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BUOY ROUNDUP
On Sunday, October 24, 2021 :

• Buoy 233 (Pearl Harbor)/Buoy 239 (Lanai)/Buoy 238 (Barbers Pt) : Seas were 2.9 ft @ 8.3 secs with swell 2.0 ft @ 9.2 secs from 173 degrees. Water temp 79.7 degs (Pearl Harbor 233), NA (Lani 239), 79.9 (Barbers Pt).
• Buoy 106 (Waimea): Seas were 5.1 ft @ 11.8 secs with swell 3.1 ft @ 8.9 secs from 80 degrees. Water temp 78.4 degs.
• Buoy 46025 (Catalina RDG): Seas were 4.0 ft @ 12.8 secs with swell 2.5 ft @ 10.4 secs from 263 degrees. Wind at the buoy was east at 6-8 kts. Water temperature 63.3 degs, 60.4 (Topanga 103), 59.7 degs (Long Beach 215), 64.4 (Del Mar 153), 64.9 (Pt Loma 191). At Harvest Buoy (071) primary swell was 7.3 ft @ 12.8 secs from 297 degrees. At Santa Monica (028) swell was 1.8 ft @ 12.5 secs from 272 degrees. At Oceanside (045) swell was 1.5 ft @ 14.2 secs from 253 degrees. Southward at Point Loma (191) swell was 3.1 ft @ 13.5 secs from 280 degrees.
• Buoy 46012 (Half Moon Bay)/029 (Pt Reyes): Seas were 11.8 ft @ 11.8 secs with swell 5.5 ft @ 12.3 secs from 290 degrees. Wind at the buoy (012) was south at 21-29 kts. Water temp 57.7 (Pt Reyes 029), 56.8 (46026), 56.1 degs (SF Bar 142), and 56.5 (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 Sunday (10/24) North and Central CA had waves at 9 ft and totally blown out from south winds at exposed breaks and unrideable. Protected breaks were head high or so on the sets and lined up if not closed out with strong sideshore offshore winds rendering it almost unrideable. At Santa Cruz surf was about head high and trashed by south wind and not rideable. In Southern California/Ventura waves were waist to maybe chest high and lined up and soft and clean with no wind. Central Orange County had sets in the waist to chest high range and clean and lined up but soft and pretty weak. South Orange County's best summertime breaks had sets at waist to maybe chest high and lined up and clean. North San Diego had surf in the waist high plus range and somewhat lined up and clean but mostly soft. Hawaii's North Shore was getting small waves at waist to chest high and lined up and clean when they came. The South Shore had a few scattered sets at thigh high and clean. The East Shore was getting north wrap around windswell with waves thigh high and chopped from moderate northeast trades.

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

Meteorological Overview
On Sunday (10/24) swell was fading in California from a modestly solid system that developed Wed-Thurs (10/21) with 28-30 ft seas off North CA. And stronger swell is pushing towards the CA coast from a stronger gale that developed in the Northwestern Gulf on Fri-Sat (10/23) with up to 38 ft seas initially aimed southeast, fading then redeveloping off North CA on Sun (10/24) with 40 ft seas aimed southeast driven by an atmospheric river (i.e. jetstream) pushing into Central CA. Large raw swell along with much weather is expected. Sideband swell is also possible for Hawaii. And a smaller system was tracking over the Northwestern Gulf Sun-Tues (10/26) with 35-37 ft seas over a small area aimed east. And yet another is forecast over the Western Gulf Fri-Sat with 28 ft seas aimed east. And another is to be behind that developing on the dateline Sat-Sun (10/31) with 45 ft seas aimed east. Very scary!

See all the details below...

