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Pacific Storm and Surf Forecast
Updated: Tuesday, April 28, 2020 5:53 PM
Buoys: Northern CA - Southern CA - Hawaii - Gulf of Alaska - Pacific Northwest
Buoy Forecast:
Northern CA - Southern CA - Hawaii - Gulf of Alaska - Pacific Northwest
Pacific Links:  Atmospheric Models - Buoy Data - Current Weather - Wave Models
Forecast Archives: Enter Here
A chronology of recent Mavericks Underground forecasts. Once you enter, just click on the HTML file forecast you want to review (e.g. 073199.html equals July 31, 1999). To view the maps that correspond to that forecast date, select the html file labeled 073199 maps.html
1.5 - California & 1.2 - Hawaii
Using the 'Summer' Scale
(See Swell Category Table link at bottom of page)

Probability for presence of largest swells in near-shore waters of NCal, SCal or Hawaii.    

Issued for Week of Monday 4/27 thru Sun 5/3

Swell Potential Rating Categories
5 = Good probability for 3 or more days of Significant swell
4 = Good probability for 1-2 days of Significant swell
3 = Good probability for 3 or more days of Intermediate/Advanced swell
2 = Good probability for  1-2 days of
Intermediate/Advanced swell
1 = Good probability for 3 or more days of Impulse or Windswell
0 = Low probability for 1-2 days of Impulse or Windswell   

Another Gale Building in Gulf
Gale Forecast for SE Pacific

BUOY ROUNDUP
On Tuesday, April 28, 2020 :

  • Buoy 233 (Pearl Harbor Entrance)/Buoy 239 (Lanai): Seas were 2.0 ft @ 14.3 secs with swell 0.8 ft @ 14.4 secs from 172 degrees.
  • Buoy 106 (Waimea): Seas were 4.2 ft @ 6.2 secs with swell 3.2 ft @ 6.1 secs from 62 degrees. Water temp 76.8 degs.
  • Buoy 46025 (Catalina RDG): Seas were 3.0 ft @ 12.8 secs with swell 2.0 ft @ 13.4 secs from 249 degrees. Wind at the buoy was east at 6-10 kts. Water temperature 62.8 degs. At Harvest Buoy (071) primary swell was 4.3 ft @ 11.0 secs from 298 degrees. At Santa Monica (028) swell was 1.3 ft @ 15.0 secs from 200 degrees. At Oceanside (045) swell was 1.8 ft @ 12.4 secs from 203 degrees. Southward at Point Loma (191) swell was 2.6 ft @ 11.8 secs from 253 degrees.
  • Buoy 46012 (Half Moon Bay)/029 (Pt Reyes): Seas were 8.9 ft @ 11.8 secs with swell 5.8 ft @ 9.8 secs from 289 degrees. Wind at the buoy (012) was northwest at 16-20 kts. Water temp 49.8 degs (013), 52.7 degs (012) and 56.8 degs (042).

See Hi-Res Buoy Dashboards (bottom of the page)

Swell Classification Guidelines

Significant: Winter - Swell 8 ft @ 14 secs or greater (11+ ft faces) for 8+ hours (greater than double overhead).
Summer
- Head high or better.
Advanced: Winter - Swell and period combination capable of generating faces 1.5 times overhead to double overhead (7-10 ft)
Summer - Chest to head high.
Intermediate/Utility Class: Winter - Swell and period combination generating faces at head high to 1.5 times overhead (4-7 ft).
Summer
- Waist to chest high.
Impulse/Windswell: Winter - Swell and period combination generating faces up to head high (1-4 ft) or anything with a period less than 11 secs.
Summer
- up to waist high swell. Also called 'Background' swell.

Surf Heights for Hawaii should be consider 'Hawaiian Scale' if period exceeds 14 secs.

