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BUOY ROUNDUP
On Tuesday, July 13, 2021 :

• Buoy 233 (Pearl Harbor Entrance)/Buoy 239 (Lanai): Seas were 3.3 ft @ 11.8 secs with swell 2.0 ft @ 12.6 secs from 182 degrees. Water temp 79.5 degs (Pearl Harbor 233), 80.8 (Lani 239).
• Buoy 106 (Waimea): Seas were 3.1 ft @ 6.7 secs with swell 2.2 ft @ 6.2 secs from 41 degrees. Water temp 79.2 degs.
• Buoy 46025 (Catalina RDG): Seas were 3.2 ft @ 15.9 secs with swell 1.7 ft @ 15.2 secs from 186 degrees. Wind at the buoy was northwest at 2-4 kts. Water temperature 68.0 degs, 70.7 (Topanga 103), 65.3 degs (Long Beach 215), 72.0 (Del Mar 153), 70.2 (Pt Loma 191). At Harvest Buoy (071) primary swell was 4.2 ft @ 9.4 secs from 312 degrees. At Santa Monica (028) swell was 1.5 ft @ 15.0 secs from 207 degrees. At Oceanside (045) swell was 2.7 ft @ 15.1 secs from 192 degrees. Southward at Point Loma (191) swell was 2.9 ft @ 15.0 secs from 179 degrees.
• Buoy 46012 (Half Moon Bay)/029 (Pt Reyes): Seas were 7.2 ft @ 9.9 secs with swell 5.2 ft @ 8.3 secs from 317 degrees and southern hemi swell 2.5 ft @ 15.4 secs from 189 degrees. Wind at the buoy (012) was northwest at 18-21 kts. Water temp 51.6 (029), 59.7 degs (SF Bar 142) and 62.4 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 Tuesday (7/13) North and Central CA had waves at waist high or so and heavily warbled if not chopped with steady northwest winds and mushed and not really rideable with fog and low clouds. Protected breaks were waist to maybe chest high on the sets and mushed and textured but fairly clean and weak. At Santa Cruz surf was waist high on the sets and very inconsistent and somewhat lined up but also drained early with clean conditions. In Southern California/Ventura waves were occasionally waist to chest high and lined up and somewhat closed out and a bit warbled but not chopped from northwest wind. Central Orange County had set waves at shoulder to head high and real lined up if not closed out when they came with light south winds adding some texture to it. South Orange County's best summertime breaks had sets at head high and lined up with good form but with some texture making it a little crumbled. North San Diego had sets waves at waist high and lined up and clean. Hawaii's North Shore was flat and clean. The South Shore was tiny with thigh to waist high sets and clean. The East Shore was getting short period windchop with waves thigh high or so and lightly chopped from modest east trades.

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

Meteorological Overview
On Tuesday (7/13) California was starting to get swell from another small system that formed over the South Central Pacific Sat-Mon (7/5) with 28-30 ft seas aimed northeast. Another gale also formed in the Southeast Pacific Wed (7/7) producing up to 35 ft seas aimed east. And a secondary gale formed over the same area on Thurs (7/8) producing up to 33 ft seas aimed east. Swells from those are tracking north. And one last system weakly formed under New Zealand on Fri-Sat (7/10) producing 28 ft seas aimed north then pushed across the South Pacific Mon-Tues (7/13) producing 25-28 ft seas aimed east. Doubtful anything rideable will result except for Hawaii. Perhaps another system is to form southeast of New Zealand tracking east on Thurs-Fri (7/16) producing up to 30 ft seas aimed northeast. Remnants of that system are to redevelop in the upper reaches of the Southeast Pacific on Sat-Sun (7/18) producing 33-35 ft seas aimed well northeast. And another system is to be right behind for the Southeast Pacific on Mon (7/19) with 30 ft seas aimed east. So perhaps the steady surf pattern for CA is to continue after a little break.

See all the details below...

 

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

North Pacific

Overview
Surface Analysis
On Tuesday (7/13) no swell from previous fetch was in the water and no swell producing fetch was occurring.

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

 

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

 

Tropical Update
No tropical systems are being monitored and none are forecast.

