New Swell Classification Guidelines (Winter)
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: 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.
PACIFIC OVERVIEW
On Thursday (12/3) North and Central California was getting a little inconsistent pulse of longer period swell originating from the northern dateline region. Northwest winds on it just after lunch. Southern California was not getting any of this swell yet with waves knee high or so at the better spots and reasonably clean. Hawaii's North Shore was getting the same swell from the Northern Dateline region with waves in the 8-10 ft range (Hawaiian) and clean with trades in effect. The East Shore was getting wrap around energy from the northwest with waves double overhead at t op spots. The South Shore was up to waist high and blown out.
The forecast for North and Central CA is for new swell from the northern dateline region to peak out Friday at double overhead or so, dropping to 1-2 ft overhead on Saturday and chest high Sunday with a more north angled local windswell on top. A little bit of energy fro the dateline hits on Monday at 2 ft overhead fading Tuesday. Southern California is to see a smaller version of the same pattern New northerly dateline swell arrives on Friday at head high or better at top spots. That swell to fade from chest high early Saturday and knee to thigh high on Sunday at exposed breaks. A little dateline swell expected in on Monday at thigh to waist high pushing almost head high Tuesday. The North Shore of Hawaii is to see fading sideband energy from the northern dateline region early Friday at 4 ft overhead. Another pulse of larger dateline swell is expected in on Saturday at 15 ft (Swell #4) on the faces dropping some on Sunday from double overhead or a little more early. Monday the fun begins with Possible Swell #5 from the dateline arriving at 25 ft (Hawaiian) and up more on Tuesday. Certainly no lack of swell expected. The East Shore is to have no easterly windswell. The South Shore is in hibernation for the winter though there some hints of a little energy arriving for Fri-Sun (12/6) at knee to thigh high or so. But that is it for the winter.
Longterm the Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) is about maxed out in the Active Phase, superimposed on a building El Nino which should set a good environment for solid storm development in the North Pacific for the next 2 weeks. A primer storm is developing on the dateline Thursday about as expected with a large and strong system forecast right behind for the weekend into early next week. The models have been rock solid for a for a few days now, so this looks to be a realistic assessment. Watch the models closely.
SHORT- TERM FORECAST
Current marine weather and wave analysis.cgius forecast conditions for the next 72 hours
North Pacific
Overview
On Thursday (12/3) the North Pacific jetstream was surging off Northern Japan with winds 190 kts and dropping solidly in to a trough on the dateline, the fragmented east of there with w diffuse pattern pushing into generally Canada and Baja. Good support for gale development under the dateline trough. Over the next 72 hrs the dateline trough is to push east to a point north of Hawaii and get pinched off north there Friday evening (12/4) though solid winds at near 180 kts are to hold west of the trough. Good support for gale development in the area. Then on Saturday more energy is to be building off Japan feeding the remnants of the trough at 180-190 kts generating a second impressive trough over the dateline area Sun/Mon (12/7) and starting to make eastern headway. Great support for storm development. Beyond 72 hours a ridge that has been protecting the US West Coast is to be gone as the dateline trough progresses, east slamming into Northern CA on late Wednesday (12/9) with the entire jet behind it flowing flat from Japan into Central CA on the 34N latitude at 130+ kts. Much moisture likely is to be tracking into the US Mainland, though Hawaii is to be mostly protected.
At the surface on Thursday (12/3) a storm was on the dateline lifting north (see Primer Dateline Storm #4). Weak high pressure at 1020 mbs was off the US West Coast. Energy from Typhoon Nida was just off the coast of Japan heading east, and expected to develop. Over the next 72 hours this tropically fueled storm (Possible Storm #5) is forecast to be tracking east off Japan by Friday AM (2/4) with 55 kts winds building at 38N 158E aimed mostly south, pushing east and reaching 37N 171E in the evening with 50-55 kts winds aimed pretty well to the east, or up the 310 degree path to Hawaii and 35 degrees south of the 290 degree path to North CA. This storm is to hit the dateline Saturday AM (12/5) with winds to 60-65 kt west and northwest winds at 38N 173W aimed right down the 325 degree path to Hawaii and 25 degrees south of the 289 degree path to NCal. This one is to really be wrapping up, getting good traction on the oceans surface from winds and seas generated there just 36 hrs earlier. Initial fetch is to focus on Hawaii. 39 ft seas forecast at 37N 180W. By Saturday evening 60-65 kt west winds are to take over aimed well at North CA at 40N 165W aimed down the 288 degree path and also well at Southern CA down the 293 degree path. 47 ft seas to cover a solid area at 38N 170W pushing well to the east. Sunday AM (12/6) things are to decay a bit, but still a large area of 50 kts west-northwest winds are to hold at 40-45 N 175W blowing over the exact same area of water aimed well up the 292 degree path to NCal and the 292-300 degree path to SCal and 30 degree east of the 335 degree path to Hawaii. Seas building to 48 ft at 41N 168W. This fetch is to hold ground but fade a little in areal coverage in the evening (45-50 kts) at 43N 175W, but still incredibly impressive. 46 ft seas to cover a huge area at 41N 171W. Monday AM (12/7) winds to be fading from 45 kts up at 45N 175W (335 degs Hawaii, 296 NCal, 301 SCal). 45 ft seas forecast at 39N 170W, again in the huge areal category. Seas fading in the evening from 39 ft from previous days fetch at 37N 164W. This system has incredible potential if it develops as forecast, though still a bit of a long shot and based purely on model output. Another 24 hours though, and this might start becoming a reality.