PACIFIC OVERVIEW
Current Conditions
On Tuesday (4/28) in North and Central CA local windswell was producing waves at chest to head high and pretty warbled and mushed and nearly whitecapped early. Protected breaks were waist to maybe chest chest high and warbled and soft and mushy but fairly clean with a fog deck up 200 ft or so. All parking lots closed. At Santa Cruz waves were head high or so and lined up at top breaks and clean but soft coming from the northwest. In Southern California/Ventura waves were coming form the northwest at shoulder to head high on the sets and fairly clean but soft and warbled and foggy. In North Orange Co waves were shoulder to head high coming from the south with some modest south winds on it. Orange Country's best summertime breaks were waist high and clean and peeling but soft on the occasional sets. Beaches were closed. North San Diego was waist high on the sets and clean and peeling but also borderline closed out. Some beaches were open but not all. Hawaii's North Shore was flat and fairly clean. The South Shore was maybe up to thigh high and clean and weak. The East Shore was getting thigh high easterly windswell and moderately chopped from northeast trades.

See QuikCASTs for the 5 day surf overview or read below for the detailed view.

Meteorological Overview
On Tuesday (4/28) in California local windswell was making for marginally rideable waves at select breaks. In Hawaii no swell of interest was hitting. Looking forward a small gale developed off Vancouver Island on Sun (4/26) producing 18 ft seas aimed east. Windswell from that system is hitting North Ca now but mixed with local windswell. And another gale developed north of Hawaii on Mon (4/27) and is tracking east-northeast today producing 25 ft seas targeting the US West Coast well. After that perhaps another low pressure system is to develop again well north of Hawaii on Wed (4/29) tracking east, fading only to redevelop off British Columbia on Fri-Sun (5/3) producing 21 ft seas aimed southeast. So there's still some hope. Down south a small gale is to develop in the Southeastern Pacific Sat-Mon (5/4) producing up to 39 ft seas aimed well north. So there's some hope there too.

See all the details below...

 

SHORT- TERM FORECAST
Current marine weather and wave analysis plus forecast conditions for the next 72 hours

North Pacific

Overview
Surface Analysis
On Tuesday (4/28) windswell from a low pressure system previous off Vancouver Island was hitting North CA, but buried in more local windswell (see Vancouver Island Gale below). Behind it swell from another gale that developed in the Central Gulf was tracking east (see Gulf Gale below).

Over the next 72 hours starting Wed AM (4/29) a small gale is forecast developing 1200 nmiles north of Hawaii again producing 30-35 kts west winds and seas barely 18 ft at 41N 164W aimed east. That gale is to track east through the day then fading while lifting northeast in the evening with 19 ft seas at 40N 155.5W aimed east. On Thurs (4/30) the gale is to weaken and lift northeast offering nothing. On Fri AM (5/1) the gale is to redevelop off Washington with 30 kt northwest winds and seas trying to rebuild. In the evening 35-40 kt west winds are to take root with seas building to 21 ft at 48.5N 140W aimed east. The gale is to hold stationary on Sun AM (5/2) with 35 kts northwest winds and 21 ft seas at 48.5N 143W aimed southeast. No change is forecast in the evening with 35 kt west winds and 21 ft seas at 47.5N 139.5W aimed east. Sun AM (5/3) the gale is to fade with 30 kt west winds and seas fading from 20 ft at 50N 140W aimed east. Something to monitor.

 

Vancouver Island Gale
A small gale developed 700 nmiles off Vancouver Island on Sat PM (4/25) producing southwest winds at 35 kts and seas 18 ft at 44N 146W aimed east. On Sun AM (4/26) the gale was racing northeast producing 35 kt west winds and seas to 21 ft at 49.5 141W aimed east. In the evening this system was lifting northeast still producing 27 ft seas at 52.5N 138W and east of the North CA swell window. Low odds of mostly windswell to result. See QuikCASTs for details.

 

Gulf Gale
On Sun PM (4/26) a new gale started building 1200 nmiles north of Hawaii producing 40 kt north west winds with seas on the increase. On Mon AM (4/27) the gale was tracking east with 40 kt west winds and seas 21 ft at 39N 156W aimed east. In the evening the gale was lifting northeast with 40-45 kt west winds and seas at 24 ft at 42N 151W aimed east. On Tues AM (4/28) the gale was just off British Columbia with 40 kt west winds and seas 25 ft at 46N 142.5W aimed east and still in the CA swell window. In the evening this system is to be impacting British Columbia with no fetch in the CA swell window with 23 ft seas moving east of the swell window and no longer of interest. This system is to be gone after that. Something to monitor.