California Nearshore Forecast

• Wed (7/14) northwest winds to be 25-30 kts for North CA early and 10 kts for Central CA fading in coverage over North CA in the afternoon and fading to 20-25 kts and 10 kts over all of Central CA. Windswell fading.
• Thurs (7/15) northwest winds fading from 20-25 kts early over North CA to 20+ kts later. Central CA to have northwest winds 10-15 kts all day. Windswell fading.
• Fri (7/16) northwest winds to be 25 kts early for North CA and 15-20 kts for Central CA early holding all day. Windswell steady.
• Sat (7/17) northwest winds to be 20-25 kts for North CA early and 15 kts for Central CA holding all day. Windswell down some.
• Sun (7/18) northwest winds to be 20 kts for North CA early and 15 kts for Central CA holding all day. Windswell down slightly.
• Mon (7/19) northwest winds to be 20 kts for North CA early and 15 kts for Central CA holding all day. Windswell down slightly.
• Tues (7/20) northwest winds to be 20-25 kts for North CA early and 15 kts for Central CA holding all day. Windswell up slightly.

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 14,000+ ft with no change forecast.

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Tioga Pass/Pacific Crest Trail intersection forecast: Temps - Freeze Level (more here - scroll down to 'Resort Snow Forecasts>Central CA or North CA Caltrans & Backcountry')

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

 

South Pacific

Overview
Jetstream
On Tuesday (7/13) the influential southern branch of the jet was tracking east over the Southwest Pacific down at 61S and weak offering nothing. But over the South Central Pacific it started lifting northeast forming a weak trough being fed by 80 kts winds likely not offering much in terms of support for gale development. Over the Southeast PAcific the jet was falling hard south down into Antarctica offering nothing. Over the next 72 hours the trough is to slowly fade while pushing east to the Southeast Pacific on Wed (7/14) offering nothing of interest. But on Thurs (7/15) a new trough is to start building southeast of New Zealand being fed by 100 kts building to 130 kts on Fri (7/16) while moving over the Central South Pacific and lifting northeast improving odds for support of gale development. Beyond 72 hours the previous trough is to lift northeast on Sat-Sun (7/18) while getting cutoff but also tapping energy from the northern branch of the jet with winds to 140 kts perhaps continuing to support gale formation over the Southeast Pacific. Another weak trough is to also develop southeast of New Zealand on Sat (7/17) tracking east also merging with the northern branch on Sun-Mon (7/19) over the South Central Pacific perhaps offering some support for gale development. But behind that a weak ridge is to be building reaching south to 59S likely shutting off any potential to support a trough and therefore gale development.

Surface Analysis
On Tuesday (7/13) swell was all but gone in California from a gale previously in the Southeast Pacific (see Southeast Pacific Gale below). New swell was starting to show in California originating from a gale that formed over the South Central Pacific (see South Central Pacific Gale below). Another gale developed after that over the far Southeast Pacific Pacific producing 35 ft seas aimed east resulting in small swell radiating north (see Southeast Pacific Gale below). And secondary energy was embedded in that swell from another gale that formed over the Southeast Pacific (see Secondary Southeast Pacific Gale below). And finally a weak gale then developed under New Zealand aimed mostly north at Hawaii (see Weak New Zealand Gale below).

Over the next 72 hours a gale is forecast developing southeast of New Zealand on Wed PM (7/14) producing 40-45 kt south winds and seas building from 24 ft at 55.75S 178.25E aimed northeast. The gael to hold on Thurs AM (7/15) if not building in coverage some with 40-45 kts southwest winds and seas building to 30 ft at 55.25S 177.25W aimed northeast. The gale is to be fading in the evening with a solid area of 35-40 kts southwest winds and seas 30 ft at 54.5S 168W aimed northeast. On Fri AM (7/16) the gale is to be fading while being stretched northeast with 30-35 kts southwest winds over a large area and seas 29 ft at 54.5S 160.25W aimed northeast. In the evening fetch is to be gone and redeveloping to the northeast with seas from the original fetch fading from 26 ft at 50.75S 150W aimed well northeast. Secondary fetch to develop beyond (see Longterm Forecast below).

