Pacific Storm & Surf Forecast (Stormsurf)

Buoy 238 (Barbers Pt)/Buoy 239 (Lani): Seas were 4.2 ft @ 14.3 secs with swell 2.7 ft @ 14.5 secs from 211 degrees. Water temp 81.3 degs (Barbers Pt), 81.1 (Pearl Harbor 233), 81.7 (Lani 239).
Buoy 106 (Waimea): Seas were 7.7 ft @ 14.3 secs with swell 4.8 ft @ 13.3 secs from 005 degrees. Water temp 81.0 degs.
Buoy 46025 (Catalina RDG): Seas were 3.2 ft @ 14.7 secs with swell 1.8 ft @ 13.8 secs from 204 degrees. Wind southwest at 2-4 kts. Water temperature 70.7 degs, 67.3 (Topanga 103), 65.7 degs (Long Beach 215), 71.1 (Oceanside Offshore 045), 68.0 (Del Mar 153), 71.1 (Torrey Pines Outer 100). At Harvest Buoy (071) primary swell was 2.1 ft @ 13.6 secs from 209 degrees. At Santa Monica (028) swell was 1.2 ft @ 17.8 secs from 206 degrees. At Oceanside (045) swell was 2.0 ft @ 14.6 secs from 194 degrees. Southward at Pt Loma (191) swell was 2.4 ft @ 15.6 secs from 196 degrees. Water temperate was 68.7 degrees.
Buoy 46012 (Half Moon Bay)/029 (Pt Reyes): Seas were 4.6 ft @ 13.7 secs with swell 2.4 ft @ 14.8 secs from 161 degrees. Wind at buoy 46012 was northwest at 8-14 kts. Water temp 55.8 degs (Pt Reyes 029), 56.7 (Pt Reyes 46013), 59.0 (46026), 60.3 (SF Bar 142), 59.0 (Pt Santa Cruz 254) and NA (Monterey Bay 46042).

PACIFIC OVERVIEW
Current Conditions
On Monday (10/10) North and Central CA had a windswell and southern hemi swell mix at waist high and weakly lined up and fairly clean but soft and unremarkable with heavy overcast. Protected breaks were flat and clean with fog. At Santa Cruz surf was waist to chest high on the rare sets and clean and soft with heavy overcast. In Southern California/Ventura waves were thigh to maybe waist high and lined up and clean but soft and weak. Central Orange County had sets at waist to maybe chest high and lined up and clean but soft and crumbled. South Orange County's best summertime breaks had sets pushing head high on the peak and reasonably lined up and super clean with good form. North San Diego had sets at waist high and clean but soft and pretty formless. Hawaii's North Shore was still getting surf with sets 2-3 ft over head at top spots and lined up with decent form and clean early. The South Shore was beautiful early with waves waist to chest high and rarely head high and lined up with good form and super clean. The East Shore was getting north swell too with waves 2-3 ft overhead and clean with no wind.

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

Meteorological Overview
On Monday (10/0) California was getting minimal background southern hemi swell and unremarkable. Hawaii's North Shore was getting more swell from a cutoff gale that developed in the Central Gulf on Sat (10/8) producing 21 ft seas aimed well at Hawaii. Down south a small gale tracked east through the Central South Pacific Sat-Sun (10/2) producing 28-30 ft sea over a small area aimed east. Small swell is hitting Hawaii and expected along the US West Coast later today (Monday). After that maybe a gale is to develop in the Central South Pacific Fri-Sat (10/15) producing 32 ft seas aimed well northeast mainly at the mainland. Looking north yet another weak pulse is to redevelop in the Northwestern Gulf on Wed (10/12) producing 20 ft seas aimed again at Hawaii. And a stronger gale is forecast over the North Dateline region Thurs-Sat (10/15) producing up to 23 ft seas aimed southeast. And maybe some secondary energy from that is to develop in the Gulf on Mon (10/17) with 24 ft seas aimed east. So Fall is trying to get a toehold, but only weakly.