 

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

North Pacific

Overview
Jetstream
On Sunday (10/24) the jet was pushing firmly off Japan ridging gently northeast forming a ridge over the dateline then falling southeast while building with winds to 200 kts falling into a developing trough over the Eastern Gulf of Alaska offering good support for gale development. Over the next 72 hours that trough is to build and deepen into Mon (10/25) just off North CA with an Atmospheric River (the jet) slowly pushing south and down the California coast into mid-day Monday reaching down to Pt Conception bring much more weather to the coast and affecting higher elevations of the Sierra. After that the jet is to remain solid over the Northeastern Pacific generally flat tracking into Oregon but offering no trough offering no direct support for gale development until Tues (10/26) when a weak trough is forecast over the Northwestern Gulf pushing east while fading into Thurs (10/28). Limited support for gale development possible. Beyond 72 hours the jet is to wake up again on Fri (10/29) with winds building to 190 kts over the dateline starting to carve out a new trough pushing to the Western Gulf on Sat (10/30) being fed by 170 kt winds offering good support for gale development starting to pinch off over the Central Gulf on Sun (10/31). And maybe another trough to develop behind that in the Western Gulf.

Surface Analysis
On Sunday (10/24) residual swell from a gale previously in the Central Gulf was hitting California and Hawaii (see Central Gulf Gale below).

Over the next 72 hours swell from a stronger gale in the Gulf is to be impacting primarily California (see Stronger Gulf Gale below)

Also a small new gale was developing over the North Dateline region Sun AM (10/24) with 45 kts west winds and seas 31 ft at 47N 177E aimed east. The gale is to track east in the evening with 45-50 kt west winds over a small area and seas 36 ft at 48N 175W aimed east. On Mon AM (10/25) the gael is to be moving in to the Northwestern Gulf and fading with 45 kt west winds and seas 37 ft at 48.75N 165.25W aimed east-southeast. More of the same in the evening with seas 35 ft at 48.75N 156.75W aimed east. On Tues AM (10/26) the gale is to be in the Northern Gulf with 40 kt west winds and seas 35 ft at 48.75N 147W aimed east. The gale is to be fading in the evening with 35 kt west winds off Vancouver Island and seas fading from 31 ft at 48N 140W . Something to monitor.

 

Central Gulf Gale
On Wed AM (10/20) another gale was building over the Western Gulf producing a broad fetch of northwest winds at 30-35 kts with seas building. In the evening the gale is to be winding up in the Central Gulf with northwest winds 35-40 kts and seas building to 23 ft over a solid area at 42N 147.75W aimed southeast. On Thurs AM (10/12) the gale was lifting northeast off Oregon producing a solid fetch of northwest winds at 40-45 kts with 31 ft seas at 41.5N 138W. The gale is to lift northeast in the evening with 45 kt northwest winds just off Washington producing 26 ft seas at 47N 135W aimed southeast and moving north of the CA swell window. The gale is to be fading Fri AM (10/22) just off Central Canada with 35 kts west winds and seas fading from 23 ft up at 48N 130W aimed southeast but out of the NCal swell window. Swell is in the water.

Hawaii: Swell fading Sun (10/24) 3.1 ft @ 10-11 secs early (3.0 ft). Swell Direction: 355 degrees moving to 10 degrees

North CA: Residuals on Sun (10/24) fading from 5.5 ft @ 12 secs (6.0 ft). Swell Direction: 282 degrees

 

Stronger Gulf Gale Storm
On Fri AM (10/22) a gale started developing in the Northwestern Gulf tracking southeast with 50-55 kt west winds and seas 33 ft at 53N 163W just off the east most Aleutians. The gale slowly moved east in the evening with 45-50 kt west winds and seas 38 ft at 53.25N 157.5W aimed east-southeast. On Sat AM (10/23) fetch was falling into a developing trough in the Central Gulf at 30-40 kts from the northwest with seas 27 ft at 52.5N 151.25W aimed east-southeast from the original fetch. In the evening fetch was building from 40-45 kts filling the Central Gulf with seas building from 26-28 ft over a large swath with its leading edge at 42.75N 144.5W aimed southeast. The gale is to build to storm status Sun AM (10/24) off South Oregon with 50 kt west winds and seas 40 ft at 43.25N 134.75W aimed southeast. Winds to be fading in the evening from 35-40 kts over a solid area off Oregon and North CA with seas 36 ft at 44N 128.25W aimed southeast. Fetch fading from 30-35 kts Mon AM (10/25) with seas fading from 26 ft at 39N 133W aimed southeast targeting all of CA. Larger raw swell to result for North CA (305-314 degs) down into Central CA and up into Oregon.

