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BUOY ROUNDUP
On Thursday, May 27, 2021 :

• Buoy 233 (Pearl Harbor Entrance)/Buoy 239 (Lanai): Seas were 2.9 ft @ 14.3 secs with swell 1.6 ft @ 13.8 secs from 195 degrees. Water temp 77.9 degs (Pearl Harbor 233), 78.4 (Lani 239).
• Buoy 106 (Waimea): Seas were 3.3 ft @ 13.3 secs with swell 2.4 ft @ 13.1 secs from 331 degrees. Water temp 78.1 degs.
• Buoy 46025 (Catalina RDG): Seas were 3.4 ft @ 13.7 secs with swell 1.5 ft @ 13.7 secs from 182 degrees. Wind at the buoy was north at 0-2 kts. Water temperature 61.7 degs, 63.5 (Topanga 103), 61.5 degs (Long Beach 215), 66.5 (Del Mar 153), 62.4 (Pt Loma 191). At Harvest Buoy (071) primary swell was 4.9 ft @ 7.8 secs from 304 degrees. At Santa Monica (028) swell was 1.7 ft @ 13.8 secs from 202 degrees. At Oceanside (045) swell was 0.9 ft @ 18.3 secs from 204 degrees. Southward at Point Loma (191) swell was 2.0 ft @ 13.8 secs from 193 degrees.
• Buoy 46012 (Half Moon Bay)/029 (Pt Reyes): Seas were 5.1 ft @ 14.3 secs with swell 2.0 ft @ 14.5 secs from 180 degrees. Wind at the buoy (012) was northwest at 10-14 kts. Water temp 50.0 (029), 55.0 degs (SF Bar 142) and 56.8 degs (Santa Cruz 254).

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 Thursday (5/27) North and Central CA had waves at thigh to waist high and chopped and mushed from northwest winds and not really rideable. Protected breaks were thigh high or so and much cleaner but lightly textured and soft and mushed. At Santa Cruz surf was waist high and clean and somewhat lined up but weak and inconsistent. In Southern California/Ventura waves were thigh to maybe waist high and clean but soft and weak. Central Orange County had set waves at head high and lined up coming from the south and fairly clean but with some modest texture on the surface coming from light south wind making it crumbled. South Orange County's best summertime breaks had sets at head high and lined up but a bit jumbled again from southerly wind. North San Diego had sets waves at waist to near chest high and fairly clean and lined up but mostly soft. Hawaii's North Shore was waist high and clean and soft and just barely rideable. The South Shore was still getting some waves at chest to barely head high and clean and lined up with decent form. The East Shore report was not available.

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

Meteorological Overview
On Thursday (5/27) California was getting fading remnant swell energy from a gale that traversed the South Pacific from under New Zealand Wed-Sat (5/15) producing 30 ft seas initially building to 42 ft aimed north over the far Southeast Pacific. In North and Central CA, local northwest windswell was not really present but is to return on Fri (5/28) and hold through the weekend. Down south a gale developed under New Zealand on Tues (5/18) then tracked slowly east with seas building to 34 ft on Wed (5/19) then faded slowly on Thurs (5/20) with seas dropping from 26 ft aimed northeast. Swell is hitting Hawaii and teasing the buoys in CA. And a small gale was forming in the upper reaches of the Southeast Pacific on Wed-Thurs (5/27) with up to 38 ft seas aimed northeast with 28-30 ft seas lingering into Fri (5/28). Beyond that virtually nothing is on the charts.

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 Thursday (5/25) tiny swell was hitting Hawaii from a small gale that formed over the North Dateline region on Sun (5/23) producing 19 ft seas at 47.8N 178.5E aimed southeast (see QuikCASTs for details).

Over the next 72 hours a small gale started developing Wed PM (5/26) west of the Dateline producing 45 kt west winds with seas building from 21 ft at 44.75N 169E aimed east. On Thurs AM (5/27) fetch was fading from 40 kts over a broader area approaching the dateline with seas 28 ft at 46.5N 176E aimed east. In the evening 30 kt northwest winds are to be moving over the North Dateline with seas 23 ft at 48.5N 179.5E aimed southeast. On Fri AM (5/28) residual 30 kt west fetch is to be fading just east of the dateline with seas 18 ft at 47.5N 178W aimed southeast. No additional fetch is forecast. Some small swell is to radiate southeast towards Hawaii.