North CA: Expect swell arrival at sunset on Wed (4/29) with swell 3.2 ft @ 15 secs (4.5 ft). Swell building peaking early Thurs (4/30) at 6.3 ft @ 13 secs (8.0 ft) with local windswell intermixed. Swell fading Fri AM (5/1) from 5.4 ft @ 11-12 secs (6.0 ft). Swell dissipating from there. Swell Direction: 302 degrees

 

North Pacific Animations: Jetstream - Surface Pressure/Wind - Sea Height - Surf Height

 

Tropical Update
No tropical systems of interest are being monitored.

California Nearshore Forecast
On Tuesday AM (4/28) a weak gradient was holding with northwest winds 15 kts from Pt Arena southward to Pt Conception building to 20 kts in the afternoon. Wednesday (4/29) no real change is forecast but with fetch holding at 15 kts all day over the same area. More of the same is expected on Thurs (4/30) with northwest winds 15 kts all day from Pt Arena south to Big Sur and then 20-25 kts from there to Pt Conception. Fri (5/1) north winds to slowly fade to near calm north of Monterey Bay in the afternoon but north at 20 kts south of there all day. Sat (5/2) south winds at 5 kts are forecast for Cape Mendocino and north at 15-20 kts from Big Sur southward. Sunday (5/3) the gradient is to build mid-AM with northwest winds 15-20 kts for all of North and Central CA building to 30 kts over Central CA in the afternoon. Monday (5/4) north winds build everywhere at 20-25 kts for North and Central CA. Tuesday (5/5) north winds continue at 20 kts for all of North and Central CA. No precip forecast until later Sat (5/2) until early Sun (5/3) with light rain for Bodega Bay northward.

Total snow accumulation for the week for Squaw Valley, Sugar Bowl, Kirkwood and Mammoth at 1, 1, 1 and 0 inches respectively.

Snow Models: http://www.stormsurf.com/mdls/menu_snow.html (Scroll down for resort specific forecasts). Updated!

 

South Pacific

Overview
Jetstream
On Tuesday (4/28) the southern branch of the jetstream was exceedingly weak and displaced well south under New Zealand continuing from there over Antarctica the whole way across the Southeast Pacific offering no support for gale production but it was also dissipating. Over the next 72 hours the ridge is to dissipate with a new trough starting to develop under New Zealand being fed by 140 kts winds offering some support for gale development. The trough is to ease east and build on Fri (5/1) with 160 kts pushing up into it with the apex over the Central South Pacific but pretty pinched still offering some support for gale development. Beyond 72 hours the trough is to build while tracking east over the Southeast Pacific later Sat (5/2) being fed by a healthy flow of 130 kt winds offering good support for gale development and that trough easing east and almost out of the Southern CA swell window (117W) mid-day Monday (5/4). Still even into Wed (5/6) the trough is to be holding with it's apex at 110W and 120 kt winds feeding into it offering support fro gale development. And another trough is forecast developing just east of New Zealand on Mon (5/4) being fed by 110-120 kts winds offering some developing support for gale development and tracking east.

 

Surface Analysis
On Tues (4/28) no swell of interest was in the water.

Over the next 72 hours no swell producing weather systems of interest are forecast.

 

South Pacific Animations: Jetstream - Surface Pressure/Wind - Sea Height - Surf Height

 

QuikCAST's

 

LONG-TERM FORECAST
Marine weather and forecast conditions 3-10 days into the future

North Pacific

Beyond 72 hours no swell producing fetch of interest is forecast.

