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BUOY ROUNDUP
On Tuesday, March 2, 2021 :

• Buoy 233 (Pearl Harbor Entrance)/Buoy 239 (Lanai): Seas were 3.0 ft @ 9.1 secs with swell 1.9 ft @ 9.7 secs from 178 degrees. Water temp 75.4 degs.
• Buoy 187 (Pauwela): Seas were 10.6 ft @ 9.9 secs with swell 8.1 ft @ 9.2 secs from 60 degrees.
• Buoy 46025 (Catalina RDG): Seas were 2.2 ft @ 17.2 secs with swell 1.2 ft @ 15.4 secs from 250 degrees. Wind at the buoy was northwest at 10-12 kts. Water temperature 58.1 degs (Long Beach 215). At Harvest Buoy (071) primary swell was 4.4 ft @ 15.8 secs from 292 degrees. At Santa Monica (028) swell was 0.9 ft @ 16.5 secs from 255 degrees. At Oceanside (045) swell was 1.1 ft @ 14.7 secs from 205 degrees. Southward at Point Loma (191) swell was 1.7 ft @ 15.1 secs from 245 degrees.
• Buoy 46012 (Half Moon Bay)/029 (Pt Reyes): Seas were 4.9 ft @ 15.4 secs with swell 3.3 ft @ 12.6 secs from 305 degrees. Wind at the buoy (012) was southeast at 8-10 kts. Water temp 49.3 (029), 51.4 degs (SF Bar) and 52.5 degs (Santa Cruz).

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 Tuesday (3/2) North and Central CA had waves at chest to head high and clean and lined up. Protected breaks had chest high sets and lined up but slightly textured and soft. At Santa Cruz surf was waist high on the sets and clean and real weak and mushed. In Southern California/Ventura waves were thigh to maybe waist high and weak and mushed with some texture and steady side shore wind. Central Orange County had set waves at waist high and lined up and clean but inconsistent. South Orange County's best summertime breaks were occasionally thigh high and clean. North San Diego had sets at thigh to rarely waist high and clean and lined up but weak. Hawaii's North Shore had a few sets at waist high or so and a bit blown from sideshore northeast trades. The South Shore was flat and clean with strong northeast winds. The East Shore was getting east windswell with waves 1-2 ft overhead and chopped from strong east-northeast wind.

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

Meteorological Overview
On Tuesday (3/2) California was getting some minimal swell from previous low pressure in the far Northeastern Gulf. Hawaii was getting only east windswell from high pressure northwest of the Islands. The main focus is a storm that developed in the far Northwest Pacific Sun-Mon (3/1) producing 44 ft seas aimed east then was redeveloping in the Northwestern Gulf on Tues-Wed (3/3) producing 33 ft seas aimed southeast and fading while moving over the Central Gulf on Thurs (3/4) as seas fade to 21 ft. And perhaps some secondary fetch to develop behind it in the Northern Gulf on Sat (3/6) producing 41 ft seas aimed southeast. Down south a gale tracked under New Zealand producing tiny swell that is fading in CA. And a small gale developed over the Southeast Pacific Wed-Thurs (2/25) producing barely 35 ft seas over a tiny area aimed northeast. Swell arrival later this week. But nothing else is to follow. Things are certainly moving towards a Spring pattern.