Another North Dateline Gale
On Sunday AM (11/29) a gale that was off the Kuril's Islands started wrapping up setting up a solid fetch of 45-50 kt northwest winds blowing over the Western Aleutians and into unobstructed waters of the North Pacific at 50N 175E with additional 45-50 kt southwest winds feeding into the front preceding it. 25 ft seas building at 48N 178W. In the evening 45-50 kt west-northwest hold stationary over the extreme northern North Pacific in association with a large storm landlocked in the Bering Sea with 30 ft seas building at 49N 180W. The fetch started sinking south on Monday AM (11/30) with 50 kt west-northwest winds building just clear of the Aleutians at 51N 180W with 38 ft seas modeled building at 49N 174W with 30 ft seas south to 45N, in the 298 degree path to NCal. These winds and seas were just barely clear of the Southern tip of the Aleutians. Finally in the evening a clear fetch of 45 kt west winds sank south of the Aleutians at 50N 172W with 39 ft seas modeled at 48N 170W with 32 ft seas south to 45N, on the 296 degree path to NCal, but most energy aimed down the 304 degree path. The Jason-1 satellite passed right through the core of the fetch at 0Z and confirmed seas at 36.4 ft with one peak reading to 38.7 ft, about a foot or two smaller than the models suggested, but not too bad, especially considering there was no QuikSCAT data to feed the GFS models (which in turn drives the Wavewatch 3 wavemodel). 30 ft seas were also confirmed as far south at 45N 169W. The fetch faded from 35 kts Tuesday AM (12/1) at 48N 170W with 35 ft seas holding at 49N 165W with 32 ft seas down to 44N on the 296 degree path to NCal. The fetch is to be gone in the evening.
Expect swell arrival in Hawaii starting Thursday sunrise (12/3) with swell 9 ft @ 16 secs (13-14 ft faces) and holding solid through the day. Swell Direction 335-342 degrees
Preliminary data suggests swell arrival in NCal starting Friday (12/4) at 1 AM with period 17-18 secs with swell peaking near 6 AM at 7.4-7.7 ft @ 17 secs (12-13 ft faces) and a bit shadowed, but some energy sneaking in under the shadow. Swell Direction 302-304 degrees
Swell to arrive in Southern CA starting Friday at 6 PM peaking near 11 PM with swell outside the Channel Islands 7.2-7.4 ft @ 17 secs (12 ft faces) and nearshore at exposed breaks 3.3 ft @ 17 secs (5.0-5.5 ft faces). Decent 15 secs energy to continue into daylight hours. Swell Direction 306-308 degrees
Primer Storm #4 - Hawaii
On Wednesday AM (12/2) energy bleeding of of the remnants of Typhoon Nida converged with the jetstream on the dateline with 50 kts winds quickly building at 39N 175E in the systems southwest quadrant aimed decently at Hawaii up the 312 degree path. Seas on the increase. In the evening 55-60 kt winds developed aimed more southeast than east at 38N 178W targeting Hawaii again up the 315 degree path. 26 ft seas projected at 38N 175W (and likely higher) targeting Hawaii well. The Jason-1 satellite passed over the tail end of this fetch in the even and reported seas of 24 ft with a peak reading to 27 ft where the model suggested 22 ft seas. So if anything the model was on the low side.
On Thursday AM (12/3) the core of the storm was starting to lift north with 55 kts northwest winds at 41N 171W aimed right down the 331 degree path to Hawaii and 30 degrees south of the 290 degree path to Northern CA. 36 ft seas were modeled at 40N 170W. This was better than projected even 24 hours previous. The Jason01 satellite passed over the Northwest sector of the fetch and confirmed seas at 29.1 ft with a peak to 28.4 ft where the model suggested 22-24 ft seas. Clearly things were better than modeled. In the evening 55 kt northwest winds to continue up at 46N 171W aimed right down the 337 degree path to Hawaii and 25 degrees south of the 296 degree path to NCal. 29 ft seas from previous fetch forecast at 38N 168W pushing mid-way between Hawaii and California though closer to Hawaii.
Friday AM (12/4) 45-50 kts winds to continue over a smallish area at 47N 173W aimed right down the 298 degree path to NCal and 40 degrees east of the 340 degree path to Hawaii. 26 ft seas from previous fetch hanging in the area of 35N 170W targeting the Islands great with decent energy radiating east towards the US West Coast. This system is to be gone by the evening with Storm #5 stealing it's residual energy and 25 ft seas from previous fetch at 32N 165W.
At this time it looks like Hawaii will get a shot of significant class swell while California will only get a glancing blow with most energy passing south of there.