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

Overview
Jetstream
On Monday (10/10) the jetstream was ridging up into and across the Bering Sea with a fully cut off low pressure system circulating just north of Hawaii with 90 kt winds rotating around it offering little in terms of support for gale development. Over the next 72 hours that trough is to that cutoff low is forecast to start tapping into the main jetstream energy on Tues (10/11) forming a new trough sagging south and just east of the dateline and tight if not pinched being fed by 170 kts winds briefly falling southeast with it's apex moving just 500 nmiles north of Hawaii on Thurs (10/13) being fed by 120 kt winds offering some opportunity to produce more low pressure. Beyond 72 hours starting Fri (10/14) the jet in the west is to sink south some becoming fully exposed south of the Central Aleutians being fed by 160 kts winds offering some support for gale development near the dateline while the previous trough holds north of the Islands while getting very pinched offering nothing. And then on Mon (10/17) yet a new trough is to develop in the Northwestern Gulf being fed by 150 kts winds perhaps offering more hope for gale development. Overall the jet is to slowly falling south offering better potential beyond. Something to monitor.

Surface Analysis
On Monday (10/10) swell from a gale that formed in the Northwestern Gulf was hitting Hawaii and moving towards California (see Another Cutoff Gulf Low below).

Over the next 72 hours perhaps another small and weak low pressure system is to develop in a trough north of Hawaii on Wed AM (10/12) producing 35 kt north winds and 20 ft seas at 455N 158W aimed south at Hawaii. Fetch is to fade in the evening from 25 kts with seas fading from 18 ft at 44N 157W aimed south. Small swell possible to result for Hawaii. Something to monitor.

On Wed PM (10/12) perhaps a new gale is to develop just off Kamchatka producing 40 kt west winds just south of the West Aleutians producing 23 ft seas at 49.25N 163.25E aimed east. On Thurs AM (10/13) a broad fetch of 30 kts west winds are forecast with seas 22 ft at 47N 169.75E aimed east. Fetch is to build in the evening over the North Dateline region with 35 kts northwest winds and seas building to 23 ft at 48.5N 179E aimed east. Fetch is to be fading Fri AM (10/14) in the far Western Gulf from 30 kts from the west with seas fading from 22 ft at 45.5N 175.75W aimed southeast. In the evening fetch is to be fading from 30 kts from the northwest with seas fading from 21 ft at 44N 170W aimed southeast. The gale is to dissipate from there. Something to monitor for both Hawaii and the US West Coast.

Cutoff Gulf Low
Remnants of a previous gale continued circulating in the Central Gulf of Alaska regenerating some on Fri PM (10/7) producing 30 kt north winds targeting Hawaii and trying to get traction on the oceans surface. On Sat AM (10/8) 35-40 kt north winds are forecast with seas building to 19 ft at 37.75N 155.75W aimed south at Hawaii. In the evening 30-35 kts north and west winds were wrapping around the southern quadrant of the gale with seas 19 ft at 35.5N 157.25W aimed at Hawaii and the US West Coast. On Sun AM (10/9) fetch was fading to 25-30 kts with seas fading from 16 ft at 33N 155W targeting Hawaii and the US West Coast. The gale faded from there. More swell is to result primarily for Hawaii. Something to monitor.

Oahu: Swell holding at on Mon (10/11) at 5.1 ft @ 12 secs early (6.0 ft). Dribbles on Tues (10/12) fading from 4.0 ft @ 10-11 secs (4.0-4.5 ft). Remnants on Wed (10/13) fading from 2.9 ft @ 10 secs (2.5-3.0 ft). Swell Direction: 350-360 degrees

North CA: Dribbles on Mon (10/10) fading from 1.4 ft @ 10 secs (1.5 ft). Swell Direction: 296-300 degrees

Tropical Update
No tropical systems of interest are being monitored at this time.

Tues AM (10/11) northwest winds are forecast at 20-25 kts for Cape Mendocino but light northwest at 5 kts south of there holding all day. Limited northwest windswell.
Wed AM (10/12) northwest winds to be 5-10 kts for North and Central CA holding all day. No windswell production forecast.
Thurs AM (10/13) northwest winds to start building at 15 kts for Cape Mendocino but mostly 5-10 kts for the remainder of North and Central CA early then building to 15 kts for Cape Mendocino and 15 kts south of Monterey Bay and 10 kts in between in the afternoon. Very limited weak short period windswell forecast.
Fri AM (10/14) northwest winds are forecast at 20-25 kts off Cape Mendocino but 10 kts nearshore for all of North and Central CA early. More of the same in the afternoon Weak short period windswell building.
Sat AM (10/15) south winds are forecast at 1-5 kts early for all of North and Central CA early but with 20 kt north winds off Cape Mendocino. South winds continue at 5 kts in the afternoon for all of North and Central CA with fetch off Cape Mendocino evaporating in the afternoon. No windswell production forecast.
Sun AM (10/16) light southwest winds are forecast at 1-5 kts all day for North and Central CA. No windswell production forecast.
Mon AM (10/17) northwest winds are forecast at 5 kts for North Ca early and up to 15 kts for Central Ca south of Monterey Bay. No windswell production forecast.