 

South Pacific

Beyond 72 hours a gale is forecast developing in a building trough over the Southeast Pacific on Sat PM (5/2) producing a broad area of 30 kts southwest winds with a core developing at 35-40 kt aimed almost north with 24-27 ft seas near 45S 132.5W aimed northeast. On Sun AM (5/3) south winds are to be 45 kts aimed north with seas building to 37 ft at 43.5W 130W aimed north. In the evening a broad fetch of 40 kt south winds are forecast with 38 ft seas at 39.5S 123W aimed south. On Mon AM (5/4) south winds to fade at 30-35 kts with seas fading from 29 ft at 40S 114W aimed north and mostly out of the CA swell window. This gale is to fade from there. Something to monitor.

 

MJO/ENSO Forecast

 

Inactive MJO In Control - Warm Anomalies Hold on Equator - Future Very Uncertain

The Madden Julian Oscillation is a periodic weather cycle that tracks east along the equator circumnavigating the globe. It is characterized in it's Inactive Phase by enhanced trade winds and dry weather over the part of the equator it is in control of, and in it's Active Phase by slackening if not an outright reversing trade winds while enhancing precipitation. The oscillation occurs in roughly 20-30 day cycles (Inactive for 20-30 days, then Active for 20-30 days) over any single location on the planet, though most noticeable in the Pacific. During the Active Phase in the Pacific the MJO tends to support the formation of stronger and longer lasting gales resulting in enhanced potential for the formation of swell producing storms. Prolonged and consecutive Active MJO Phases in the Pacific help support the formation of El Nino. During the Inactive Phase the jet stream tends to split resulting in high pressure and less potential for swell producing storm development. Wind anomalies in the Kelvin Wave Generation Area (KWGA) are key for understanding what Phase the MJO is in over the Pacific. The KWGA is located on the equator from 135E-170W and 5 degs north and south (or on the equator from New Guinea east to the dateline). West wind anomalies in the KWGA suggest the Active Phase of the MJO in the Pacific, and east anomalies suggests the Inactive Phase. In turn the Active Phase strengthens and the Inactive Phase weakens the jetstream, which in turn enhances or dampens storm production respectively in the Pacific.The paragraphs below analyze the state of the MJO in the Pacific and provide forecasts for MJO activity (which directly relate to the potential for swell production).

Overview: A double dip La Nina was in control through the Winter of 2017-2018. But warming started building along the South and Central American coast in early March 2018 associated with two upwelling Kelvin Waves, and continued trying to build over equatorial waters over the Summer and Fall, but not enough to declare El Nino and not coupled with the atmosphere. In January 2019, those warm waters were fading, but then rebuilt late in Feb associated with Kelvin Wave (#3). But as of early June 2019 warm water was fading and by August a tongue of cool water was tracking west on the equator from Ecuador over the Galapagos reaching to a point nearly south of Hawaii. El Nino was dead. A bit of a recovery occurred during Fall of 2019, with weak warm water building in the Nino 1.2 region, but cool water held in a pool off Peru and had not changed until March 2020. By April the cool pool had collapsed with warm water starting to build on the equator.

LONG-RANGE PACIFIC STORM AND SWELL GENERATION POTENTIAL FORECAST
Fall/Winter 2019/2020 = 5.0/4.0 (California & Hawaii)
Rating based on a 1-10 scale: 1 being the lowest (small and infrequent surf conditions), 5 being normal/average, and 10 being extraordinary (frequent events of large, long period swells)

Rationale: It is assumed the PDO has moved to the warm phase in 2014 and that a weak borderline El Nino from 2018 faded out in the Fall of 2019. A La Nina like ocean temperature pattern developed in the equatorial East Pacific in the summer of 2019, then faded and returned to a neutral if not weak warm status during the Winter of 2019-2020. We have been suspecting a turn towards a La Nina like atmospheric pattern to develop in the late Winter/early Spring of 2020. Our best hope is that moderation from the warm phase of the PDO might tamp down development of a full blown La Nina as we move into 2020. Given all that, for 2020 there is decent probability for development of La Nina meaning a reduced number of storm days and storm intensity during the summer season, resulting in a below normal level of swell, with swell being below normal duration and period. And by the Fall and early Winter of 2020, the number of storm days, intensity and duration of those storms should fade even more, resulting in depressed swell production. This pattern is expected to hold through the end of 2020 if not longer.