 

Southeast Pacific Gale
Remnants of the New Zealand Gale (above) started redeveloping over the Southeast Pacific on Thurs AM (7/1) producing 30-35 kt southwest winds over a broad area with seas building to 28 ft at 57S 141W aimed northeast. In the evening 35-40 kt southwest winds were pushing northeast with 29 ft seas at 55S 131W aimed east-northeast. On Fri AM (7/2) 35-40 kt west winds were racing east nearly out of the CA swell window with 32 ft seas still in the window at 54.5S 120W aimed east. Fetch faded out in the evening with residual seas fading from 26-27 ft at 52S 120W aimed northeast. Some minimal swell to result for CA and better for South America.

Southern CA: Swell fading on Tues (7/13) from 1.8 ft @ 13-14 secs early (2.0-2.5 ft). Swell Direction: 187 degrees

North CA: Swell fading on Tues (7/13) at 1.7 ft @ 13-14 secs early (2.0-2.5 ft). Swell Direction: 185 degrees

 

South Central Pacific Gale
On Sat AM (7/3) a small gale started building just off the Ross Ice Shelf lifting northeast with 40-45 kts west winds and seas barely 30 ft over a small area lifting east-northeast at 62S 162W. In the evening 40 kt west winds were pushing east-northeast with 30-31 ft seas at 60.5S 147W aimed east-northeast. Fetch back-built on Sun AM at 40 kts aimed northeast with 30 ft seas at 59S 140W aimed northeast. In the evening fetch was fading from 35 kts over a decent sized area aimed northeast with 28 ft seas fading at 55S 133.5W aimed northeast. On Mon AM (7/5) 35-40 kt southwest winds were lifting northeast with 26 ft seas at 51S 130.5W aimed northeast. Fetch continued in the evening at 35-40 kts over a broad area with 29 ft seas at 49.75S 121.5W aimed northeast. On Tues AM (7/6) fetch was moving well east of the SCal swell window at 35 kts over a large area aimed northeast with 26 ft seas on the edge of the CA swell window at 45S 119W aimed northeast. This system was east of the swell window after that.

Southern CA: Expect swell arrival on Tues (7/13) building to 2.1 ft @ 16-17 secs later (3.5 ft). Swell building into Wed (7/14) at 2.6 ft @ 15 secs (4.0 ft) mid-day and holding. Swell fading on Thurs (7/15) from 2.2 ft @ 13-14 secs early (3.0 ft). Residuals on Fri (7/16) fading from 1.7 ft @ 13 secs (2.0-2.5 ft). Swell Direction: 185 degrees

North CA: Expect swell arrival on Tues (7/13) building to 1.9 ft @ 16-17 secs later (3.0 ft). Swell building into Wed (7/14) at 2.4 ft @ 15-16 secs (3.5-4.0 ft) later. Swell fading on Thurs (7/15) from 2.2 ft @ 14-15 secs early (3.0 ft). Residuals on Fri (7/16) fading from 1.7 ft @ 13-14 secs (2.0-2.5 ft). Residuals on Sat (7/17) fading from 1.4 ft @ 12-13 secs early (1.5-2.0 ft). Swell Direction: 183 degrees

 

Southeast Pacific Gale
Another gale started building over the Central South Pacific on Tues PM (7/6) with a solid area of 40 kt west winds and seas 29 ft at 59S 152W aimed east. On Wed AM (7/7) 50-55 kt southwest winds were building over the far Southeast Pacific with 32 ft seas at 61.25S 126.25W aimed east. In the evening the gale was racing east with 35 kt west winds remaining in the SCal swell window and 36 ft seas at 59.25S 118.75W midday before moving out of the swell window. Small south angled swell to result.

Southern CA: Expect swell arrival on Thurs (7/15) building to 1.6 ft @ 17-18 secs midday (2.5-3.0 ft). Swell steady on Fri (7/16) at 1.7 ft @ 16 secs (2.5-3.0 ft). Swell fading on Sat (7/17) from 1.6 ft @ 14-15 secs (2.0-2.5 ft). Swell Direction: 182 degrees

North CA: Expect swell arrival on Thurs (7/15) building to 1.3 ft @ 18 secs later (2.0-2.5 ft). Swell building on Fri (7/16) to 1.7 ft @ 16-17 secs (2.5-3.0 ft). Swell fading on Sat (7/17) from 1.4 ft @ 15 secs (2.0 ft). Residuals fading on Sun (7/18) from 1.2 ft @ 14 secs (1.5-2.0 ft). Swell Direction: 180 degrees

 

Secondary Southeast Pacific Gale
On Wed PM (7/7) yet another fetch started building over the Central South Pacific with 40 kt northwest winds and seas 29 ft at 56.5S 155W aimed east-southeast. On Thurs AM (7/8) southwest winds built to 45 kts over the Southeast Pacific with seas building to 30 ft at 58S 137W aimed east. In the evening fetch built to 55 kts from the west pushing east with seas 35 ft at 60.75S 120W aimed east. Fetch built while tracking east but well outside (east of) the Southern CA swell window after that. Small south angled swell to result.

