Weather Underground historian Christopher Burt revealed that other observations from the region in 1913 simply do not square with the Death Valley reading. Because of the unique landscape and meteorology, the daily readings from the various observation sites in that area of the desert Southwest are almost always in lockstep with each other. But during the week the all-time record was set in 1913, while other sites were around 8 degrees above normal, the Death Valley readings were 18 degrees above normal. In 1931, a record-high temperature for Africa was recorded in Tunisia at 131 degrees. However, according to Burt, this recording, and many others in Africa from the colonial period, has "serious credibility issues." Because of these discrepancies, experts say the hottest temperature ever "reliably" recorded on Earth is 129.2 degrees, from 2013 in Death Valley. That is, until now. Assuming no abnormalities are apparent, Sunday's reading of 130 degrees will likely be accepted. It seems the reading is not suspect, but if there is reason for skepticism, the National Weather Service or World Meteorological Society may choose to conduct a review.
So on that note... Death Valley is in the middle of a 7 day streak where the daily high could reach at least 125 degrees (hopefully ending by Friday). And if that's not enough, the low temps are around 98-100 degrees. That's the LOW temp. Wow. As far as out beach temperatures go, it's been humid as heck but at least the daily temps have been in the high 70's. And due to all the humidity and ocean temps around 75, our lows at night only drop 3-4 degrees to 70-72. Never seen that before. One of the downsides to the extreme heat in the deserts (besides the whole heat stroke thing), is that our fog is getting pulled inland in response to the rising air and sticking around at the beaches (really shouldn't complain). The high pressure may shift this weekend, along the clouds to break up at the beaches earlier for more sun. That's IF... Hurricane Geneieve doesn't break apart and send her clouds our way over the weekend. If she does, look for less fog but more tropical clouds overhead. So many things going on...
NEWS OF THE WEEK:
Sharks as you know live in a variety of water temps- from the frigid waters off South Africa, to our temperate waters here in Southern California, and of course the numerous warm water reef sharks from Hawaii to Reunion Island. But just how bad ass are sharks when it comes to hot water? Can they actually live next to an active volcano? A recent study by Professor Michael Heithaus from Florida International University seems to think so. Here's what he found:
There are a lot of places scientists would expect to find sharks in the ocean. Inside the bubbling cavern of an active marine volcano definitely isn’t one of them. Nevertheless, when researchers began studying the Kavachi volcano in the Solomon Islands with underwater cameras that’s exactly what they found. A whole bunch of sharks of various species had flocked to the volcano despite a recent eruption. Seemingly unbothered by the fact that ultra-hot liquid rock was flowing just beneath them, the sharks seemed perfectly at home. But why? Since that discovery in 2015, researchers have been trying to answer that very question.
The underwater volcano is very active, and eruptions are common. With that in mind, you’d think it would be a pretty dangerous place for sharks to congregate. Scientists have suggested that the animals have adapted to this strange environment thanks in large part to a special feature of their bodies called the ampullae of Lorenzini. One theory is that a collection of pores near the sharks’ snout that may allow them to sense changes in Earth’s magnetic field, which could give them an early warning that the volcano is about to erupt and allow them to zip away to a safe distance.
“It looked like the sharks in the volcano were used to dealing with eruptions,” Professor Michael Heithaus, who has been studying the sharks for several years. “You would think it’s dangerous but studies have shown us they can detect approaching hurricanes and cyclones, so they may be able to detect when something bad is about to happen and move out of the way.” But why exactly are the sharks attracted to the volcano in the first place? That’s a question that has yet to be answered, though there are a few solid theories floating around.
“Extreme environments are something they can clearly handle; whether it’s a volcano or surviving thousands of feet underwater,” Professor Heithaus explains. “It’s really not yet known why they are there. It could be something to do with reproduction, or who knows what else is living in there. Maybe they’re just sniffing out a meal.” The idea that the sharks would choose the area as a hunting ground does make a good bit of sense since fishermen would likely avoid the active volcano, allowing prey fish to flourish nearby and giving the sharks plenty to eat. Or maybe they just like living in a sauna.
“It looked like the sharks in the volcano were used to dealing with eruptions,” Professor Michael Heithaus, who has been studying the sharks for several years. “You would think it’s dangerous but studies have shown us they can detect approaching hurricanes and cyclones, so they may be able to detect when something bad is about to happen and move out of the way.” But why exactly are the sharks attracted to the volcano in the first place? That’s a question that has yet to be answered, though there are a few solid theories floating around.
“Extreme environments are something they can clearly handle; whether it’s a volcano or surviving thousands of feet underwater,” Professor Heithaus explains. “It’s really not yet known why they are there. It could be something to do with reproduction, or who knows what else is living in there. Maybe they’re just sniffing out a meal.” The idea that the sharks would choose the area as a hunting ground does make a good bit of sense since fishermen would likely avoid the active volcano, allowing prey fish to flourish nearby and giving the sharks plenty to eat. Or maybe they just like living in a sauna.
BEST OF THE BLOG:
2020 got you down? Wish you were traveling more? Tired of looking at the same 4 walls during quarantine? Looking to help a good cause? If you answered yes to any of those questions, have I got a solution for you: Introducing F Stop Blues, a collection of canvas images from father and son photographers Michael and Alex Glenn. Our prints are meant to inspire; if you've never visited these locales, we hope these images lighten up your home, office, or wherever you want to be once this whole virus thing is over.
Alex Glenn got into photography at an early age and always carried a camera with him on family trips. As Alex got older, he got more serious about photography and so did his equipment. But when most kids graduate high school and ask themselves 'What is the meaning of life?'; Alex asked 'What am I going to do with all these photos'?! I saw an opportunity for him through a real world experience: how to be an entrepreneur, and F Stop Blues was born. As Alex continues his college education and studies photography, he'll also be overseeing operations for F Stop Blues and turning his dream into reality. Thanks for the support and we hope you enjoy these canvas prints in your home and office as much as we did capturing these photos.
PIC OF THE WEEK:
Sheesh! Why are you so angry looking? What did I ever do to you besides overfishing, Exxon Valdez oil spill, Great Pacific Garbage Patch, dirty storm runoff, Fukushima nuclear disaster... Forget I asked. Sorry.
Keep Surfing,
Michael W. Glenn
Handsome If I Say So Myself
Really Looking Forward To 2021
You Should Surf With Doc Renneker And Myself. I Mean, He's Been WSL Big Wave Champion For 3 Years Running And I'm No Slouch Myself