KWGA/Equatorial Surface Wind Analysis & Short-term Forecast (KWGA - Kelvin Wave Generation Area - The area 5 degrees north and south of the equator from 170W to 135E)
Analysis (TAO Buoys): As of (4/27) 5 day average winds were strong from the east over the Eastern equatorial Pacific continuing over the Central Pacific and then solid east over the Dateline and KWGA. Anomalies were moderate easterly over the far East equatorial Pacific fading to modest over the Central Pacific then rebuilding to moderate easterly over the KWGA.
1 Week Forecast (GFS Model): On (4/28) Moderate east anomalies were over the KWGA. The forecast calls for east anomalies building to strong status in the KWGA on 4/30 holding till the end of the model run on 5/5. This is the strongest easterly wind burst we've seen in quite a while.

Kelvin Wave Generation Area wind monitoring model: West and East

Longer Range MJO/WWB Projections:  
OLR Models: (4/27) A strong Inactive Phase of the MJO was filling the West Pacific/KWGA today. The statistic model indicates the Inactive Phase is to track slightly east and losing strength on day 5 and all but gone on day 10, with a broad Active Phase building from the Maritime Continent into the KWGA and taking over at day 15. The dynamic model indicates the same thing but with the Active Phase weakening more on day 15. The two model are coming into sync.
Phase Diagrams 2 week forecast (ECMF and GEFS): (4/28) The statistical model depicts the Active Phase was modest over the East Indian Ocean today and is to track slowly east while losing strength over the Maritime Continent at day 15. The GEFS model suggests the same thing.
40 day Upper Level Model (assumed to be a statistical mode and 1 week ahead of what is occurring at the surface): (4/28) This model depicts the Inactive Phase of the MJO was weak over the East Equatorial Pacific. The Inactive Phase is to track east while losing strength pushing into Central America on 5/3. The Active Phase is to move east over the West Pacific starting 5/5 and very weak tracking to the East Pacific and into Central America on 5/28. A modest Inactive Phase is supposed to start building in the West Pacific on 5/23 moving to the East Pacific and over Central America at the end of the model run on 6/7. A weak Active MJO is forecast developing over the far West Pacific at that time.
4 Week CFS Model (850 mb wind): (4/27) This model depicts a weak Inactive MJO signal in the KWGA today with moderate east anomalies present over the whole of the KWGA. The forecast indicates the Inactive MJO fading fast and gone 3 days out but with east anomalies steady in the modest to moderate range mostly filling the KWGA through the end of the model run on 5/25.
3 Month CFS Model (850 mb wind): (4/28 - using the 4th/latest ensemble member): This model depicts a building Inactive Phase of the MJO over the KWGA today with weak east anomalies in-play. The forecast indicates the Inactive Phase/Pattern is to hold through 5/9 with east anomalies slowly giving way to weak west anomalies. A weak Active Phase is to start building 5/8 in the far West KWGA slowly building east and weakly filling the KWGA till 5/21 with weak west anomalies developing. A weak Inactive Phase is forecast 5/21-6/15 but with a mix of weak east and west anomalies holding. A broad Active Pulse is to follow 6/2 building and filling the KWGA through the end of the model run on 7/25 with weak to modest west anomalies taking root. The low pass filter indicates a low pressure bias with 1 contour line in control of the KWGA centered on the dateline reaching east to the California coast. This contour line is to hold till 5/6, then start collapsing to nothing by 5/22. A high pressure bias previously that has been over the Indian Ocean since last Fall is to hold till May 7, then dissipate but reappearing over the US West Coast on 7/9. But at the same time the low pressure bias is to reappear over the KWGA on 7/12. East anomalies set up in the Indian Ocean last Fall and held through Jan 10, 2020, then started to become more episodic and are to continue that way, then fading on 6/10. After that west anomalies are to start building in the core of the Indian Ocean eventually reaching east to 180W and filling the KWGA and stationary holding into the end of the model run. East anomalies are to start building solidly over the East Pacific late-May reaching west to 180W. Based on this model it appears the long term outlook is in a state of flux.

