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BUOY ROUNDUP
On Monday, July 6, 2020 :

• Buoy 233 (Pearl Harbor Entrance)/Buoy 239 (Lanai): Seas were 3.4 ft @ 13.3 secs with swell 2.3 ft @ 9.5 secs from 177 degrees.
• Buoy 106 (Waimea): Seas were 2.8 ft @ 5.9 secs with swell 2.1 ft @ 6.0 secs from 38 degrees. Water temp 79.9 degs.
• Buoy 46025 (Catalina RDG): Seas were 3.5 ft @ 14.7 secs with swell 2.3 ft @ 14.3 secs from 183 degrees. Wind at the buoy was east at 8-12 kts. Water temperature 70.3 degs. At Harvest Buoy (071) primary swell was 7.5 ft @ 9.1 secs from 314 degrees. At Santa Monica (028) swell was 2.0 ft @ 14.8 secs from 201 degrees. At Oceanside (045) swell was 3.1 ft @ 14.8 secs from 194 degrees. Southward at Point Loma (191) swell was 2.6 ft @ 14.8 secs from 200 degrees.
• Buoy 46012 (Half Moon Bay)/029 (Pt Reyes): Seas were 10.1 ft @ 7.7 secs with swell 8.1 ft @ 7.6 secs from 323 degrees with southern hemi swell 2.4 ft @ 14.8 secs from 191 degrees. Wind at the buoy (012) was northwest at 21-27 kts. Water temp 50.9 degs (013), 60.8 degs (SF Bar) and 55.0 degs (042).

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

 

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 Monday (7/6) in North and Central CA locally generated north windswell was producing waves at chest high and warbled and crumbled with full northwest whitecaps in control early. Protected breaks were waist high or so with clean surface conditions but pretty weak. At Santa Cruz southern hemi swell was still hitting producing waves at up to shoulder high on the larger sets and lined up and clean but inconsistent. In Southern California/Ventura waves were waist to chest high and lined up with some light northwest texture on it and soft. Central Orange County had waves at shoulder to head high and lined up pushing from the south and pretty warbled from southerly wind and with fog on it early. South Orange County's best summertime breaks had set waves at 2 ft overhead and clean and lined up and peeling and still pretty epic. North San Diego had waves at chest to head high and lined up with a little south ruffle on it at some break while others were clean. Hawaii's North Shore was flat and clean. The South Shore was getting some southern hemi swell with waves waist high or so on the sets and clean. The East Shore was getting no rideable east windswell with modestly textured conditions early.

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

Meteorological Overview
On Monday (7/6) Swell #3S was fading in California generated by a gale that formed in the upper reaches of the Southeast Pacific on Fri-Sat (6/27) producing up to 47 ft seas aimed north. Beyond a small gale is forecast developing under New Zealand on Thurs-Sat (7/11) producing up to 33 ft seas aimed northeast. A weaker system to follow on the same track Sun-Mon 97/13) producing 29 ft seas aimed northeast. So there's now a little hope.

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 Monday (7/6) no swell of interest was in the water.

Over the next 72 hours no swell producing fetch of interest is forecast.

 

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 Monday (7/6) northwest winds were 20-25 kts over all of North and Central CA early and forecast holding if not building some all day producing windswell. On Tues (7/7) northwest winds to continue at 20-25 kts all day north of Pt Conception producing windswell. On Wed (7/8) northwest winds are to be 20-25 kts early for all of North and Central CA fading to 15-20 kts for Central CA later but holding for North CA. On Thurs (7/9) north winds to be 20-25 kts 15 kts early for North CA and 10-15 kts for Central CA early and holding all day. Fri (7/10) northwest winds to be 20 kts for North CA and 15 kts for Central CA early building all location to 20+ kts later. Sat (7/11) northwest winds are forecast at 15-20 kts early for North and Central CA early holding all day. More of the same on Sun (7/12). Mon (7/13) northwest winds are to be 20+ kts for North CA early and 10-15 kts for Central CA fading to 15-20 kts for North CA later and 10-15 kts for Central CA. Non-stop windswell for North and Central CA exposed breaks for the foreseeable future.