For California this swell to overlap with the swell above from the Southeast Pacific

 

Weak New Zealand Gale
Another small system started developing just southeast of New Zealand on Sat AM (7/10) producing 40-45 kts south winds over a small and fragmented area aimed north with seas 26-28 ft over a small area at 53.5S 178W aimed northeast. In the evening 35-40 kt southwest winds were fading with seas 28 ft over a small area at 50S 177W aimed northeast. On Sun AM (7/11) 30-35 kt southwest winds continued over a small area southeast of New Zealand with 23 ft seas at 42S 168W aimed northeast and mostly of no interest. On Mon AM (7/12) this system is to regenerate weakly over the Central South Pacific producing southwest winds of 35-40 kts and seas 25 ft at 48S 152W aimed northeast. In the evening fetch is to build some at 40-45 kts in two small pockets with seas to barely 28 ft at 46S 141W aimed east-northeast. Tues AM (7/13) 35-40 kts west winds to barely hang on with seas 27 ft at 51S 142W aimed east. In the evening fetch is to be fading in coverage at 40 kts over the Southeast Pacific with seas 28 ft over a tiny area at 51.5S 130.5W aimed east. On Wed AM (7/14) the gale is to fade while moving to the edge of the SCal swell window with 35-40 kt west winds and seas 27 ft at 49.25S 118W aimed east. Low odds of tiny swell for Hawaii and then the us West Coast. The trend is down. Something to monitor.

Hawaii: Expect swell arrival on Sat (7/17) building to 1.7 ft @ 15-16 secs later (2.5 ft). Swell continues on Sun (7/18) holding at 1.7 ft @ 14-15 secs (2.5 ft). Swell fading on Mon (7/19) from 1.4 ft @ 13-14 secs early (1.5-2.0 ft). Swell Direction: 190 degrees

Southern CA: Swell arrival later Mon (7/19) building to 1.0 ft @ 17 secs (1.5 ft) late. Swell building on Tues (7/20) to 1.5 ft @ 15-16 secs later (2.0-2.5 ft). Swell fading out after that. Swell Direction: 212 degrees

North CA: Swell arrival later Mon (7/19) building to 1.0 ft @ 17 secs (1.5 ft) late. Swell building on Tues (7/20) to 1.5 ft @ 15-16 secs later (2.0-2.5 ft). Swell fading out after that. Swell Direction: 210 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 is forecast.

 

South Pacific

Beyond 72 hours starting Sat AM (7/17) secondary fetch from a gale previously southeast of New Zealand is to develop over the upper reaches of the Southeast Pacific producing 45 kt south winds and seas building from 31 ft at 45.5S 138W aimed northeast. In the evening fetch is to track northeast at 40-45 kts over a small area with 35 ft seas at 42.25S 132.25W aimed northeast. On Sun AM (7/18) fetch is to be tracking north and fading from 35 kts with seas fading from 30 ft at 38.5S 126W aimed northeast. Something to monitor.

Beyond another gale is forecast over the deep South Central Pacific on Mon AM (7/19) producing 40 kt west winds and seas 30 ft at 56.5S 146W aimed east. 40-45 kts west winds to track east in the evening with 31 ft seas at 59.75W 136W aimed east. Fetch is to be fading from 35 kts on Tues AM (7/20) with seas fading from 29 ft at 61S 126W aimed east. Something to monitor.

 

MJO/ENSO Forecast

 

Kelvin Wave Eruption Continues Weakly near Ecuador - A Return of La Nina Forecast
Summary - 2 Kevin Waves were weakly erupting near the Galapagos with a 3rd pushing east behind them. The forecast suggests east anomalies taking over the bulk of the equatorial Pacific from here forward with a high pressure bias in control of the Pacific. Blocking high pressure is starting to rebuild and is to hold through Winter 2021-2022.