Hawaii: Small sideband swell is possible arriving on Mon (10/25) building to 3.2 ft @ 14 secs at sunset (4.5 ft). Swell peaking on Tues AM (10/26) pushing 3.9 ft @ 14 secs (5.5 ft) and holding through the day. Residuals fading on Wed AM (10/27) from 3.4 ft @ 11 secs(3.5 ft). Swell Direction: 345 degrees moving to 005 degrees.

North CA: Expect swell arrival before sunrise Mon (10/25) building to 15 ft @ 17 secs (25 ft) biggest at sunrise but solid all day and very raw given the core of the fetch was only 650 nmiles away. Swell fading on Tues (10/26) dropping from 11 ft @ 14-15 secs early (16 ft). Residuals on Wed (10/27) fading from 6.2 ft @ 12-13 secs (7.5 ft). Swell Direction: Core energy 305+ degrees but sideband energy down to 290 degrees

 

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

 

Tropical Update
No tropical weather systems of interest are being monitored.

California Nearshore Forecast

• Mon (10/25) west to southwest winds are forecast at 10 kts for North CA early and 10-15 kts for Central CA and southwest winds 15-20 kts pushing down the Southern CA coast early. In the afternoon west to southwest winds are forecast at 10 kts for North CA and northwest winds 10 kts for Central CA with northwest winds 15-20 kts for Southern CA. Steady moderate rain for North CA early and heavy rain for Central CA early. Rain developing for Southern CA. Clearing in the afternoon for North and Central CA but rain persisting for Southern CA. Heavy snowfall for the entire Sierra fading some late afternoon and gone in the evening.
• Tues (10/26) another mini-front is forecast off North CA producing south winds 15-20 kts for Cape Mendocino and 5 kt west winds south of there to Monterey Bay early building to 20+ kts mid-AM for Cape Mendocino and south winds 10 kts down to Bodega Bay. In the afternoon southwest winds are forecast for all of North CA at 10+ kts and northwest winds 10 kts for Central CA. Rain building south to the Golden Gate (but making it no further south) through the day.
• Wed (10/27) light winds are forecast for North CA early and northwest winds for Central CA 10 kts pushing near 20 kts for Pt Conception. Northwest winds building in the afternoon at 10 kts for North CA and 15 kts for Central CA. Light rain for Cape Mendocino early.
• Thurs (10/28) northwest winds are forecast at 10+ kts for North CA early and 10-15 kts for Central CA early and holding all day.
• Fri (10/29) northwest winds are forecast at 10 kts for North CA early and 10-15 kts for Central CA and holding all day except possibly northeast 10 kts for Cape Mendocino late afternoon. Light rain possible for Cape Mendocino later
• Sat (10/30) light winds are forecast early for North CA and northwest 5 kts fore Central CA early. Light winds everywhere in the afternoon. Light rain for the SF Bay area after sunset.
• Sun (10/31) light winds all day expected for North and Central CA.

Total snow accumulation for the next 10 days respectively for Squaw Valley, Sugar Bowl, Kirkwood and Mammoth at 69, 53, 48, and 61 inches respectively.

Freezing level 10,500 ft today at sunrise (10/24) falling to 7,000 ft at sunset then falling to 5,500 ft at sunrise 10/25. Freezing level rising steadily to 12,000 ft late on 10/26 and up to 12,5000 ft on 10/27 holding through 10/28. Freezing level falling to 10,000 ft on 10/30 and pretty much stabilizing there.