Oahu: Rough data suggests swell arrival late on Sun (5/30) building to 1.7 ft @ 14-15 secs (2.0-2.5 ft). Swell building slightly on Mon (5/31) at 2.2 ft @ 12 secs later (2.5 ft). Core swell arrival on Tues (6/1) pushing 3.5 ft @ 11 secs (3.5-4.0 ft). Swell fading on Wed (6/2) from 3.1 ft @ 10-11 secs (3.0 ft). Swell all but gone after that. Swell Direction: 330 degrees

 

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

 

Tropical Update
No tropical systems of interest are occurring nor forecast.

California Nearshore Forecast

• Fri (5/28) high pressure returns with northwest winds 20-25 kts for North CA and 15-20 kts for Central CA early building to 20 kts everywhere in the afternoon and up to 25 kts for Cape Mendocino. Windswell trying to regenerate.
• Sat (5/29) northwest winds are forecast at 20-25 kts for North CA and 20 kts for Central CA early holding all day. Windswell building some.
• Sun (5/30) northwest winds are forecast at 20-25 kts for North CA early and 20 kts south of there holding all day. Continued windswell still being produced.
• Mon (5/31) northwest winds are forecast at 25-30 kts limited to the Pt Arena northward early and northwest 10 kts for Central CA holding all day. Windswell fading slightly.
• Tues (6/1) northwest winds are to be 20-25 kts off Cape Mendocino and south 5 kts south of there early and fading to 20 kts off Cape Mendocino later. Windswell fading.
• Wed (6/2) northwest winds are forecast at 20 kts Cape Mendocino early and south 5 kts south of Pt Arena early holding all day. No windswell production forecast.
• Thurs (6/3) northwest winds are forecast at 20-25 kts limited to Cape Mendocino early and south 5 kts south of there

Total snow accumulation for the next 10 days respectively for Squaw Valley, Sugar Bowl, Kirkwood and Mammoth at 0, 0, 0, and 0 inches respectively.

Freezing level 12,000 ft on 5/27 and holding then rising to 14,000 ft or greater on 5/31 and holding. Summer is coming.

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

 

South Pacific

Overview
Jetstream
On Thursday (5/27) the jet was ridging down to 67S under New Zealand then lifting northeast over the Southeast Pacific forming a trough there while almost merging with the northern branch of the jet with winds building to 140 kts offering decent support for gale development over the northern reaches of the far Southeast Pacific. Over the next 72 hours that trough is to build while being invigorated by the northern branch of the jet producing 160 kts into Thurs PM and offering good support for gale development. The trough is to fall south on Fri (5/28) taking aim more to the east targeting mainly Chile and dissipating late Sat (5/29). Support for gale development fading then. To the west the southern branch of the jet is to be weak and not offering anything to support gale formation. Beyond 72 hours starting Sun (5/30) the southern branch of the jet over the Southwest and Central South Pacific is to be exceedingly weak if not nonexistent offering nothing and over the Southeast Pacific the jet is to strengthen but only be pushing hard south into Antarctica offering no support for gale development. No real change is forecast until Thurs (5/3) when a weak trough is to try and develop under New Zealand being fed by 110 kts winds offering perhaps some weak support for gale formation there.

Surface Analysis
On Thursday (5/27) swell was fading steadily in California from a the 5th storm in the series that developed in the Southeast Pacific (see Southeast Pacific Storm below). And swell from a weaker system that tracked under New Zealand was pushing northeast hitting Hawaii and starting to show at the buoys along the the US West Coast (see Southwest Pacific Gale below). And one more tiny swell was tracking north towards HI from a tiny gale previously southeast of New Zealand (see Tiny New Zealand Gale below).