Total snow accumulation for the week for Squaw Valley, Sugar Bowl, Kirkwood and Mammoth at 0, 0, 0 and 0 inches respectively. Freezing level 14,000 ft or higher for the week.

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

 

South Pacific

Overview
Jetstream
On Monday (7/6) the jetstream was well split over the width of the South Pacific with the southern branch still exceedingly weak with winds 70 kts or less with no troughs indicated offering no support for gale development. Over the next 72 hours no real change is forecast. Beyond 72 hours Thurs (7/9) wind energy is to start building under New Zealand lifting northeast up to 54S on Fri (7/10) forming a trough and offering some support for gale development. and a second pulse of wind energy is to develop over the same area on Sat (7/11) with winds to 110 kts lifting northeast again offering some support for gale development there. But over the Southeast Pacific the jet is to be pushing south directly into Antarctica eliminating support for gale development there.

Surface Analysis
On Monday (7/6) swell was fading in California originating from a solid but small gale that formed in the Southeast Pacific (see Southeast Pacific Gale below).

Over the next 72 hours no swell producing fetch of interest is forecast.

 

Southeast Pacific Gale (Swell #3S - SCal)
On Fri PM (6/26) another gale formed in the upper reaches of the Southeast Pacific producing 50-55 kt south winds with seas building from 37 ft at 42S 137.5W aimed north. On Sat AM (6/27) south winds built in coverage at 50 kts solid aimed due north with 47 ft seas over a small area at 40.5S 134.5W aimed north. Fetch faded in the evening from 35-40 kts from the south with seas fading from 31 ft at 37S 126W aimed north. The gale dissipated from there.

Southern CA: Swell fading Mon (7/6) from 3.2 ft @ 14-15 secs (4.5-5.0 ft). Residuals on Tues (7/7) fading from 2.6 ft @ 13-14 secs (3.0-3.5 ft). Dribbles on Wed (7/8) fading from 2.3 ft @ 13 secs (3.0 ft). Swell Direction: 197 degrees

North CA: Swell fading Mon (7/6) from 2.6 ft @ 15 secs (4.0 ft). Residuals on Tues (7/7) fading from 2.1 ft @ 13-14 secs (2.5-3.0 ft). Swell Direction: 192 degrees

 

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 starting Thurs AM (7/9) a small gale is forecast developing under New Zealand producing 35+ kt west-southwest winds with seas building from 27 ft 60S 157E aimed east-northeast. In the evening fetch is to lift northeast building to 40 kts with seas 33 ft at 57S 169E aimed northeast. On Fri AM (7/10) south to southwest winds to be lifting northeast at 30-40 kts with seas 32 ft at 53.3S 179.5W aimed northeast. Fetch is to hold in the evening still lifting northeast at 35-40 kts with seas 30 ft at 53S 172 W aimed northeast. On Sat AM (7/11) fetch is to be fading from 30-35 kts with seas 31 ft at 50S 164.5W aimed northeast. Fetch is to fade in the evening with seas fading from 29 ft at 49S 154W aimed northeast. This system is to be gone after that. Something to monitor.

Also on Sat AM (7/11) another small gale is to develop south of New Zealand producing 35 kts southwest winds over a decent sized area with seas trying to build. In the evening 35-40 kt southwest winds are to continue lifting northeast with 23 ft seas building at 53S 172E aimed northeast. On Sun AM (7/12) southwest winds to continue at 35-40 kts tracking east with seas 27 ft at 53S 176W aimed east-northeast. In the evening south winds are forecast at 35-40 kts with seas 24 ft at 50S 167W and fading offering nothing. This system is to then dissipate. No swell likely to result except for Tahiti and maybe Hawaii. Will monitor.