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
Jetstream
On Tuesday (3/2) the jet was split just off Japan with the northern branch ridging hard north pushing over Kamchatka and into the Bering Sea with winds 160 kts falling gently southeast and into the Northern Gulf over the Central Aleutians forming a gentle trough there capable of supporting some gale development. From there the jet tracked east and into North British Columbia but also split off the coast there falling south into a cutoff trough off Pt Conception. The southern branch tracked gently east-southeast from Japan passing just south of Hawaii and then into Southern Baja Mexico. A broad area of high pressure was inferred by the jetstream pattern at the surface over the dateline. Over the next 72 hours the pattern is to amplify with the ridge in the northern branch building well up into the North Bering Sea and then sifting east into Thurs (3/4) with the trough building over the Northern Gulf and shifting to the Northeastern Gulf with winds 140 kts offering good support for gale development before the trough starts pinching off and losing definition on Fri (3/5) moving onshore over North CA early Sat (3/6). Beyond 72 hours back to the west the jet is to be weak with winds barely 130 kts over Japan and quickly getting diffuse while fading splitting fully on the dateline with winds no more than 100 kts offering no support for gale development. But a weak trough is to develop over the Northern Gulf on Sat (3/6) offering support for low pressure development while easing east into Mon (3/8) then moving onshore over North CA late in the evening. On Mon (3/8) the jet is to be weakly consolidated in the west with winds building to 150 kts splitting on the dateline with the northern branch running due east on the 45N latitude line, starting to ridge some over the Northwestern Gulf on Tues (3/9) pushing up into the East Bering Sea but also forming another weak trough in the Northeastern Gulf offering weak support for gale development. And maybe a new trough is to form just off Kamchatka also offering some weak support. But in all, not a favorable jetstream pattern is forecast.

Surface Analysis
On Tuesday (3/2) the charts depicted a battle between high pressure at 1042 mbs locked over the dateline and a gale that had tracked from off Kamchatka east over the dateline and was now falling southeast into the Northwestern Gulf of Alaska (see North Pacific Gale below) offering some swell production potential.

Over the next 72 hours the gale described above is to be the focus for the immediate future.

 

North Pacific Gale
A gale developed just off Kamchatka on Sat PM (2/27) producing 45 kt northwest winds and 26 ft seas aimed southeast at 48.5N 161.5E. On Sun AM (2/28) the gale lifted northeast fast producing a solid area of 45-50 kt northwest winds approaching the North Dateline region producing seas of 29 ft at 47N 170E aimed east. In the evening the storm moved into the Bering Sea with 55 kt west winds and fetch of 50 kts just west of the North Dateline Region and south of the Aleutians with 40 ft seas unshadowed at 51N 174E aimed east. On Mon AM (3/1) the storm was tracking east through the Bering Sea with 40-45 kt west winds just barely south of the Aleutian over the Dateline with 40 ft seas at 51N 180W aimed east. In the evening 35-40 kt west fetch was just south of the Eastern Aleutians with 36 ft seas at 52N 170W aimed east. On Tues AM (3/2) fetch was building in coverage at 35-40 kts now well exposed in the Northwestern Gulf with seas redeveloping at 34 ft at 50N 165W aimed east. Interestingly the gale is to fall southeast in the evening with 35-40 kt northwest winds building in coverage and seas building in coverage at 32 ft at 50N 160W aimed southeast. The gale is to hold on Wed AM (3/3) with 35-40 kt north winds and seas 30 ft at 47N 155W aimed south-southeast. In the evening the gale is to fade some while easing east with 35 kt north-northwest winds and seas 28 ft at 44.5N 154.5W. The gale is to fade on Thurs AM (3/4) with 30 kt northwest winds in the Central Gulf and seas fading from 25 ft at 40N 150W aimed south-southeast. This system is to dissipate from there. Something to monitor.

Hawaii: Swell arrival expected on Thurs (3/4) building to 4.9 ft @ 16-17 secs later (8.0 ft). Swell fading on Fri (3/5) from 4.9 ft @ 14-15 secs (7.0 ft). Residual swell fading on Sat (3/6) from 4.8 ft @ 13 secs (6.0 ft). Dribble on Sun (3/7) fading from 5.6 ft @ 11-12 secs (6.0 ft). Swell Direction: 325 degrees moving to 10 degrees later

North CA: Expect swell arrival on Thurs (3/4) building to 4.2 ft @ 18 secs late (7.5 ft). Swell building on Fri (3/5) 9.5 ft @ 16-17 secs (15 ft) and shadowed in the SF Bay Area. Swell fading slowly on Sat (3/6) at 9.0 ft @ 15 secs (13 ft) and still shadowed. Swell fading on Sun (3/7) at 5.6 ft @ 12-13 secs (7.0 ft). Swell Direction: 308 degrees moving to 298 degrees.

 

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

 

Tropical Update
No tropical weather system of interest were being monitored.