CFSv2 3 month forecast for 850 mb winds, MJO, Rossby etc - Alternate link

Subsurface Waters Temps
TAO Array: (4/28) Today in the far West Pacific the 30 deg isotherm was shallow and retracking to the west reaching east to only 155E. The 29 deg isotherm was retrograding west to 178E today. The 28 deg isotherm line was retrograding to 150W today. The 24 deg isotherm was pushing into Ecuador. Anomaly wise, Kelvin Wave #6 was fading while pushing into the East Equatorial Pacific at +1.0 degs but with other nondescript warm water tracking from the Maritime Continent under the dateline merging with the tail of Kelvin Wave #6. The net effect was warm water was filling the entire equatorial subsurface Pacific down to 105 meters deep on the dateline getting progressively shallower east of there today. A large pocket of cool water at -2 degs was 150 meters deep at 150W today tracking east with it's leading edge at 115W. The hi-res GODAS animation posted 4/23 indicates warm water had formed a Kelvin Wave with warm water falling from 120E down into the dateline at 100 m deep peaking in the East Pacific at +2-3 degrees then pushing and rising east to 85W and moving east to just of Ecuador. A pocket of cool water east of there associated with the upwelling phase of the previous Kelvin Wave Cycle was all but gone. The GODAS animation appears to be 1 week behind the TAO data but also is more detailed and accurately modeled.
Sea Level Anomalies: (4/23) Negative anomalies at -0.5 Cms were indicated in the equatorial Pacific between 130-170W, suggestive of a Kelvin Wave blocking pattern setting up.

Surface Water Temps
The more warm water in the equatorial East Pacific means more storm production in the North Pacific during winter months (roughly speaking). Cold water in that area has a dampening effect. Regardless of what the atmospheric models and surface winds suggest, actual water temperatures are a ground-truth indicator of what is occurring in the ocean. All data is from blended infrared and microwave sensors.
Satellite Imagery
Hi-res Nino1.2 & 3.4: (4/27) The latest images indicate warm anomalies were modest along the coast of Chile up into Peru and steady in intensity from days past with warm anomalies continuing up off Ecuador up into Central America. A stream of cool water was fading while north along the immediate coast of Peru not pushing north of there. Warmer water was steady aligned on the equator from the Galapagos out to 140W and looking like a weak El Nino. A broad pocket of cool anomalies was all but gone south of the equator off Peru but with a solid but not unusual pocket of cool water off California and Baja.
Hi-res 7 day Trend (4/27): A building cool pattern was over and west of the Galapagos continuing west along the equator from out to 130W. The short term trend is looking like a developing cooling trend west of the Galapagos.
Hi-res Overview: (4/27) A previous pocket of cool anomalies is gone off Peru. A stronger pocket of cooling was off California and Baja Mexico out to 145W. Warm anomalies were building along Chile and Peru then stronger off Ecuador and Central America up to Mainland Mexico and markedly strong on the equator from the Galapagos out to 145W. Water temps appear to be stable and if anything looking almost like El Nino that anything previous over the past few months. Overall the data suggests a El Nino trend today.
Nino1.2 Daily CDAS Index Temps: (4/28) Today's temps were falling slightly at +0.328, but overall down from a warmer range near +0.6 degs between 2/25-3/26. Previously temps had been toggling near neutral. It appears we were in a rising or at least warmer trend, but that is now fading.
Nino 3.4 Daily CDAS Index Temps:
(4/28) Temps were falling some today at +0.453. Temps previously were in the +0.3 degree range but rose to the +0.5-+0.6 degree range 3/12-4/8.