Freezing level for the Tioga Pass Road is 12,0000 ft today and is to hold rock steady beyond.

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

Overview
Surface Analysis
Swell from a gale that previously crossed the South Pacific is tracking northeast (see South Central Pacific Gale below).

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

South Central Pacific Gale
On Fri PM (9/30) a small gale developed under New Zealand with 35-40 kt west winds and seas 28 ft over a small area aimed east at 54S 166E aimed east. On Sat AM (10/1) fetch built some at 35-40 kts tracking east with seas 29 ft at 53S 175W aimed east. In the evening fetch continued east over the Central South Pacific at 35-45 kts from the southwest with seas 31 ft over a tiny area at 54.5S 158.5W aimed east. On Sun AM (10/2) southwest winds were 40 kts with seas 31 ft at 51.5S 146.5W aimed east. Fetch is to fade in the evening from 30-35 kts from the southwest with seas fading from 27 ft at 50S 138.5W aimed northeast. Low odds of swell production. Something to monitor.

Hawaii: Swell fading on Mon AM (10/10) from 1.5 ft @ 14-15 secs (2.0-2.5 ft). Dribbles on Tues AM (10/11) fading from 1.2 ft @ 13-14 secs (1.5 ft). Swell Direction: 201 degrees

Southern CA: Expect swell arrival on Mon (10/10) building to 1.6 ft @ 17-18 secs later (2.5 ft). Swell building on Tues (10/11) to 2.1 ft @ 15-16 secs (3.0-3.5 ft). Swell fading some on Wed (10/12) from 2.0 ft @ 14-15 secs (3.0 ft). Dribbles on Thurs (10/13) fading from 1.7 ft @ 13-14 secs early (2.0-2.5 ft). Swell Direction: 202 degrees

North CA: Southern CA: Expect swell arrival on Mon (10/10) building to 1.6 ft @ 17-18 secs later (2.5 ft). Swell building on Tues (10/11) to 2.1 ft @ 16-17 secs (3.0-3.5 ft). Swell fading some on Wed (10/12) from 2.0 ft @ 14-15 secs (3.0 ft). Dribbles on Thurs (10/13) fading from 1.8 ft @ 13-14 secs early (2.0-2.5 ft). Swell Direction: 202 degrees

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

Beyond 72 hours perhaps another gale is to develop in the Central Gulf on Mon (10/17) with 45 kt west winds lifting northeast and seas building to 26 ft at 46.25N 155.25W. Something to monitor.

Upwelling Phase Still Underway
Models Suggesting a Change in 3 Weeks
Cool subsurface water volume peaked under the equatorial Pacific on 10/15/21, faded in May and June 2022, but is stating to rebuild in late July. A Kelvin Wave traversed the equatorial Pacific May-June, but was discharged by late July. The SOI appears to be past its peak. La Nina conditions are projected reinforcing in Nino3.4 in Fall then fading by Winter turning neutral. Overall cool water volume over the entire equatorial Pacific is to be fading steadily from here forward. The outlook is turning more optimistic.

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. But cold water returned in July 2021 and a second pulse of La Nina developed through the Winter of 2022 and is continuing today, though possibly weaker with its foundation appearing to be in decline.

Rationale: It was assumed that the moderate La Nina from the Winter of 2020/2021 was on the wane and that a return to neutral ENSO state would set up over the Pacific Basin through the summer of 2021. But La Nina made a strong return by the end of Sept much like what the CFS model suggested would happen and a full double dip pattern took hold through the Winter of 21/22. But a quick fade is forecast as we move into late December 2022 with the CFS predicting a return to a neutral wind anomaly pattern and the low pressure bias making headway in to the KWGA in early Jan. Still it will take some time for the atmosphere to fully respond, resulting in a less than normal swell production forecast especially for Fall into early Winter 2022. But by later in Jan or early Feb 2023 a return to a more normal pattern might take hold. As a result a significantly reduced number of storm days and storm intensity is expected Oct 22-Jan 23, resulting in a below normal level of swells, with swell being below normal duration and period. But by Feb 2023, the number of storm days, intensity and duration of those storms should start improving as La Nina fades out. The net result is we're currently thinking a near normal number of swells with normal size and duration is to result, but all focused sometime after Jan 2023. The swell pattern will be below normal before Jan and above normal after Jan 23 with the average of the two being 'normal'. Of course this is all highly speculative at this early date.