Over the next 72 hours a gale is forecast developing in the upper latitudes of the Southeast Pacific on Wed AM (5/26) producing 40-50 kt south winds over a tiny area and seas building from 23 ft at 35S 137W aimed northeast. In the evening 55 kt south to southwest winds to build producing 44 ft seas at 35.25S 128.5W aimed northeast. On Thurs AM (5/27) the gale is to be fading with 45-50 kt south winds tracking east and seas 43 ft at 35S 120.5W aimed northeast. In the evening the gale is to fall south fast with 40-45 kt southwest winds and 37 ft seas at 38.75S 117.25W aimed northeast and mostly east of the CA swell window with a secondary fetch 40 kts over a solid area from the southwest with seas 30 ft at 42S 130.5W aimed northeast. On Fri AM (5/28) 35-45 kt west and southwest winds to hold position with seas 34 ft at 42.5S 123W aimed mostly east. In the evening the gale is to rapidly fade and fall south from there but with a broad fetch of 35-40 kt south winds aimed north and seas 27 ft at 45S 130W aimed north. On Sat (5/29) south winds to be fading from 35 kts with seas 26 ft at 50S 133W aimed north. Fetch and seas fading fast from there. Something to monitor.

 

 

5th Storm
Fetch started developing under New Zealand on Wed AM (5/12) producing a large area of 35-40 kt northwest winds and seas building from 28 ft at 60S 153E aimed entirely at the Ross Ice Shelf. In the evening fetch was pushing east and turning more westerly at 40-45 kts over a large area southeast of New Zealand producing 31 ft seas at 62.5S 177.5W aimed east. On Thurs AM (5/13) a more classical storm was building over the Central South Pacific producing 45-50 kt southwest winds with seas building from 34 ft at 61.75S 151.75W aimed east. In the evening fetch built to 50 kts solid aimed north-northeast over the Southeast Pacific with 35 ft seas over a solid area at 58.5S 131W aimed northeast. On Fri AM (5/14) 50 kt southwest winds were on the eastern edge of the CA swell window producing 42 ft seas at 55S 122.5W in the CA swell window aimed northeast. In the evening southwest winds were 35-40 kts over a broad area half in and half east of the CA swell window with 30-33 ft seas in the swell window at 51S 118-120W aimed northeast. On Sat AM (5/15) secondary fetch built at 40 kts from the south with 28-33 ft seas at 49S 119-121 W aimed due north. In the evening south winds to be 35-40 kts aimed north-northeast but mostly east of the NCal swell window with seas 24-26 ft at 53S 118W aimed north in the Scal swell window with larger seas to 30 ft east of there aimed only at Mexico down to Peru and Chile. On Sun AM (5/16) south winds to be fading from 35 kts stationary with 25 ft seas at 52S 112W and east of the CA swell window. This system is to be entirely east of the CA swell window after that and fading fast.

Southern CA: Swell fading fast on Thurs (5/27) from 1.8 ft @ 13-14 secs (2.0-2.5 ft). Swell Direction: 186-190 degrees

North CA: Swell fading fast on Thurs (5/27) from 1.8 ft @ 13-14 secs (2.0-2.5 ft). Swell Direction: 186-190 degrees

 

Southwest Pacific Gale
A small gale developed just under New Zealand on Mon PM (5/17) producing 35-40 kt southwest winds over a small area and seas 28 ft at 50S 166.5E aimed east but mostly shadowed by Southern New Zealand relative to HI and CA. On Tues AM (5/18) southwest winds were free and clear of New Zealand at 40 kts from the southwest over a small area with 27 ft seas at 49.5S 171E aimed northeast. Fetch was fading in the evening from 35-40 kts from the southwest with seas fading from 28 ft at 47S 179W aimed northeast. On Wed AM (5/19) secondary fetch was building in the same area lifting hard north at 45 kts from the south over a small area with seas 32 ft at 47.5S 170.5W aimed northeast. Fetch to be fading while pushing hard northeast in the evening at 40 kts over a broad area with seas 32 ft at 43.25S 162.5W aimed northeast. On Thurs AM (5/20) fetch was fading from 35 kts aimed northeast with seas fading from 27 ft at 42.5S 155W aimed northeast. In the evening fetch is to hold while pushing east at 30-35 kts with seas 25 ft at 42S 150W aimed northeast. On Fri AM (5/21) fetch dissipated. Small swell to result.