Click for Full Sized Image Click for Full Sized Image

CFSV2 Forecast for Nino3.4 Sea Surface Temp (SST) Anomalies & Current SST Anomalies

SST Anomaly Projections
CFSv2 Uncorrected Data (4/27) Actual's indicate temperatures were steady at +0.65 degs Jan 1 2020 through April 1 then falling in early April. The forecast depicts temps falling steadily from here forward, down to 0.0 in early May then diving negative down to -0.65 July 1 and moving to La Nina down at -1.00 in early Oct holding there into Jan 2021. According to this model sea surface temps should be falling strongly moving towards La Nina as Summer develops. But as of April 28th, we are nowhere near the doom and gloom forecast by this model.
IRI Consensus Plume: The April 21, 2020 Plume depicts temps are at +0.30 degs, and are to slow fade to neutral +0.00 in August 2020, then holding there through December 2020. See chart here - link.

Atmospheric Coupling (Indicating the presence of El Nino in the atmosphere driven by the ocean):
Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) (negative is good, positive bad) (4/28): The daily index was negative today at 3.39 holding neutral. The 30 day average was rising at -1.25. The 90 day average was falling some at -3.18, suggesting a neutral ENSO pattern was developing.
ESPI Index (like SOI but based on satellite confirmed precipitation. Positive and/or rising is good, negative and/or falling is bad): March 2020 -0.11, Feb +0.69, Jan +0.42, Dec 2019 +0.46, Nov +1.03, Oct +0.27 Sept +1.11, August +0.60, July +0.75, June -0.32, May +1.10, April +0.30, March +1.0, Feb +1.29, Jan +0.193. This index has been steadily positive but still indicates mostly ENSO neutral conditions (not El Nino).

Pacific Decadal Oscillation
Per NOAAs index recent values: Jan 2018 +0.29, Feb -0.19, Mar -0.61, April -0.89, May -0.69, June -0.85, July -0.09, Aug -0.43, Sept -0.46, Oct -0.75, Nov -0.78, Dec -0.12, Jan 2019 -0.18, Feb -0.50 Mar -0.23, April +0.10, May +0.14, June -0.11, July +0.44, Aug -0.14, Sept +0.05, Oct -0.96, Nov -0.28, Dec +0.01, Jan 2020 -1.17, This continues to look like the warm phase of the PDO. No consistently solid negative readings have occurred since Feb 2014
The Washington/JISAO index (Jan-Dec): Jan 2018 +0.70. Feb +0.37, Mar -0.05, April +0.11, May +0.11, June -0.04, July +0.11, Aug +0.18, Sept +0.09. No real negative readings have occurred since Dec 2013
The PDO turned from a 16 year negative run (Jan 98-Feb 2014) in early 2014 and has been positive ever since (other than a few months of negative readings in Fall 2016, the result of a turn towards La Nina). Looking at the long term record, it is premature to conclude that we have in-fact turned from the negative phase (La Nina 'like') to the positive phase (El Nino 'like'), but the data strongly suggests that could be a possibility. By the time it is confirmed (4-5 years out), we will be well into it.

See imagery in the ENSO Powertool 

****

External Reference Material: El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO), Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), Kelvin Wave


Powerlinessurf Jeff Clark Inside Mavericks

Local Interest

Stormsurf Video Surf Forecast for the week starting Sunday (4/26):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUisyxx_X7M&feature=youtu.be&hd=1
For automatic notification of forecast updates, subscribe to the Stormsurf001 YouTube channel - just click the 'Subscribe' button below the video.

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NBC News - Climate Change and Surfing: https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/climate-change-good-surfing-other-sports-not-so-much-ncna1017131

Stormsurf and Mavericks on HBO Sports with Bryant Gumbel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luQSYf5sKjQ

Mavericks Invitational Pieces Featuring Stormsurf:
http://www.bloomberg.com/video/how-to-predict-the-best-surfing-waves-EsNiR~0xR5yXGOlOq2MqfA.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/surfs-up-for-mavericks-invitational-in-calif/

Time Zone Converter By popular demand we've built and easy to use time convert that transposes GMT time to whatever time zone you are located. It's ion left hand column on every page on the site near the link to the swell calculator.

Surf Height-Swell Height Correlation Table

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