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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
Surface Analysis
On Sun (10/24) no swell was in the water or tracking north from the South Pacific.

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

 

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 tropical energy is to start developing over the dateline on Thurs PM (10/28) with 40 kt northwest winds and seas 27 ft over a small area at 44.5N 178E aimed southeast. Fetch is to build in coverage Fri AM (10/29) at 40 kts from the northwest targeting Hawaii and the US West Coast with seas 27 ft at 42.5N 172W aimed southeast. The gale is to track east in the evening with 35-40 kt northwest winds over a solid sized area and seas 26-28 ft at 40N 164W aimed southeast. Fetch fading Sat AM (10/30) from 30-35 kts aimed southeast and seas 26-28 ft at 40N 155W aimed southeast. The gale is to stall in the evening with 30-35 kts northwest winds fading in coverage and seas fading from 25 ft at 42N 155W aimed southeast. This system to be gone after that.

And yet another stronger system of tropical origins is to be developing west of the dateline on Sat PM (10/30) with 55 kt northwest winds and seas building fast to 45 ft at 41N 173.25E aimed southeast. On Sun AM (10/31) 50 kt northwest winds are forecast over the dateline aimed southeast with 39 ft seas at 40.5N 179E aimed southeast. Something to monitor.

 

South Pacific

Beyond 72 hours no swell producing fetch of interest is forecast.

 

MJO/ENSO Forecast

 

La Nina Building Stronger than Last Year
Summary - Cool water is building across the subsurface equatorial Pacific and as of 10/18 stronger than last year with no Kelvin Wave induced warm waters in sight. The forecast does suggest weak west anomalies taking over the KWGA in later November and nearly filling the KWGA after that as the low pressure bias slowly builds in from the west nearly filling the KWGA in late Dec. The high pressure bias is in control of the dateline but is to ease east nearly out of the KWGA by early Jan 2022. But it also seems likely cold surface waters are to hold well entrenched over the dateline through early Jan supporting bulletproof surface high pressure. The west wind anomalies forecast will likely not be enough to significantly effect the volume and depth of cold water building over Central Equatorial Pacific before Winter is over.

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

Fall /Winter 2021-2022 = 3.0 (California & Hawaii) Rating based on a 1-10 scale: 1 being the lowest (small and infrequent surf conditions), 5 being normal/average, and 10 being extraordinary (frequent events of large, long period swells)

Rationale: It 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 is making a strong return as we move into the end of Sept much like what the CFS model suggested would happen. So at this point we are speculating that the CFS model will verify and that a full double dip La Nina pattern will take hold as we move into November with this second La Nina dip being nearly as strong as the previous one. But a quick fade is forecast as we move into late Fall (Nov) with the CFS predicting a return to a neutral wind anomaly pattern at that time and the low pressure bias making headway in to the KWGA in early Dec. 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. But by later in Jan 2022 perhaps a return to a more normal pattern might take hold. As a result a somewhat reduced number of storm days and storm intensity is expected Oct-Dec, resulting in a below normal level of swells, with swell being below normal duration and period. But by later Winter (2022), 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 (10/23) 5 day average winds were strong from the east over the Eastern equatorial Pacific and strong east over the Central Pacific and moderate east over the KWGA. Anomalies were neutral over the East equatorial Pacific and neutral 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 2.5 days).
1 Week Forecast (GFS Model): On (10/24) east anomalies were modest over the KWGA with a finger of weak west anomalies over the dateline. The forecast calls for west anomalies hold into 1026 then fading with east anomalies building in coverage filling the KWGA 10/28 then building in strengthen to near strong status 10/29 holding through the end of the model run on 10/31. There's no sign of meaningful westerly anomalies in the forecast.