Hawaii: Swell dissipating on Thurs (5/27) from 1.5 ft @ 13-14 sec early (1.5-2.0 ft). Swell Direction: 196 degrees

Southern CA: Expect swell arrival on Thurs (5/27) building to 1.2 ft @ 17-18 secs later (2.0 ft). Swell building on Fri (5/28) to 1.6 ft @ 16 sec later (2.5 ft). Swell holding on Sat (5/29) at 1.9 ft @ 15 secs (2.5-3.0 ft). Swell fading some on Sun (5/30) from 1.9 ft @ 14-15 secs (2.5-3.0 ft). Dribbles on Mon (5/31) fading from 1.6 ft @ 13-14 secs (2.0 ft). Swell Direction: 200-210 degrees

North CA: Expect swell arrival on Thurs (5/27) building to 1.2 ft @ 17-18 secs later (2.0 ft). Swell building on Fri (5/28) to 1.7 ft @ 16-17 sec later (2.5-3.0 ft). Swell holding on Sat (5/29) at 2.0 ft @ 15 secs (3.0 ft). Swell fading some on Sun (5/30) from 2.0 ft @ 14-15 secs (2.5-3.0 ft). Dribbles on Mon (5/31) fading from 1.7 ft @ 14 secs (2.0-2.5 ft). Swell Direction: 198-208 degrees

 

Tiny New Zealand Gale
A gale developed southeast of New Zealand Sun PM (5/23) producing 45 kt south winds with seas building from 24 ft at 57S 175W aimed northeast. On Mon AM (5/24) southwest winds were still 40-45 kts with seas 29 ft at 59.5S 161W aimed northeast. Fetch faded in the evening from 30-35 kts with seas seas fading from 25 ft at 59.25S 155W aimed northeast. This system was gone after that. Low odds of any swell resulting.

Hawaii: Small swell arriving on Wed (6/2) pushing 1.3 ft @ 15-16 secs later (2.0 ft). Swell peaking on Thurs AM (6/3) at 1.8 ft @ 14 secs (2.5 ft). Residuals fading on Fri (6/4) from 1.3 ft @ 12-13 secs (1.5 ft). Swell Direction: 181 degrees

California: Whatever swell arrives in CA is to be buried in potentially stronger swell arriving from the Southeast Pacific.

 

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 is forecast.

 

South Pacific

Beyond 72 hours no swell producing fetch is forecast.

 

 

MJO/ENSO Forecast

 

Weak Active MJO Trying to Set Up - ENSO Neutral In Control
Summary - A combination of 2 Kevin Waves was poised to erupt along Ecuador. The forecast suggests continued west anomalies in the KWGA for the next 3 months.

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 occurred through the Winter of 2017-2018. 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 2019, those warm waters were 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. A bit of a recovery tried to occur during Fall of 2019, with weak warm water building in the Nino 1.2 region, but cool water held in a pool off Peru. By April 2020 a cool pool was starting to build, forming a well defined cool tongue that looked like the start of La Nina, with it fully developing into La Nina in July 2020. We continue in the place in March 2021, but with a Kelvin Wave sweeping east late in March possibly signaling the demise of La Nina.

LONG-RANGE PACIFIC STORM AND SWELL GENERATION POTENTIAL FORECAST

Spring/Summer 2021 = 4.0/3.5 (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 that the moderate La Nina from the Winter of 2020/2021 is on the wane and that a return to neutral ENSO state will set up over the Pacific Basin through the summer of 2021. But lingering effects of La Nina are forecast to continue over the Pacific for some time as the upper atmospheric circulation slowly transitions to an ENSO neutral state. This scenario tend to favor the Southeast Pacific, therefore favoring California over Hawaii. To counter that is the forecasted movement of the low pressure bias currently in-flight from the Maritime Continent to the West Pacific over the next 3 months. Still it will take some time for the atmosphere to fully respond, resulting in a slightly less than normal swell production forecast. A somewhat reduced number of storm days and storm intensity is expected as compared to normal over the South Pacific during the early summer season, resulting in a below normal level of swells, with swell being below normal duration and period. But by the Fall and early Winter of 2021/22, the number of storm days, intensity and duration of those storms should start improving as La Nina fades out. The status of the PDO is not known, though it appears to be returning to at least a neutral state, rather than the warm phase as previously projected thereby having no significant positive or negative effect on the long term outlook.