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: In 2019 warm equatorial 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 evolved into La Nina, with it fully developing through July 2020. A slow dissolving of La Nina started in March 2021 with 2 Kelvin Waves sweeping east and arriving over the Galapagos in June. Weak warming set up over the equator with no cool waters present. NOAA declared La Nina dead.

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 (7/12) 5 day average winds were strong from the east over the Eastern equatorial Pacific then moderate to strong east over the Central Pacific and moderate to strong over the KWGA. Anomalies were light east over the East equatorial Pacific and light east over the Central Pacific and modest east over the KWGA. (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 (7/13) strong east anomalies were filling the KWGA with weaker east anomalies over the equatorial Pacific to a point south of Hawaii. The forecast calls for east anomalies peaking at strong status 7/13-7/16 then weakening and tracking east and out of the KWGA at the end of the model run on 7/20 with weak west anomalies trying to move into the far west KWGA then.

Kelvin Wave Generation Area wind monitoring model: West and East

MJO/WWB/Wind Projections:  
OLR Models: (7/12) A weak and fading Inactive MJO pattern was indicated over the KWGA today. The statistic model projects a neutral MJO pattern setting up on day 5 then turning to a weak Active Pattern on day 10 while building and filling the KWGA at modest status on day 15 of the model run. The dynamic model projects the same thing but with the Active Phase stronger at strong status on day 15 of the model run.
Phase Diagrams 2 week forecast (ECMF and GEFS): (7/13) The statistical model depicts the Active Phase was weak over the Central Indian Ocean today and is to track east to the Central Maritime Continent on day 15 at exceedingly weak status. The dynamic model suggests the Active Phase moving to the far West Pacific at day 15 of the model run at weak status.
40 day Upper Level Model (assumed to be a statistical mode and 1 week ahead of what is occurring at the surface): (7/12) A modest Inactive Phase (dry air) was indicated over the West Pacific. The Inactive Phase (dry air) is to push east moving into Central America on 8/6. The Active Phase is to be building over the KWGA on 7/27 moving to the East Pacific at the end of the model run on 8/21. A new Inactive Phase starts building modestly over the West Pacific at that time.
4 Week CFS Model (850 mb wind): (7/12) This model depicts no MJO signal over the KWGA today with moderate east anomalies filling the equatorial Pacific. The forecast indicates east anomalies are to hold coverage over the entire equatorial Pacific through 7/15. After that east anomalies are to re-establish themselves in the core of the KWGA on 7/22 and hold through the end of the model run on 8/9 at modest to moderate status.
3 Month CFS Model (850 mb wind): (7/13 - using the 4th/latest ensemble member): Today a weak Inactive MJO was fading over the KWGA with weak east anomalies over the KWGA. The forecast indicates the weak Inactive MJO signal is to hold through 7/19 with weak east anomalies in the KWGA. On 7/17 a weak Active Phase is to start progressing east across the KWGA with east anomalies over the KWGA except for west anomalies limited to the far western KWGA. The Active Phase is to slowly push east through 9/15 but with east anomalies locked from 150E and points east of there through the end of the model run on 10/10 with west anomalies west of the 150E mark and only getting a minimal footprint in the equatorial Pacific. A weak Inactive MJO pattern is forecast starting 9/9 with no change in the east wind pattern. The low pass filter indicates a high pressure bias is in control over the East Pacific (with one contour line) but a low pressure bias over the West KWGA filling the western 2/3rds of it to 165E. The high pressure bias was reaching east into the Southwest US. The high pressure contour line shifted dramatically east to 130W on 6/30 and is to hold through 8/12 then back-build west to 170E and easing west to 150E at the end of the model run. The single contour low pressure bias is already starting to recede west migrating to 120E on 8/12 becoming recentered over the Maritime Continent like last winter. This suggest a return to some flavor of a La Nina pressure pattern by late August with east anomalies and high a pressure bias effectively over the dateline and points east of there. And this forecast has been stable for over a month now.