Kelvin Wave Generation Area wind monitoring model: West and East

MJO/WWB/Wind Projections:  
OLR Models: (10/24) A neutral MJO signal was indicated over the KWGA today. The statistic model projects a neutral pattern holding on days 5-15 of the model run maybe trending weakly Active on day 15. The dynamic model projects a weak Inactive Phase developing on day 5 of the model run and building some through day 10 of the model run, then fading and turing weakly Active on day 15 of the model run over the KWGA.
Phase Diagrams 2 week forecast (ECMF and GEFS): (10/24) The statistical model depicts the Active Phase was exceedingly weak over the Indian Ocean and is forecast holding unchanged over the 15 days model run easing to the Maritime Continent. The dynamic model suggests the Active Phase mostly stationary through 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): (10/23) A weak Inactive Phase (dry air) was indicated over the Central Pacific. The Inactive Phase (dry air) is to track east over the KWGA through 11/4 and into the Central America on 11/14. After that no MJO signal at all is forecast with a neutral pattern in control of the Pacific through the end of the model run on 12/2.
4 Week CFS Model (850 mb wind): (10/23) This model depicts the Active Phase was exiting east over the dateline with mostly modest east anomalies controlling the entire KWGA. The forecast indicates the Active Phase of the MJO moving east and out of the KWGA on 10/26 with east anomalies continuing to fill the KWGA. The Inactive Phase is to be right behind controlling the KWGA 10/27-11/16 with east anomalies building to strong status during that window and controlling the KWGA through the end of the model run on 11/20. A strong Active Phase and west anomalies is to be poised over the Maritime Continent starting to enter the West Pacific at the end of the model run.
3 Month CFS Model (850 mb wind): (10/24 - using the 5th ensemble member - the mean of the 4 individual members which are all from the 00Z run - 1 run per day): Today a modest Active Phase of the MJO was fading and exiting east from the KWGA with modest east anomalies filling the KWGA. The forecast indicates the Active Phase is to slowly push east through 10/30 with east anomalies remaining in control. A modest Inactive MJO signal is to follow 10/26-11/18 with east anomalies in control over the KWGA. The Active Phase is forecast developing 11/14-12/11 with west anomalies developing decently and filling the KWGA. The Inactive Phase is to follow over the KWGA 12/3 through the end of the model run on 1/21 but with weak west anomalies holding. The low pass filter indicates a high pressure bias (1 contour line) is centered over the dateline and is to hold while slowly building east to 125W on 12/25 then retrograding in mid-January. A second contour is forecast 11/2 holding through 12/17. A broad single contour low pressure bias is to develop 11/11 centered over the Maritime Continent at 100E with it's leading edge at 125E then steadily moving east into the KWGA on 12/14 and then reaching to 170E at the end of the model run filling 70% of the KWGA. Today a solid east anomaly pattern that has been in control of KWGA since early July is to slowly get shoved east as the Active Phase and west anomalies and the low pressure bias try to take root in the Western KWGA by Nov 16. This suggests redevelopment of La Nina for now but with it slowly tracking east and maybe nearly out of the KWGA as winter proper starts.

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

Subsurface Waters Temps
TAO Array: (10/24) Today in the far West Pacific the 29 degree isotherm was gone. The 28 deg isotherm line was steady at 180W. The 24 deg isotherm had retrograded west to 132W. Warm water has receded west and continues that trend. Anomaly wise, warm anomalies +2 deg C were steady but limited in coverage to the far West Pacific reaching east to only 170W. All sensors are down at 140W. Cool anomalies were in control at -4 degs C at 125W down 75 meters filling the East and Central Pacific. No Kelvin Waves were obvious and cool water was in control at depth forming an impenetrable brick wall. The hi-res GODAS animation posted 10/20 indicates no warm water east of 170W with a bulletproof bubble of cold water at -5C below normal east of there (where the sensors are inoperable) extending upward to the surface and into Ecuador. The GODAS animation appears to be 1 week behind the TAO data but also is more detailed and accurately modeled.
Sea Level Anomalies: (10/20) Sea heights were negative over the entire equatorial Pacific at -5 cms over the East equatorial Pacific between the Galapagos to 175E and with solid peak at -25 cms at 130W with broad area at -20 cms between 110W to 150W and -15 cms anomalies between 105W-155W. All positive anomalies were limited from 160E and points west of there. A warm water 'horseshoe' pattern has become well developed in the West Pacific. La Nina has made a return and stronger than last year. Per the Upper Ocean Heat Anomaly Histogram La Nina is stronger than last year (-2.5 degs C) and far larger in coverage.