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 (10/9) 5 day average winds were strong from the east over the Eastern equatorial Pacific and strong east over the Central Pacific and strong east over the KWGA. Anomalies were neutral over the East equatorial Pacific and modest east over the Central Pacific and moderate east over the KWGA. (Note: These are 5 day average winds, versus realtime, so they lag what is happening today (by about 2.5 days).
1 Week Forecast (GFS Model): (10/10) Modest east anomalies were filling the KWGA today. The 7 day forecast calls for east anomalies building to strong status on the dateline on 10/12 and holding through the last day of the model run on 10/17. The 2 week GFS 925 mb wind anomaly chart depicts east anomalies fading considerably over the KWGA on Thurs (10/20) with west anomalies developing in the far KWGA on 10/25 but not filling the KWGA through the end of the model run on 10/26 and if anything east anomalies trying to redevelop but not quite making it.

MJO/WWB/Wind Projections:
OLR Models: (10/9) A modest version of the Active Phase of the MJO was indicated today over the KWGA. The statistical model indicates a modest MJO signal holding over the West KWGA on day 5 of the model run through days 10 and 15 of the model run. The dynamic model suggests the same thing but the signal building to near strong status on day 15 of the model run.
Phase Diagrams 2 week forecast (ECMF and GEFS): (10/10) The statistical model depicts the Active signal was very weak over the East Maritime Continent and is slowly track east while building to modest strength over the far West Pacific 15 days out. The dynamic model suggest the same thing or maybe just slightly stronger the last day of the model run while stalling over the West Pacific.
40 day Upper Level Model (assumed to be a statistical mode and 1 week ahead of what is occurring at the surface): (10/10) A modest Active Phase (wet air) is pushing east over the KWGA today. The Active Phase is to slowly ease east filling the Pacific 10/15 and tracking east from there eventually moving into Ecuador 11/11. A modest Inactive Phase of the MJO is to start pushing east over the KWGA on 11/1 filling the KWGA at the end of the model run 11/19.
4 Week CFS Model (850 mb wind): (10/9) A weak Inactive signal was indicated today fading fast and not even in the KWGA with moderate east anomalies filling the KWGA. The forecast calls for the Inactive Phase gone but with east anomalies rebuilding on 10/11 holding for 2 days then fading. On 10/14 a weak Active Phase of the MJO is to start pushing through the KWGA with west anomalies reaching to 150E on 10/16, then fading fast with east anomalies rebuilding and in control at modest strength on 11/1 holding through the end of the model run on 11/6 with the Inactive Phase starting to push into the KWGA.
3 Month CFS Model (850 mb wind): (10/10) - using the 5th ensemble member - the mean of the 4 individual members which are all from the 00Z run - 1 run per day):
Today east anomalies were over the KWGA with the Inactive Phase of the MJO fading from the KWGA. The Inactive Phase is to be gone on 10/12 with one solid pocket of east anomalies on the dateline for a few days near 10/15, then all east anomalies fading from the KWGA by 10/20. In the west a coherent Active Phase of the MJO is starting to push into the KWGA today and is forecast expanding coverage and filling the KWGA by 10/18 with west anomalies building in behind expanding east from Maritime Continent to the dateline on 10/22 and backfilling it more beyond. This would be a huge change if it develops as forecast. The key date is 10/21 for the demise of east anomalies and presumably La Nina. The Active Phase is to fade on 12/21 with a weak Inactive Phase of the MJO following starting 10/31 through the end of the model run on 1/7/2023 but with weak west anomalies in control the whole time. The low pass filter indicates a high pressure bias with 2 contour lines centered at 180W with its western perimeter at 150E today. The second contour is to hold into October then collapse on 11/27 with the western edge of the high pressure bias starting to retrograde west to 145E at 10/28. But after that the western edge of the high pressure bias is to start easing east and fully collapse on 12/28 and gone beyond. A broad double contour low pressure bias is established centered over the West Maritime Continent at 90E with it's leading edge at 125E today but is forecast retrograding to 123E on 10/18 then starting to ease east to 150E at the end of the model run. Of note, east anomalies which are and have been centered at 180W and are to continue to have some solid influence over the KWGA into early Oct, then dissipate completely by 10/23 with west anomalies taking over the KWGA beyond. And the High Pressure Bias is dissipate in late Dev. This would be a huge step forward, if it develops.