 

MJO/ENSO Forecast

 

La Nina Development Still Stalled

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 (7/5) 5 day average winds were solid from the east over the Eastern equatorial Pacific continuing over the Central Pacific then moderate easterly over the Dateline and the whole of the KWGA. Anomalies were neutral over the East equatorial holding over the Central Pacific then neutral over the KWGA.
1 Week Forecast (GFS Model): On (7/6) moderate east anomalies were filling the KWGA. The forecast calls for east anomalies building in coherence and strength reaching strong status on 7/8 holding through the end of the model run on 7/13. On 7/11 easterly anomalies are also to start building over the East Pacific.

Kelvin Wave Generation Area wind monitoring model: West and East

Longer Range MJO/WWB Projections:  
OLR Models: (7/5) A moderate plus strength Inactive MJO pattern was filling the KWGA today. The statistic model indicates this pattern is to hold on day 5 then weakening slightly on day 10, then rapidly dissipating and all but gone and neutral over the KWGA on day 15. The dynamic model indicates the same thing but with the Inactive pattern slight stronger on day 15 at modest strength over the KWGA.
Phase Diagrams 2 week forecast (ECMF and GEFS): (7/6) The statistical model depicts the Active Phase was modest over North Africa today and is to slowly ease east and weaken and all but gone over the western Maritime Continent at day 15. The GEFS model suggests the Active Phase stalled and weak over North Africa today and slowly easing east to the Central Indian Ocean and very weak at day 15.
40 day Upper Level Model (assumed to be a statistical mode and 1 week ahead of what is occurring at the surface): (6/29) This model depicts a weak Inactive Phase over the Central Pacific today and tracking east pushing into Central America on 7/9. A weak and incoherent Active MJO is forecast developing over the far West Pacific 7/9 pushing slowly east and moving into Central America and 7/29 continuing through the end of the model run on 8/8.
4 Week CFS Model (850 mb wind): (7/5) This model depicts no coherent MJO signal over the KWGA today but with east anomalies filling the KWGA. The forecast indicates a continuation of no MJO signal but with modest to moderate east anomalies in control over the KWGA and building in coverage filling the entirety of the Pacific by 7/11 at moderate strength. East anomalies are to hold filling the KWGA and the entire Pacific onward through the end of the model run on 8/2 but with the focus on the KWGA.
3 Month CFS Model (850 mb wind): (7/6 - using the 4th/latest ensemble member): This model depicts a weak Inactive MJO tracking over the KWGA today with modest east anomalies filling the KWGA. The forecast depicts the Inactive MJO is to hold while very slowly easing east through 8/16 with modest east anomalies building in coverage starting 7/10 and filling the entirety of the equatorial Pacific Ocean and holding. An Active MJO is forecast moving over the KWGA 8/1 and then filling it by 8/15 and holding through 9/7 producing westerly anomalies but never reaching east of 165E filling only half of the KWGA and only of modest strength. Moderate east anomalies are to prevail from 170E and points east of there to Ecuador through the end of the model run. A weak Inactive Phase is to follow 8/31-9/17 with east anomalies in control. A weak active phase is to follow through the end of the model run on 10/3 but with east anomalies still in control. The low pass filter indicates a high pressure bias was in control over the dateline today and is to build steadily in coverage through the end of the model run with a second contour setting up on 8/4 and a third on 9/16. A single contour low pressure bias is to appear over the Indian Ocean starting 8/6 building in coverage through the end of the model run. East anomalies that have been previously solid in the Indian Ocean are migrating east today into the Pacific are to set up on the dateline and points east of there by 7/10 and continuing if not building there for the foreseeable future fueled by the building high pressure bias contour. Based on this model it appears a clear transition to La Nina is starting today and is to become entrenched by mid-July.