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: (10/23) The latest images depict a broad stream of cool water on the equator from Ecuador tracking west and building in earnest from 120W to the dateline. Cooling was steady nearshore along Chile and Peru. A homogenous area of warm water was holding from Ecuador west just north of the equator to 140W and up along Central America into Southern Baja. Overall this indicates the return of cold water temps in the Central Equatorial Pacific indicative of La Nina. But some degree of weak warming is trying to develop in the far East Equatorial Pacific.
Hi-res 7 day Trend (10/23): Temps were mixed but with the balance favoring cooling from 110W to 140W.
Hi-res Overview: (10/23) A broad stream of cooler than normal water was aligned on the equator weakly from the Galapagos to 110W then stronger out to the dateline providing most coverage and intensity from 115W to the dateline. Cooler than normal waters were also south of that line down to 20S. Warmer than normal waters were limited to a line north of the equator up to Mexico and along the US Coast up to Pt Conception. A cool outflow remains in place pushing from California southwest to the a point over Hawaii's Big Island and building. La Nina is making a solid resurgence focused over the Central Pacific.
Nino1.2 Daily CDAS Index Temps: (10/24) Today's temps were steady today at -0.879 after falling to -0.910 on 10/10 and that after previously toggling steady at about -0.6 degs from mid Aug onward other than one downward spike to -0.927 on 9/2. Before that temps were toggling around neutral 6/13-8/5 except for one dip to -0.411 on 7/8. Prior to that temps peaked on 3/16 when they briefly hit +0.714 degs. The longterm trend has been steadily downward.
Nino 3.4 Daily CDAS Index Temps: (10/24) Today temps were falling to -0.863, the lowest in months. Temp have been in a freefall starting from the -0.175 range in early Sept. Before that temps peaked up at 7/1 +0.332, the highest in a year. Temps previously had been steady near -0.222 since early March. 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 (10/24) - Temps were rising in early Nov 2020 after bottoming out at -1.25 degs, building to -0.01 degs in mid-June then fading to -0.3 degs through Aug and to -0.6 degs in mid Oct. The forecast indicates temps to continue a dramatic fall from here forward dropping down to -1.90 later in November and holding into early Jan 2022, then pushing up to +0.00 degs in July 2022. This model suggests a return of La Nina conditions and strongly so this Fall and Winter. There is no indication that El Nino will develop. The PDF Corrected forecast suggests temps falling to -1.50 degs in late Nov starting to rise slowly after mid-Jan 2022. At this point that is as good a guess as any. And the model has been unwavering in this projection for months now.
IRI Consensus Plume: The Oct 20, 2021 Plume depicts temps are at -0.90 degs today, and are to fade to -0.91 degrees in Nov, then rising to -0.46 degs in Feb and neutral in April 2022. A solid return of La Nina is expected this Fall and early Winter 2021-2022.
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) (10/24): The daily index was negative at -21.08, the first time so in a month. It previously peaked at +36.90 on 9/28, +27.75 on 9/13 and +37.86 on 7/15. The 30 day average was backtracking to +11.09 after peaking at +11.58 on 10/22. Before that it fell to -3.36 on 6/22, the lowest in a year. It peaked at +19.51 on 1/14. The 90 day average was falling some at +7.73, previously peaking on 9/21 at +9.80 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 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 every 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). 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'). If anything it appears 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