Subsurface Waters Temps
TAO Array: (10/10) Today in the far West Pacific the 29 degree isotherm was gone, previously at 171E. The 28 deg isotherm line was steady at 175E. The 26 degree isotherm was at 152W today, previously at 145W. The 24 deg isotherm had backtracked from Ecuador to 133W but then started easing east from 130W to 117W today. Anomaly wise, warm anomalies +2 deg C were in a pocket in the far West Pacific down 150m with it's leading edge easing east to 155W. A pocket of cool anomalies at -2 degs C were centered at 135W and filling the area from 150W and points east of there but they appear to be easing east, fading and losing density. The hi-res GODAS animation posted 10/5 indicates the same broad area of warm anomalies in the west pushing east to 150W and far warmer. A cool pocket was filling the area east of 150W and reaching the surface and far cooler. The GODAS animation appears to be 1 week behind the TAO data but also is more detailed and accurately modeled.
Sea Level Anomalies: (10/5) Sea heights were stable but negative over the East Equatorial Pacific. A broad pocket of positive anomalies were over the equator in the far West Pacific and starting to move east reaching to 150W. A pocket of negative anomalies were covering from Ecuador to 150W with a previous broad core at -15 cms now repositioned east between 110W to 130W with -10 cm anomalies holding from 100W to 145W. Per the Upper Ocean Heat Anomaly Histogram cool anomalies were positioned in the Central Equatorial Pacific between 155W to Ecuador and easing east. It is already longer in duration than the previous cool pulse. If something doesn't change soon, La Nina will last through the Winter and the models will all be wrong.

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: (10/9) The latest images depict a broad generic pool of cool water extending west from Chile and Peru to the dateline and filling well south of the equator. A pocket of very cool water was erupting between Ecuador to 115W but appears to be losing intensity today. An area of warm water was present on the equator from Ecuador west to 140W but mostly just north of the equator starting at 2N. A weak area of warm water was present north of the equator (15 deg N) extending off mainland Mexico to 145W. Overall this indicates the late stages of La Nina.
Hi-res 7 day Trend (10/9): Mostly warming water is on the equator in a thin string from Ecuador to 125W. The trend was towards warming.
Hi-res Overview: (10/6) Persistent cool waters cover a large area from Ecuador to 160E on and south of the equator from South America down at 20S with the coolest waters between 80W to 120W on the equator. Warmer than normal waters were on the equator in the east aligned in a thin stream from Ecuador to 110W starting 3 degrees north of the equator. La Nina remains in control over the East Equatorial Pacific and the density and intensity of the cooling appears to be building some on the equator with warm water from a previous Kelvin Wave breaking up over the East equatorial Pacific.
Nino1.2 Daily CDAS Index Temps: (10/10) (These temps are biased high by about 0.2 degs compared to official sources). Today's temps were falling slightly at -1.430 after falling to -1.498 degs on 9/21 and had been falling since 9/14 after being in the -1.0 range since 7/29. Coral Reef indicates temps at -1.982 degs and falling the past 5 days. Temp were down on 7/20 to -1.6 degs. Previously temps were stable near -1.4 degrees 6/12 through 7/27. Peaks in that time frame were -1.189 (7/7), -1.534 (7/5). Previously temps were at -1.822 on 6/9 after being up to -1.506 (5/21) and that after hovering around -2.0 degs since 4/21/22. Prior to that temps were fading after peaking at +0.760 on 3/18. Temps had been moving upwards since 2/20, and beat a previous high of -0.650 degs on 1/9 and that after being down at -1.871 on 1/3/22 and -1.954 on 12/18/21, the lowest this year so far. Previously temps dropped on 11/24/21 at -1.700, the lowest in months after previously toggling steady at about -0.6 degs from mid Aug to Oct 6, then falling from there. That year temps bottomed out at -2.138 on 8/13/20. The longterm trend has been steadily downward.
Nino 3.4 Daily CDAS Index Temps: (10/10) (These temps are biased high by about 0.2 degs). Today's temps were rising slightly at -0.748 beating a previous peak of -0.819 on 9/22 and have been in the -1.0 range since 8/16. Coral Reef indicates temps at -0.816 degs and steady the past 9 days. Temps had fallen since 7/15 reaching La Nina threshold on 7/27 after being more or less steady the previous 3 weeks peaking at -0.25 on 7/14 and -0.275 on 7/5. Previously temps had been on an upward trend since 5/15/22 rising to -0.414 degs (6/19) and -0.493 on 6/9, the first reading above La Nina threshold values since Sept 2021. Temps were down to -0.929 (5/2/22) and that after rising to a peak at -0.704 on 3/27 and had been on a gentle rising trend since falling to -1.012 on 3/8. Previously temps were rising slightly to -0.505 on 2/2 and that after reaching a peak low of -1.096 on 1/3/22 beating the previous low of -1.080 on 11/2/21, the lowest in a year. Prior to that temps had been in a freefall starting from the -0.175 range in early Sept/21. Before that temps peaked up at 7/1/21 +0.332, the highest in a year. Temps previously had been steady near -0.222 since early March 2021. Temps bottomed out at -1.654 on 11/3/2020.