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

Subsurface Waters Temps
TAO Array: (7/6) Today in the far West Pacific the 30 deg isotherm was steady at 163E. The 29 deg isotherm was easing east to 171W. The 28 deg isotherm line was stable at 158W today. The 24 deg isotherm was steady at 110W. Anomaly wise, warm anomalies 0-1 deg C were previously isolated to the West Pacific pushing east to 140W with a finger to 123W, but today were pushing east to 120W with a finger into Ecuador. Cool anomalies were upwelling to the surface from a rapidly collapsing subsurface pocket of cool water -2 degs off Ecuador with a second under 160W. It will be interesting to see if the pocket at 160W builds over the coming week. The hi-res GODAS animation posted 7/2 indicates the cool water bubble at depth was erupting in the east to the surface between 130W to 85W at -4 degs C with warm water moving east to 140W. The GODAS animation appears to be 1 week behind the TAO data but also is more detailed and accurately modeled.
Sea Level Anomalies: (7/2) Negative anomalies at -5 to -10 cms had collapsed over the equatorial Pacific between Ecuador reaching east only 125W (previously 140W). Neutral anomalies were west of there to 160E. Negative anomalies were along and down the coast of Peru and up the coast of Central America to mainland Mexico. Positive anomalies at +5 cms were effectively gone over the entirety of the equatorial Pacific and along Peru and Central America.

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: (7/5) The latest images indicate cold water was holding over the equator from Ecuador over the Galapagos and to the dateline, looking like the start of a La Nina pattern but weaker than days past. Warm anomalies were gone off the coast of Chile up into Peru turning decidedly cooler and appearing to be feeding the cool stream. Warm water was off Central America reaching west to the dateline but only north of the equator, remnants of a fading El Nino like pattern. Overall the cool pool on the equator was unmistakable but not building but holding steady in coverage and intensity.
Hi-res 7 day Trend (7/5): Pockets of cooler water area gain redeveloping off Ecuador pushing west on the equator out over the Galapagos out to 140W but not super pronounced. The short term trend is now looking like a fading La Nina pattern that was previously building. But we suspect that is short lived with a return to a development of La Nina starting a week out and easterly anomalies take over.
Hi-res Overview: (7/5) A stream of cool water is entrenched along the coast of Peru lifting northwest to the equator from Ecuador west to the dateline and holding in coverage. Warmer than normal temps were stable north of the equator with cooler than normal water building on and south of the equator. Overall the data suggests a stable La Nina like pattern.
Nino1.2 Daily CDAS Index Temps: (7/6) Today's temps were steady down at -1.391 after previously down at -1.511 on 6/16 and have been fading steadily since March 26. Overall the trend is fading from a warmer range near +0.6 degs between 2/25-3/26.
Nino 3.4 Daily CDAS Index Temps: (7/6) Temps were steadily at -0.005 today and the past 7 days after bottoming out at -0.595 on 5/27. Overall the trend is steady if not warming after previous being on a downward trajectory April and May. Temps were in the +0.3 degree range in Feb., and up to the +0.5-+0.6 degree range 3/12-4/8.

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

SST Anomaly Projections
CFSv2 Uncorrected Data (7/6) Actual temperatures were in the +0.65 deg range 1/1/2020 through 4/1/2020 then started falling hard down to -0.20 in late-May and held through late June. The forecast depicts temps restarting a precipitous fall, down to -0.75 in late July, then beginning a more gradual downward trajectory reaching down to -1.00 in early Sept dropping to -1.15 in early Dec, then starting to rebound at -0.5 in March 2021. According to this model sea surface temps should be falling strongly moving towards La Nina as Summer develops. All objective evidence indicates this is in-fact occurring.
IRI Consensus Plume: The June 19, 2020 Plume depicts temps are at -0.35 degs, and are to hold in that range into November then rising some to -0.1 by Feb 2021. The low outliers are the dynamic models (NCEP CFS, NASA GMAO and the COLA CCSM4) all suggesting solid La Nina. 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) (7/6): The daily index was positive today at 3.38. The 30 day average was rising to -3.75. The 90 day average was rising to -1.47, suggesting a neutral ENSO pattern was in control.
ESPI Index (like SOI but based on satellite confirmed precipitation. Positive and/or rising is good, negative and/or falling is bad): April 2020 -0.62, March -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 

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

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Powerlinessurf

Jeff Clark

Inside Mavericks

Local Interest

Stormsurf Video Surf Forecast for the week starting Sunday (7/5):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTLF2gMDm0I&feature=youtu.be&hd=1
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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