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

Subsurface Waters Temps
TAO Array: (7/13) Today in the far West Pacific the 29 degree isotherm was stable at 176E. The 28 deg isotherm line was stable at 160W. The 24 deg isotherm was again barely pushing east into Ecuador. Anomaly wise, warm anomalies +1 deg C were filling the equatorial Pacific from a depth of 125 meters upward building to +2 degs C from 115W and points east of there. This suggesting a weak Kelvin Wave tracking east. And the +2 deg anomalies in the far East Pacific were indicative of a previous Kelvin Wave (actually 2) pushing into Ecuador. No cool anomalies were indicated. The hi-res GODAS animation posted 7/7 indicates much the same with the new Kelvin Wave pushing east to 140W and 2 previous Kelvin Waves pushing weakly and tenuously east from 140W into Central America. The GODAS animation appears to be 1 week behind the TAO data but also is more detailed and accurately modeled.
Sea Level Anomalies: (7/7) Sea heights were steady over the equator with readings 0 to +5 cms mainly in 3 pockets with one west of the dateline, the second near 150W and the third at 110W. La Nina is gone but no clear large scale warming is occurring either. A neutral pattern was established.

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 Qualitative Analysis: (7/12) The latest images depict warm water on the equator across the width of the Pacific with stronger warming along Ecuador and over the Galapagos and a little west of there. 2 Kelvin Waves were finally erupting. But 2 pockets of cooling were embedded in that flow at 100W and 115W. A area of weak warming was along Chile and Peru but broken up. A more cohesive pocket of warm water was along Central America up to Southern Baja. Overall this seems to indicate the late stages of La Nina transitioning to ENSO neutral.
Hi-res 7 day Trend (7/12): A solid pocket of cooling water was indicated along the equator from Ecuador west to 120W. No significant warming was indicated. Otherwise nothing outside the ordinary was occurring.
Hi-res Overview: (7/12) A less distinct flow of warmer than normal water was on the equator tracking west from Ecuador to the dateline with secondary warming west of Central America. A weaker area of generic warm was west of Peru and Chile. A pocket of cooling was between 100W to 120W on the equator. A clear cool outflow was still pushing from California southwest to the a point south of Hawaii. La Nina appears to be in retreat but not quite gone.
Nino1.2 Daily CDAS Index Temps: (7/13) Today's temps were steady at -0.235 after previously peaking at +0.213 on 6/17, the highest since 3/16 when they briefly hit +0.714 degs. But in between they've been in the -0.75 range. The longterm trend has been stable.
Nino 3.4 Daily CDAS Index Temps: (7/13) Today temps were falling at +0.128 after peaking at +0.332 on 7/1, the highest in a year. They previously peaked at +0.224 on 6/15. Previously they peaked at +0.085 on (6/1), beating the previous peak high of +0.040 on 5/3. Temps previously had been steady near -0.222 since early March. Temps bottomed out at -1.654 on 11/3. Temps have been on a steadily increasing trend.

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

SST Anomaly Projections
CFSv2 Uncorrected Data (7/13) - Actuals per the model indicate temps were rising since early Nov 2020 when they were -1.25 degs, building to -0.01 degs in mid-June holding to mid-July. The forecast indicates a steady fall in temperatures from here forward dropping to -1.00 degs in mid-Sept and then down to -1.25 degs in mid-Oct. A slow but steady increase is forecast from then reaching -0.90 degs mid-Jan then starting a quicker rise to -0.15 degs in mid April 2022. This model suggests a return of La Nina conditions this Fall and Winter. There is no indication that El Nino will develop.
IRI Consensus Plume: The June 20, 2021 Plume depicts temps are at -0.10 degs today, and are to fade slowly -0.30 degrees in Sept and stabilizing there into December, then rising to +0.10 in later Jan 2022. Most models are suggesting we 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) (7/13): The daily index was rising to +25.18. The 30 day average was rising steadily to +9.24 after falling to -3.36 on 6/22, the lowest in a year and beating the previous low on 6/14 of -2.08. It peaked at +19.51 on 1/14. The 90 day average was rising some to +4.35 after falling to it's lowest point in a year on 6/9 at +1.06. 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
The PDO theoretically turned from a 16 year negative run (Jan 98-Feb 2014) in early 2014 and was positive till Dec 2019, but has been negative every since, driven by recent La Nina conditions. As of May 2021 it was the most negative its been at -2.04 since Sept 2012. 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'). It is more likely we are still in the cool phase of the PDO.

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