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

SST Anomaly Projections
CFSv2 Uncorrected Data
Previous - Temps rose in early Nov 2020 after bottoming out at -1.25 degs, up to -0.01 degs in mid-June 2021 then fading to -1.05 degs in mid-Nov then rebuilding to -0.7 in mid Feb 2022 then fading to -1.1 degs in May before starting an upward climb peaking in mid-June at -0.65 degs and mid July at -0.55 degs. A steady decline set in after that falling to -1.00 degs in Aug and earl Sept.
Forecast (10/10) - Temps are to be falling from about -1.0 degs in Sept to -1.10 degs mid-Oct then slowly rising in Nov and Dec before starting a quick rise in Jan reaching above the La Nina threshold in early Feb 2023 and up to +0.45 degs in June and heading up from there presumably. This model suggests we are going to steadily transition towards ENSO neutral in Dec. The PDF Corrected forecast suggests temps bottoming out at -1.00 in mid Oct and are to slowly start creeping up in Nov and Dec then starting a steep upward climb from -0.80 degs in Jan rising above La Nina threshold in early Feb and rising from there forward to +0.45 degs in April/May. According to this version of the model we will hold in weak La Nina conditions through Fall before starting a trend towards neutrality in Dec with momentum towards El Nino in Spring. The surface temp coverage model suggests a temps holding steady through Nov. then a steady erosion of the coldest waters south of Nino3.4 (down at 20S) is to begin. By Dec a clear discharge of La Nina is to begin with near neutral temps prevailing over the entire equatorial Pacific and turning fully neutral in Feb and beyond. The greater equatorial Pacific cool signature looks to hold through mid-Oct then quickly dissolving beyond.
IRI Consensus Plume: The September 19, 2022 Plume depicts temps are -0.957 degs today. Temps to hold in Oct at -0.925 then are to warm to the La Nina threshold at -0.658 in Dec and -0.445 in Jan rising to +0.172 in May. This model suggests a continuation of minimal La Nina temps through early Dec then transitioning to ENSO neutral. This model is in line with the CFS model.
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 - all but the Daily Index was a lagging indicator):
Today (10/10) the Daily Index was falling at +17.53 today. Previous peaks were +37.19 (10/5), +33.57 (5/24), +40.77 (5/10), +31.44 (4/27), +31.80 (4/6), +27.33 (1/31) and +46.71 (12/26). The trend has been solidly positive. Previous other notable peaks were +30.98 (11/26/21), +36.90 (9/28), +27.75 ( 9/13) and +37.86 (7/15).
The 30 day average was rising at +20.29 after supposedly peaking at +19.66 on 9/28. It was down to +6.89 on 7/29. It peaked at +20.34 (5/12) the highest in a year and beating last years high of +19.51 (1/14).
The 90 day average was rising slightly at +13.22 previously at +12.92 on 8/11 and that after peaking at +18.40 (7/2) beating it's previous peak of +16.86 (5/31), the highest in a year. It previously peaked at +9.80 (9/21) after falling to it's lowest point in a year at +1.06 (6/9). The 90 day average peaked at +15.75 (2/23/21 - clearly indicative of La Nina then). This index is a lagging indicator but suggest La Nina is returning.

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 ever since, driven by recent La Nina conditions. In May-July 2021 it was the most negative its been in the -1.80 to -2.04 range since Sept 2012 (-2.99) and then fell to -3.16 in Oct 2021 (the lowest since July 1933) then settled at -2.72 in Nov and Dec 2021. Looking at the long term record, it seems likely we are still in the Cool Phase of the PDO (La Nina 'like') with no signs of moving to the positive/warm phase (El Nino 'like').

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.

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.