In Due Time
SURF:
This past week was a waiting game. Waiting for the water and weather to clean up and not waiting too long for the swell to drop. The past couple of days have had clean conditions and water, but minimal surf. That's going to the story this weekend unfortunately as high pressure is shutting out our storm window.
We did though have a couple little storms in the N and S Pacific a few days ago, so look for best spots to be waist high. Bam! And here's the tides, sun, and water temps for the next few days:
- Sunrise and sunset for the weekend:
- 6:44 AM sunrise
- 4:45 PM sunset
- Water temps are now high 50's. Welcome to winter!
- And high tides this weekend are mellow:
- 3.5' at sunrise
- 1.5' late morning
- and about 3.5' at sunset
FORECAST:
The work week starts out the same unfortunately with small conditions but at least the weather will be nice.
Models do though show activity happening off Japan/below the Aleutians early in the week which would bring good WNW long period groundswell towards the weekend. But until then, get some holiday shopping done.
WEATHER:
Our weather this fall and winter has been feast or famine but it is helping us stay above average. Most spots in the OC coastal strip received over 1.5" of rain while SD floated in the 1" range. The Big Bear region even saw up to 1' of snow, so that was a blessing. For the upcoming weekend and week, high pressure is in control and blocking storms in the Pacific, so we're high, dry, and cold. Models even show the nice weather lasting through year end but anything can change between now and then- so make sure to follow North County Surf on Twitter!
BEST BET:
Nothing until late next week unfortunately. And that's IF the anticipated storms develop in the Pacific early next week.
NEWS OF THE WEEK:
Good to see whitecaps and wet weather early last week. Now we're back to glassy conditions and no surf to go along with it. So until then, let's enjoy...
THIS WEEKEND IN WEATHER HISTORY!
1967: A period of snow began on 12/13 and ended on 12/19. The entire period of snow brought 50 inches to Mt. Laguna, 38 inches in Idyllwild, two feet to Palomar Mountain, and 12 to 18 inches to the higher elevations. One freezing death resulted, numerous schools and highways were closed, transportation was disrupted and there were power outages.
1970: A series of storms brought heavy rain and snow to the region starting 12/17 and ending on 12/22. 7.03 inches of precipitation was recorded in Palomar Mountain, 6.93 inches in Lytle Creek, 6.35 inches in Lake Arrowhead, 5.38 inches in Idyllwild, 4.72 inches in Big Bear Lake, 2.81 inches in San Bernardino, 2.67 inches in Santa Ana, 2.27 inches in Riverside, and 1.84 inches in San Diego. Several roads were flooded and washed out in the northern Inland Empire, exacerbated by the extensive burn areas from earlier in the fall. Snowfall amounts were 32 inches in Idyllwild, 28 inches in Big Bear Lake, 26 inches in Palomar Mountain, and 24 inches in Lake Arrowhead
2008: A snowstorm of a magnitude that hadn't occurred since 1979 descended on the mountains and high deserts from 12/15 to 12/18. Impressive snow totals include 54 inches at Big Bear, almost 36 inches at Wrightwood, 20 inches at Pinon Hills, and 16 inches at Hesperia, Idyllwild and Julian.
2010: A very wet period began on this day and continued through 12/22 as strong westerly flow across the Pacific tapped a pool of deep subtropical moisture near Hawaii, resulting in days of moderate to heavy rainfall. Four to 12 inches of rain fell in the coastal and valley areas over six days, 12 to 28 inches in the mountains, up to nine inches in the high desert and less than four inches in the lower desert. Major landslides and flash flooding impacted the communities of Laguna Beach, Apple Valley, along the Whitewater Channel in the Coachella Valley near Palm Springs, Highland, Corona, Loma Linda, La Jolla, and the city of San Diego from 12/21 to 12/22. Qualcomm Stadium was flooded, but was miraculously drained and prepared for the Poinsettia Bowl held there on 12/23. Heavy wet snow accumulated above 6500 feet with amounts over six inches and as much as two feet above 7500 feet.
December 16th:
1987: Snow fell for two minutes at Malibu Beach. A foot of snow fell in the mountains north and east of LA. Disneyland was closed due to the weather for only the second time in 24 years. Other theme parks were closed. I-5 and I-15 were closed on stretches through the mountains stranding motorists in the Southland. Numerous accidents killed a few people. Heavy rain hit San Diego County on this day. And 24 inches of snow fell in Julian on 12/16-17 and 9 inches of snow fell at Mt. Laguna.
1988: A strong Pacific storm brought two inches of rain in six hours during the early morning at Mt. Wilson and a storm total of more than 3.5 inches.
2004: Strong offshore winds sustained 51 mph with gusts to 78 mph at Fremont Canyon on December 16th. Gusts reached 69 mph northwest of San Bernardino and 66 mph near Pine Valley. Big rigs were blown over, closing a freeway for a short time. Trees and powerlines were knocked down. The top of a 65-foot Christmas tree at the Victoria Gardens shopping complex in Rancho Cucamonga was snapped off by the winds.