California Nearshore Forecast

• Wed (3/3) northwest winds are forecast at 5 kts early for North and Central CA and southwest 10 kts for Southern CA building to 15-20 kts late AM. Late afternoon northwest winds are forecast at 10 kts for North and Central CA and southwest 15 kts for Southern CA. Rain for Southern CA late afternoon fading in the evening. Maybe a dusting of snow for the Mammoth Area.
• Thurs (3/4) south winds are forecast at 20 kts early for Cape Mendocino and 10-15 kts for all of North CA and calm south of there building to 35+ kts for Cape Mendocino late afternoon and south 15-25 kts for the rest of North CA and south 5 kts for Central CA.
• Fri (3/5) south winds are forecast at 30 kts for Cape Mendocino early and south 15 kts down to the Golden Gate early and southwest 5 kts down to Morro Bay. In the afternoon south winds are forecast at 20-25 kts for North CA and south 10-15 kts for Central CA. Rain developing for the area from Pt Arena northward through the day then pushing down to Monterey Bay overnight.
• Sat (3/6) northwest winds are forecast at 5-10 kts early for North and Central CA and up to 15 kts from Morro Bay southward. In the afternoon northwest winds are forecast at 10 kts for all of North CA and 15-20 kts from Big Sur southward to Pt Conception. Rain early for all of North and Central CA fading out mid-AM. Snow for all the Sierra early fading and gone by late afternoon.
• Sun (3/7) south winds 15-20 kts for Pt Arena northward early and light south of there with a front pushing south to Santa Cruz at sunset with westerly winds 10-15 kts behind the front. Northwest winds 15 kts south of Santa Cruz in the later afternoon. Rain pushing south to the Golden Gate at sunset and to Santa Cruz in the evening. Light snow for Tahoe overnight.
• Mon (3/8) northwest winds are forecast at 15-20 kts early for all of CA including Southern CA turning west to southwest in the afternoon at 15 kts and northwest 25 kts for Southern CA. Rain from Monterey Bay northward holding all day. Snow for Tahoe early building south to Mammoth later and the while Sierra overnight and building in intensity.
• Tues (3/9) northwest winds are forecast at 10 kts for North CA early and 15kts for Central CA and 15-20 kts for Southern CA. Southwest winds building to 20-25 kts for North CA in the afternoon and west 10 kts for Central CA. Northwest winds 15-20 kts for Southern CA in the afternoon. Rain for all of North and Central CA early fading some midday, then rebuilding for all of North CA in the later afternoon. Solid snow for all the Sierra early fading through the day.

Total snow accumulation for the next 10 days for Squaw Valley, Sugar Bowl, Kirkwood and Mammoth at 78 inches, 84 inches, 80 inches, and 31 inches through 3/11 with the bulk of it starting on Mon 3/8 (confidence low).

Freezing level 8,500 ft today and holding through 3/5 then falling to 4,000 ft on 3/6 and holding there before falling to 1,000 ft on 3/11.

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

 

South Pacific

Overview
Surface Analysis
Small swell from a gale previously lifting northeast from under New Zealand was fading in CA (see Small New Zealand Gale below). Also small swell from a gale previously in the far Southeast Pacific was radiating north and expected to arrive shortly (see Small Southeast Pacific Gale below).

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

 

Small New Zealand Gale
On Wed PM (2/17) a small gale was tracking northeast from under New Zealand producing 40 kt southwest winds with seas 29 ft at 62S 1670E aimed northeast. On Thurs AM (2/18) the gale was lifting northeast with southwest winds fading from 35+ kts with seas 32 ft at 58.5S 179.5W aimed northeast. The gale faded in the evening with 30-35 kt southwest winds and seas fading from 29 ft at 57.5S 168.5W aimed northeast. On Fri AM (2/19) residuals 30+ kt southwest winds were still present producing 25 ft seas at 48S 172W aimed almost north. In the evening fetch was fading while pushing north from 30 kts with seas fading from 24 ft at 44S 165W aimed north at Hawaii and Tahiti. Small background swell is expected for Hawaii and Tahiti.