KWGA/Equatorial Surface Wind Analysis (KWGA - Kelvin Wave Generation Area - The area 5 degrees north and south of the equator from 170W to 135E)
Analysis (TAO Buoys): As of (5/26) 5 day average winds were strong from the east over the Eastern equatorial Pacific then strong east east over the Central Pacific and strong east over the East KWGA fading to modest east over the West KWGA. Anomalies were light east over the East equatorial Pacific and light east over the Central Pacific and light east over the East KWGA and neutral over the western portion. (Note: These are 5 day average winds, versus realtime, so they lag what is happening today (by about 2 days).
1 Week Forecast (GFS Model): On (5/27) moderate west anomalies were filling the west half of the KWGA and moderate to strong east anomalies were filling the east portion of the KWGA mainly on the dateline and also filling the entire Central and East equatorial Pacific. The forecast calls for moderate west anomalies holding over the Western KWGA till 5/31 then fading to weak status and holding through the end of the model run on 6/3. East anomalies are to hold at moderate to strong status focused on the dateline and getting smaller coverage limited to just that area at the end of the model run.

Kelvin Wave Generation Area wind monitoring model: West and East

MJO/WWB/Wind Projections:  
OLR Models: (5/26) A neutral MJO pattern was indicated over the planet today. It almost looks like a model anomaly. The statistic model projects no change with no Active or Inactive Phase development for the next 15 day, continuing our thoughts the model is down. The dynamic model an Active Phase developing over the KWGA at day 10 building to moderate status filling the at day 15.
Phase Diagrams 2 week forecast (ECMF and GEFS): (5/27) The statistical model depicts the Active Phase was exceedingly weak over the Maritime Continent today and is to stay there for the next 15 days. The dynamic model suggests the Active Phase is to build to modest status over the West Pacific in 5 days and stay there through day 15 of the model run.
40 day Upper Level Model (assumed to be a statistical mode and 1 week ahead of what is occurring at the surface): (5/26) A weak Active Phase (wet air) was over the KWGA today and is to push east into Central America on 6/7. A weak Inactive Phase (dry air) is to be building over the KWGA on 6/8 pushing east to the East Pacific and over Central America on 6/28. A new weak Active Phase is to build in the west on 6/25 moving to the Central Equatorial Pacific at the end of the model run on 7/5.
4 Week CFS Model (850 mb wind): (5/26) This model depicts the Active Phase of the MJO was over the West KWGA today with moderate plus strength west anomalies mostly filling the West KWGA. Solid east anomalies were on the dateline and filling the Eastern Pacific. The forecast indicates west anomalies holding and filling the West KWGA at moderate status through the end of the model run on 6/23. East anomalies are to hold on the dateline from 155E and points east of there through 6/2, fading then returning on 6/9 and holding through the end of the model run.
3 Month CFS Model (850 mb wind): (5/27 - using the 4th/latest ensemble member): The Inactive Phase of the MJO was all but gone in the KWGA today with the Active MJO building over the West KWGA. Weak west anomalies were filling the KWGA. The forecast indicates the Active Phase of the MJO is to hold over the KWGA with weak west anomalies reaching about to the dateline through 7/18. East anomalies are to be just east of the dateline and filling the Central and East Pacific over this duration. A weak Inactive Phase develops 7/6 over the KWGA through 8/18 but weak west anomalies are to prevail in the KWGA. A new Active Phase is to be moving into the far West KWGA on 8/14 holding through the end of the model run on 8/24 with weak west anomalies over the KWGA. No significant east anomalies are forecast in the KWGA moving forward. But solid east anomalies are to be locking down the Central and East Pacific through the end of the model run. The low pass filter indicates a high pressure bias is in control over the Central Pacific filling the eastern KWGA but a low pressure bias building over the West KWGA filling the western half of it to 150E. The high pressure bias has 2 contour lines reaching east to a point south of the Southwest US. The second contour line is to fade 6/9. The remaining 1 is to be shifting steadily east and losing coverage and no longer in the KWGA by 7/15 but then return on on 8/9. A single contour low pressure bias is over the Maritime Continent with it's leading edge half way through the KWGA (at 150E) today. The east edge of the low pressure bias is to track east reaching 165E on 7/20, then backtracking some and almost gone from the KWGA at the end of the model run on 8/24. We are moving to a neutral ENSO position. East anomalies that have been solid over the KWGA since 10/1/20 are fading and have now migrating east of the KWGA with no return in sight, instead focused over the East Pacific (from the dateline east to a point south of California - aka the Ridiculously Resilient Ridge). The end of La Nina is here according to NOAA.