December 17th:
1987: 2.01 inches of rain fell in Oceanside, 2 inches in El Cajon and La Mesa, 1.97 inches in National City, 1.85 inches in Poway, and 1.73 inches at Montgomery Field. Minor flooding occurred in Mission Valley. All schools were cancelled in the mountains of San Diego County.
December 18th:
1984: A major snowstorm that started on this day and ended on 12/19 brought up to 16 inches to the mountains and upper deserts, including 13 inches to Lancaster. Edwards AFB and Interstate 5 (from Castaic to the San Joaquin Valley) were both closed. Freezing fog followed the snow, coating local vegetation with ice.
THIS WEEKEND IN WEATHER HISTORY!
1967: A period of snow began on 12/13 and ended on 12/19. The entire period of snow brought 50 inches to Mt. Laguna, 38 inches in Idyllwild, two feet to Palomar Mountain, and 12 to 18 inches to the higher elevations. One freezing death resulted, numerous schools and highways were closed, transportation was disrupted and there were power outages.
1970: A series of storms brought heavy rain and snow to the region starting 12/17 and ending on 12/22. 7.03 inches of precipitation was recorded in Palomar Mountain, 6.93 inches in Lytle Creek, 6.35 inches in Lake Arrowhead, 5.38 inches in Idyllwild, 4.72 inches in Big Bear Lake, 2.81 inches in San Bernardino, 2.67 inches in Santa Ana, 2.27 inches in Riverside, and 1.84 inches in San Diego. Several roads were flooded and washed out in the northern Inland Empire, exacerbated by the extensive burn areas from earlier in the fall. Snowfall amounts were 32 inches in Idyllwild, 28 inches in Big Bear Lake, 26 inches in Palomar Mountain, and 24 inches in Lake Arrowhead
2008: A snowstorm of a magnitude that hadn't occurred since 1979 descended on the mountains and high deserts from 12/15 to 12/18. Impressive snow totals include 54 inches at Big Bear, almost 36 inches at Wrightwood, 20 inches at Pinon Hills, and 16 inches at Hesperia, Idyllwild and Julian.
2010: A very wet period began on this day and continued through 12/22 as strong westerly flow across the Pacific tapped a pool of deep subtropical moisture near Hawaii, resulting in days of moderate to heavy rainfall. Four to 12 inches of rain fell in the coastal and valley areas over six days, 12 to 28 inches in the mountains, up to nine inches in the high desert and less than four inches in the lower desert. Major landslides and flash flooding impacted the communities of Laguna Beach, Apple Valley, along the Whitewater Channel in the Coachella Valley near Palm Springs, Highland, Corona, Loma Linda, La Jolla, and the city of San Diego from 12/21 to 12/22. Qualcomm Stadium was flooded, but was miraculously drained and prepared for the Poinsettia Bowl held there on 12/23. Heavy wet snow accumulated above 6500 feet with amounts over six inches and as much as two feet above 7500 feet.
December 16th:
1987: Snow fell for two minutes at Malibu Beach. A foot of snow fell in the mountains north and east of LA. Disneyland was closed due to the weather for only the second time in 24 years. Other theme parks were closed. I-5 and I-15 were closed on stretches through the mountains stranding motorists in the Southland. Numerous accidents killed a few people. Heavy rain hit San Diego County on this day. And 24 inches of snow fell in Julian on 12/16-17 and 9 inches of snow fell at Mt. Laguna.
1988: A strong Pacific storm brought two inches of rain in six hours during the early morning at Mt. Wilson and a storm total of more than 3.5 inches.
2004: Strong offshore winds sustained 51 mph with gusts to 78 mph at Fremont Canyon on December 16th. Gusts reached 69 mph northwest of San Bernardino and 66 mph near Pine Valley. Big rigs were blown over, closing a freeway for a short time. Trees and powerlines were knocked down. The top of a 65-foot Christmas tree at the Victoria Gardens shopping complex in Rancho Cucamonga was snapped off by the winds.
December 17th:
1987: 2.01 inches of rain fell in Oceanside, 2 inches in El Cajon and La Mesa, 1.97 inches in National City, 1.85 inches in Poway, and 1.73 inches at Montgomery Field. Minor flooding occurred in Mission Valley. All schools were cancelled in the mountains of San Diego County.
December 18th:
1984: A major snowstorm that started on this day and ended on 12/19 brought up to 16 inches to the mountains and upper deserts, including 13 inches to Lancaster. Edwards AFB and Interstate 5 (from Castaic to the San Joaquin Valley) were both closed. Freezing fog followed the snow, coating local vegetation with ice.
PIC OF THE WEEK:
Today's Pic of the Week was really hard to find an image of. Namely, it's still heavily localized to this day and is a LOT of work to snag one due to the current. If you know where this spot is, then you know. And if you don't, it's probably best to stick to Beacons on a Wavestorm.
Keep Surfing,
Michael W. Glenn
Perceptive
Messi > Mbappe
If There Really Is A Santa, Then He'll Bring Me A 5'4" Machado Mashup