Southern CA: Swell fading on Tues (3/2) from 1.2 ft @ 14-15 secs (1.5-2.0 ft). Swell Direction: 208 degrees

North CA: Swell fading on Tues (3/2) from 1.1 ft @ 14-15 secs early (1.5 ft). Swell Direction: 207 degrees

 

Small Southeast Pacific Gale
A gale started developing the Southeast Pacific on Wed PM (2/24) producing 45 kt south-southwest winds and seas building from 33 ft at 59S 134W aimed northeast. On Thurs AM (2/25) south winds were fading from 35-40 kts with seas 33 ft aimed north at 55S 128.5W. In the evening fetch is to be fading from 30-35 kts aimed north with seas fading from 26 ft at 54S 122W aimed north-northeast. This system is to be gone after that. Something to monitor.

Southern CA: Expect swell arrival on Thurs (3/4) building to 1.3 ft @ 19 secs late (2.0 ft). On Fri (3/5) swell to build to 2.0 ft @ 16-17 secs late (3.0 ft). Swell holding on Sat (3/6) at 2.1 ft @ 15-16 secs early (3.0-3.5 ft). Swell fading Sun (3/7) 1.9 ft @ 14 secs (2.5 ft). Swell Swell Direction: 187 degrees

North CA: Expect swell arrival on Fri (3/5) building to 2.0 ft @ 17-18 secs later (3.5 ft). On Sat (3/6) swell to hold at 2.1 ft @ 16 secs early (3.0-3.5 ft). Swell fading Sun (3/7) from 2.0 ft @ 14-15 secs (2.5-3.0 ft). Swell Swell Direction: 185 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 a small gale is forecast developing in the Northwestern Gulf on Fri AM (3/5) producing 30-35 kt northwest winds and starting to get traction. In the evening 35-40 kt northwest winds are to be building in the Northern Gulf with seas building to 20 ft at 49N 151W aimed southeast. On Sat AM (3/6) fetch is to build to 40-45 kts from the northwest with seas 27 ft at 47N 146W aimed southeast. In the evening northwest winds are to be falling southeast at 50-55 kts moving into the Eastern Gulf with 43 ft seas building at 45N 138.5W aimed southeast. On Sun AM (3/7) the gale is to be fading with 35-40 kt northwest winds and seas fading from 35 ft at 43.5N 133W aimed southeast just off the OR-CA border. In the evening fetch is to be fading while holding position with northwest winds 30-35 kts and seas 27 ft at 45N 133W aimed southeast. The gale to dissipate slowly into Tues AM (3/9). Something to monitor.

 

South Pacific

Beyond 72 hours no swell producing fetch is forecast.

 

 

MJO/ENSO Forecast

 

Equatorial Warming Trend Stalled - CFS Forecast Continues Improving

MJO/ENSO Discussion
The Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) 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.And the El Nino/La Nino cycle (collectively know as ENSO - El Nino Southern Oscillation) is a less frequent (about once every 7 years) but more impactful cycle that affects world wide weather. Specifically, strong El Nino events promote storm production in the Pacific while La Nina events suppress storm production. These therefore have a significant impact on the production of swell and surf. The paragraphs below analyze the state of the MJO and ENSO in the Pacific and provide forecasts for upcoming activity (or inactivity depending on the state and interaction of these two oscillations).

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 pushed east and by May subsurface cool waters erupted off Ecuador, forming a well defined cool tongue that looked like the start of La Nina, holding into July 2020.

LONG-RANGE PACIFIC STORM AND SWELL GENERATION POTENTIAL FORECAST

Fall/Winter 2020/2021 = 3.0/3.5 (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 only to return stronger in the Summer of 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. But at this time that does not appear likely. Given all that, for the 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 2020/21, 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 Spring of 2021.

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 (3/1) 5 day average winds were strong from the east over the Eastern equatorial Pacific continuing over the Central Pacific and strong east over the KWGA. Anomalies were light east over the East equatorial Pacific continuing over the Central Pacific then modest easterly over the KWGA. (Note: These are 5 day average winds, so they lag what is happening today by about 2 days).
1 Week Forecast (GFS Model): On (3/2) east anomalies were strong over the dateline and the East KWGA with light west anomalies over the extreme west KWGA. The forecast calls light west anomalies holding over the far West KWGA but strong east anomalies holding over the dateline (Eastern KWGA) through 3/5 then fading to moderate beyond and holding through the end of the model run on 3/9.

