Good news and bad news and some bad news.
SURF:
Man was the wind a blowin' yesterday! Felt like Vancouver around here. Don't know how Peter Devries does it. Anyway, wind was blowing over 30 mph at the coast and we've got a little break in the action this morning. Thank gawd.
Were left with shoulder high sets from the NW (and head high+ in SD) but it's still pretty disorganized. That's the good news. Bad news is that high pressure hasn't taken control yet and we'll have more NW winds this afternoon (albeit a lot lighter) AND the swell peaked last night. For Saturday things are finally clean around here but the surf drops to the chest high set range. By Sunday it's pretty small up and down the coast. Basically a fun start to the weekend then it gets boring.
Tides the next few days are an incredible 7' at breakfast and -2' at sunset. Seriously- two extreme tides and that's it. Pick your sessions wisely! And water temps- with all the NW wind blowing unfortunately- are 55 degrees. And did I mention air temps for the dawn patrol are in the mid-30's?! Don't know how Peter Devries does it. Make sure to keep up to date on the waves/weather at
Twitter/North County Surf.
FORECAST:
I hope you're not complaining about the NW windswell today because that's basically all your gettin' next week. Things kind of go quiet for us with no swells aimed at us for the work week. Not sure what to tell you here other than it's going to be flat. Weather is going to be great (more on that below) but the surf is going to be flat. Sure would be nice to have a wave pool right about now (more on that below).
Charts do show some activity in the Aleutians towards the end of next week- so maybe some surf late next weekend-
and the southern hemi models actually show a blip on the radar- but until then- work takes precedence around here!
WEATHER:
It's January, so that must mean we're in the middle of winter. The big wind storm yesterday is going to leave some freezing temps in it's wake. Looks like this weekend we'll have highs only in the mid-50's and lows (gasp) in the mid-30's. Don't know how Peter Devries does it. High pressure builds Monday and we get a week 'Santa Ana' offshore wind event Tuesday. And no surf to greet it. Awesome. Temps rebound slightly to the low 60's next week. All in all some sunny cool weather next week.
BEST BET:
Saturday- good weather finally (cold though) and leftover fun NW windswell. Considering next week is going to be flat, Saturday is a no brainer for 'Best Bet'.
NEWS OF THE WEEK:
Finally some good news about whales. Looks like the busy shipping lanes off the California coast, including routes that cross three national marine sanctuaries, will be adjusted to protect endangered whales from ship strikes. Last month, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which governs shipping worldwide, announced it adopted three proposals deemed necessary to improve navigational safety and to reduce ship strikes on the approach to San Francisco Bay, the Santa Barbara Channel and the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Vessels in these areas also travel through NOAA's Cordell Bank, Gulf of the Farallones and Channel Islands national marine sanctuaries where blue, humpback and fin whales feed and congregate. "This is a win-win situation, backed by NOAA research, that allows for enhanced protection of endangered whales and natural resources while at the same time increasing maritime safety," said William J. Douros, west coast regional director of NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. "We are pleased with the shipping industry and the IMO's decision to support the proposed amendments." "The collaboration between NOAA and the Coast Guard in reviewing and modifying these vessel traffic separation schemes demonstrates the strong working relationship between our two agencies," said Rear Admiral Karl Schultz, Eleventh Coast Guard district commander. "The modifications to the traffic lanes balance the safe and efficient flow of commerce within and between our nation's ports, with NOAA's goal of reducing whale strikes from vessels." Slow-moving whales are highly vulnerable to ship strikes, since many of their feeding and migration areas overlap with shipping lanes. In 2007, four whales (all blue whales) were killed by confirmed or likely ship strikes in and around the Santa Barbara Channel. In 2010, five whales (two blue, one humpback, and two fin whales) were killed by confirmed or likely ship strikes in the San Francisco area and elsewhere along the north-central California coast. Extending the three lanes in the approach to San Francisco Bay is expected to reduce interactions between ships and whales within Cordell Bank and Gulf of the Farallones national marine sanctuaries. According to the IMO decision, the lane extensions will improve maritime safety in the area by keeping vessels on a dedicated route through prime fishing grounds, which will reduce interaction between fishing vessels and commercial ships. The proposed vessel lane changes in the Santa Barbara Channel and Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary narrow the overall width of the existing lanes and shift the southbound lane one nautical mile north. This change will move vessels away from an area used by feeding blue and humpback whales. The vessel lane changes are anticipated to take effect in 2013. Blue, humpback and fin whales are protected by the Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act and National Marine Sanctuaries Act. In 2007, NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries worked to shift shipping lanes in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, off the coast of Massachusetts. This modification now protects endangered whales in the sanctuary and has reduced the risk of ships striking whales by 81 percent.
BEST OF THE BLOG:
When pro surfing was getting stale back in the late 80's, who came along and saved it? Kelly Slater, that's who! When old guys were retiring to longboards, eggs, and SUP's, who came along and showed 40 is the new 30? Kelly Slater, that's who! And now that the line ups are congested with too many surfers, who we gonna call to save us? Ghostbusters! No! Kelly Slater, that's who! Check out the North County Surf blog for the latest developments on his wave pool technology and his pitch to investors. And of course a mid-week Surf Check and an in-depth THE Surf Report - all of that and more in the blog below!
PIC OF THE WEEK:
This is what the surf reminds me of today. Don't know how Peter Devries does it.
Keep Surfing,
Michael W. Glenn
Shepherd
Cooperstown Snub
Wearing My Rip Curl 7/6/5 Z-Bomb This Weekend