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

Subsurface Waters Temps
TAO Array: (5/27) Today in the far West Pacific the 28 deg isotherm line was steady at 152W. The 24 deg isotherm was pushing the whole way across the equatorial Pacific and was 100 meters deep at 140W. Anomaly wise, warm anomalies +1 deg C are in the West Pacific indicative of a Kelvin Wave pushing east with +2 deg anomalies reaching across the Pacific from 140W and +2-3 degs anomalies in the East Pacific pushing near the surface at 110W but just 5 meters under it and holding that way into Ecuador. No cool anomalies were indicated. The hi-res GODAS animation posted 5/23 indicates a dramatic improvement with warm anomalies moving east subsurface to 85W just off Ecuador indicative of a Kelvin Wave poised to impact the far East Pacific and just below the surface at 100W and points east of there. Negative anomalies in the East Pacific were all but gone with residuals getting squeezed to the surface by the Kelvin Wave near Peru. The GODAS animation appears to be 1 week behind the TAO data but also is more detailed and accurately modeled.
Sea Level Anomalies: (5/23) A slight decrease in sea heights was indicated with readings 0 to +5 cms over the entire equatorial Pacific but not continuous like before. No negative anomalies were present on the equator or along the coasts of Peru, Central America and up to Baja Mexico or Southern California. The massive cold triangle that had previously formed over the equator is gone. The demise of La Nina is occurring now.

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: (5/26) The latest images indicate neutral to weakly warm water temps on the equator across the width of the Pacific except one pocket of weakly negative anomalies just west of the Galapagos and even that was fading. A previous upwelling event (cool anomalies) was along Peru but getting steadily weaker. A pocket of warm water was off Ecuador and Central America up to Southern Baja. Another weak pocket of warm water was off Chile and outer waters off Southern Peru. Overall this seems to indicate the late stages of La Nina.
Hi-res 7 day Trend (5/26): A neutral temperature trend was along Peru and Ecuador out to the Galapagos. The same continued from Galapagos out to the dateline. There was no clear signs of an upwelling warm water event (yet).
Hi-res Overview: (5/26) Weakly warmer than normal waters were on the equator from Ecuador to the dateline. Elsewhere a generic area of warm water was west of Central America. A mix of generic cool and warm water was west of Peru. A very weak area of cool water was along the immediate coast of Peru and fading fast. La Nina appears to be in retreat but not gone.
Nino1.2 Daily CDAS Index Temps: (5/27) Today's temps were rising at -0.524 after being in the -0.75 range since early April. Before that temps peaked at +0.714 on 3/16. The longterm trend has been stable.
Nino 3.4 Daily CDAS Index Temps: (5/27) Today temps were falling slightly at -0.064 after rising to +0.071 on (5/20), a recent peak high, beating the previous peak high of +0.040 on 5/3, the highest in a year and barely positive. Temps previously had been steady near -0.222 since early March. Temps bottomed out at -1.654 on 11/3, rising to to -0.982 on 1/21. Temps are on a steady increase.

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

SST Anomaly Projections
CFSv2 Uncorrected Data (5/27) - Actuals per the model indicate temps have been steadily rising from early Nov down at -1.25 degs, up to to -0.25 degs in mid-May. The forecast indicates temps rising to -0.05 degs in late June holding into mid-July, then starting a slow decline falling to -0.55 degs in mid-Oct and holding to mid-Jan before rising to -0.25 degs in early Feb 2022. This model suggests a demise of La Nina with an ENSO neutral trend beyond biased slightly negative. There is no sense that El Nino will develop. We're still in the Spring Unpredictability Barrier, so no outcome is certain.
IRI Consensus Plume: The May 20, 2021 Plume depicts temps are at -0.14 degs today, and are to rise to 0.00 in Sept e and stabilizing there through Jan 2022. Most models are suggesting were are nearly normal now and are to hold there into the early months of 2022.
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) (5/27): The daily index was rising slightly at -5.04. The 30 day average was falling to +5.65 after falling to +0.02 on 4/26, and that after peaking at +19.51 on 1/14. The 90 day average was rising slightly to +1.77, rising slightly after falling to the lowest in a year on 5/25 at +1.55. The 90 day average peaked at +15.75 on 2/23 (clearly indicative of La Nina then). This index is a lagging indicator.

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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Powerlines

Jeff Clark

Inside Mavericks

Local Interest
Stormsurf Video Surf Forecast for this week. See it Here
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

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

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