Kelvin Wave Generation Area wind monitoring model: West and East

Longer Range MJO/WWB Projections:  
OLR Models: (3/1) A modest Active MJO pattern was over the KWGA today. The statistic model projects it easing slowly east while losing strength and dissipating just west of the dateline on day 10 of the model run with a modest Inactive MJO moving over the KWGA on day 15. The dynamic model suggests the same thing but with the Active Phase moving east and weaker at day 5 then dissipating east of the KWGA on day 15 with a stronger Inactive Phase building in from the west.
Phase Diagrams 2 week forecast (ECMF and GEFS): (3/2) The statistical model depicts the Active Phase was exceedingly weak over the West Pacific today and is to track east over North Africa at very weak status on day 15 of the model run. The dynamic 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): (3/2) This model depicts a moderate and broad Active MJO pattern (moist air) over the West Pacific and it is to track east while holding strength moving over Central America on 3/25. A solid Inactive Phase is to move over the West Pacific on 3/22 and is to track east and over Central America at the end of the model run on 4/11. A modest Active Phase is to develop over the KWGA at that time.
4 Week CFS Model (850 mb wind): (3/1) This model depicts a neutral to weak MJO signal over the KWGA today but with weak west anomalies over the West KWGA and East anomalies over the Dateline/East KWGA. The forecast indicates the Active MJO is to track east and fade through 3/9 with west anomalies backtracking west and gone from the KWGA on 3/17 with east anomalies slowly taking control from dateline building west filling the KWGA on 3/18 at moderate status as the Inactive Phase develops over the KWGA at that time and holding through the end of the model run on 3/29 with east anomalies moderate to strong status at that time. East anomalies are also forecast building in coverage in the Central and East Pacific filling that area almost to a point south of California at the end of the model run.
3 Month CFS Model (850 mb wind): (3/2 - using the 4th/latest ensemble member): This model depicts a weak Inactive MJO is moving east over the KWGA today continuing on that path through 4/7 with weak west anomalies holding in the far West KWGA through 3/22, then fading with east anomalies taking control then to 4/7. A solid Active MJO signal is forecast to follow tracking east 4/5-5/17 producing solid west anomalies filling the KWGA. A weak Inactive MJO is to follow 4/19 through the end of the model run on 5/30 but with weak west anomalies holding over the KWGA. The low pass filter indicates a high pressure bias is firmly in control over the dateline today with 4 contour lines reaching east to a point south of California. The forth contour line is to fade on 3/18. The 3rd contour line is to fade on 4/21. The second contour line is to fade 5/5. The remaining 1 is to hold indefinitely but shifting east. A single contour low pressure bias is over the Indian Ocean today. The remaining contour line is to theoretically start shrinking in coverage from the west on 4/6 and starting to ease east to 180W at the end of the run and almost filling the KWGA at that time while building to 2 contours. East anomalies that were previously solid in the Indian Ocean for over a year migrated east into the West Pacific on 10/1/20 and stabilized there, but are theoretically starting a slow fade while migrating east moving to the a point south of California by 5/21. Theoretically the end is near.

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

Subsurface Waters Temps
TAO Array: (3/2) Today in the far West Pacific the 28 deg isotherm line was steady at 165E today. The 24 deg isotherm was pushing the whole way across the equatorial Pacific and building some compared to a week prior. Anomaly wise, warm anomalies +4 deg C have moved east with the dividing line today at 155W versus 165W on 2/21. A broad cooling pattern was controlling the entire equatorial Pacific with anomalies in a broad pocket at -3C at 130W and west from there. The hi-res GODAS animation posted 2/22 indicates the same thing. Negative anomalies in the East Pacific were the least negative at any time in months. The GODAS animation appears to be 1 week behind the TAO data but also is more detailed and accurately modeled.
Sea Level Anomalies: (2/22) Negative anomalies were forming a wave pushing west from the Galapagos to the dateline on the equator at -5 to -10 cms continuous over that area. But that area was weaker than at any point over the past 6 months. And no -15 cms readings were present on the equator now. A broad area of neutral anomalies was building over the Galapagos. Negative anomalies were -5 cms along the coast of Peru up into Ecuador and reaching north up to Baja at -5 to -10 cms then weaker into South and North CA. Looking at the big picture, negative anomalies were forming a massive triangle from Cape Mendocino to the intersection of the dateline and equator then into Southern Chile. No positive anomalies were over the equatorial Pacific, except from 170E and points west of there. But the triangle was substantially weakening.

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: (3/1) The latest images indicate a stream of cool waters tracking west on the equator from 100W joining the main pocket at 145W continuing west to the dateline. And cooler temps were building along the coast of Peru pushing to almost the Galapagos and poised to connect with the flow starting at 100W. The total cool flow looks a bit stronger today than days past. Cool anomalies were streaming from Chile west-northwest to the dateline also feeding the main cool pool but much weaker than even a few days ago. Overall this indicates a late phase version of La Nina filling the bulk of the equatorial Pacific and down into Chile but the overall intensity of that pool appears to be waning. We are past the peak of this event and possible moving towards its demise.
Hi-res 7 day Trend (3/1): Temps are cooling along the equator from Ecuador west to 130W in 2 small pockets. Otherwise a near neutral trend was along the equator.
Hi-res Overview: (3/1) A stream of cool water is well entrenched from Chile tracking northwest to the equator out to the dateline and west to New Guinea. A fragile pattern of warm anomalies was trying to develop on the equator from Ecuador to 100W but not making any real progress. A broader and cooler core of La Nina cold waters are pushing west from 110W towards the dateline and cooler than day past. A cooling was building along Peru.
Nino1.2 Daily CDAS Index Temps: (3/2) Today's temps were steady at -0.578 after a recent high of +0.100 on 2/1. Temps previously were -0.604 on 1/24. A previous peak of -0.595 occurred on 12/11. This area has been on a seesaw rising trend since early October. Temps were previously down to -2.138 on 8/13. The longterm trend has been on a slow but steady increase.
Nino 3.4 Daily CDAS Index Temps: (3/2) Temps were falling some at -0.814 after peaking at -0.611 on 2/20. Temps bottomed out at -1.654 on 11/3, rising to to -0.982 on 1/21. The previous low before that was -0.733 on 9/10. Temps were on a steady decline since 7/25 then bottomed out in late October and have been on a slow increase since.

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

SST Anomaly Projections
CFSv2 Uncorrected Data (3/2) Actuals per the model indicates temps bottomed out in early Nov at -1.25 degs then rose to -0.65 degs mid-Jan and then up to -0.45 degs in Feb. The forecast depicts temps holding at about -0.40 degs into late May then starting a decline falling to -0.90 degs in early Aug and holding there in Nov. This seems more possible than previous runs, suggests perhaps another year of weak La Nina conditions.
IRI Consensus Plume: The Feb 20, 2021 Plume depicts temps are at -0.64 degs today, and are to rise to -0.37 in April and stabilizing in May at -0.26 maybe easing up to -0.24 degs in Oct. Most models are suggesting a moderate La Nina returning to Neutral in the late Spring of 2021.
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 - this is a lagging indicator) (3/2): The daily index was falling to -6.80. The 30 day average was falling at +10.05 after peaking at +19.51 on 1/14. The 90 day average was falling some at +14.18 after peaking at +15.75 on 2/23 and clearly indicative of La Nina. This index is a lagging indicator.
ESPI Index (like SOI but based on satellite confirmed precipitation. Positive and/or rising is good, negative and/or falling is bad): June -0.67, May -0.46, April 2020 -0.69, March -0.09, Feb +0.65, Jan +0.42, This index was steady positive Aug 2018 through Feb 2020, and now is steady negative, but only weakly so.

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 (2/28):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?hd=1&v=AXlX4cfoHPE&feature=youtu.be
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