Hawaii: Expect swell arrival on Saturday (12/5) at 3 AM HST with swell quickly ramping up to 9.5 ft @ 17 secs (16 ft Hawaiian) with seas to 11.8 ft @ 17 secs. Swell Direction: 332 degrees Swell fading quickly overnight with residuals on Sunday.
North CA: Small sideband swell from this system is to reach the area on Sunday at 6 PM. Swell to 5.2 ft @ 15 secs (7.5 ft faces) n Monday (12/7). Swell Direction 290 degrees
North Pacific Animations: Jetstream - Surface Pressure/Wind - Sea Height - Surf Height
California Nearshore Forecast
On Thursday (12/3) a weak pressure pattern was in control of the California coast with a light north flow in effect for the entire state. This pattern and light winds if not calm winds are forecast through Saturday AM (12/6). High pressure is to build over Pacific Northwest late Friday setting up strong offshores over Cape Mendocino with low pressure inland over Eastern Nevada possibly setting up a north fetch from Pt Arena south to Pt Reyes or so from Late Saturday into Sunday and Monday. But low pressure from the dateline is to be pushing east getting close enough to break up the high pressure on Tuesday (12/8) with a light flow returning. But on Wednesday the first of several local storms are forecast to start pushing into Central CA with south winds and rain becoming a mainstay for at least several days.
Tropics
With the MJO in the Active Phase, net tropical activity is expected to continue above normal through 12/18. This will be a true test of this El Ninos strength.
Right on cue Typhoon Nida formed in the West Pacific (11/24) with sustained winds 75 kts located 300 nmiles south of Saipan. Slow and steady strengthening occurred with winds up to 110 kts on Friday (11/27) and then reaching Super Typhoon strength to 130 kts on Saturday (11/28). Nida drifted slowly north remaining in open waters well east of the Northern Philippines on 11/28. On Tues (12/1)h Nida was down to 75 kts and holding ground where is had been, though starting to gain a little northwestern momentum. Nida slowly faded while accelerating off to the northeast on Thursday with winds down to 45 kts then is expected to become assimilated into the North Pacific winter storm track (see details above). No swell is expected to US interests directly, though tropical outflow from it is expected to fuel several winter-like storms in the North Pacific in the coming days.
South Pacific
Overview
At the surface no swell producing fetch was occurring and none is forecast for the next 72 hours.
Previously a series of gales past under New Zealand, the first on Wednesday afternoon (11/25) generating 40-45 kts southwest fetch and nearly 30 ft sea at 50S 170E aimed decently at Hawaii, pushing to 47S 178E Thursday AM (12/26) with swell possibly radiating northeast towards Hawaii. Another stronger but still small system followed Friday AM (11/27) with 55 kt southwest winds and 37 ft seas at 52S 175E, tracking east-northeast with 50 kts winds and 42 ft sea at 52S 178W in the evening, pushing 38 ft Saturday AM at 52S 170W with winds fading and falling to the southeast. Possible rideable southern hemi swell for could materialize for Hawaii a week out, but will likely be irrelevant compared to what's coming from the north.
South Pacific Animations: Jetstream - Surface Pressure/Wind - Sea Height - Surf Height
LONG-TERM FORECAST
Marine weather and forecast conditions 3-10 days into the future
North Pacific
Beyond 72 hrs A series of weak gale start to be tracking east from Japan bound for the dateline. But most energy is to be sapped from the environment courtesy of Storm #5.
MJO/ENSO Update (reference): As of Thursday (12/3) the Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) was in the Active Phase supporting the continued evolution of El Nino. The ENSO (El Nino Southern Oscillation) index continued in the negative range with the Daily SOI index down some to -10.02 (almost 22 consecutive days in a row). The 30 day average was up to -5.81 while the 90 average was down some to -6.56. This continues looking more like a legitimate El Nino based solely on the SOI.
Wind anomalies at the 850 mb level (approx 5000 ft up) as defined by models continued indicating a moderate strength and broad area of westerly anomalies consistent with the Active Phase covering the the Eastern Indian Ocean and West Pacific reaching over the dateline and pushing into the East Pacific from there. The Active Phase is to continue pushing east reaching into the Eastern Pacific on 12/7 and tracking east from there while slowly fading, reaching Central America on 12/10 but still holding ground on the dateline, then slowly dissipating through 12/20. A weak version of the Inactive Phase is forecast trying to get legs in the Indian Ocean at the same time, reaching New Guinea on 12/22 and nearly dissipated. This Active Phase episode is expected to increase storm activity in the North Pacific through mid-December.
Sea Surface Temp anomaly data (11/30) indicates that warmer than normal waters are consolidated on the equator from Ecuador west to the dateline and even west of there, but have been steadily pulling away from the Baja coast. The lack of a real Kelvin Wave in a while is likely not helping that situation. But with the coming of a new strong Kelvin Wave (see below) there is some anticipation that warmer waters might build to the north. From an El Nino perspective, it make no real difference though. The expanse of the warmer waters continues to hold on equator, covering slightly more area and filling in with the warmest waters covering greater area now. Overall the warm water signature remains non-exceptional, but clearly in the moderate El Nino category and building very slowly but steadily.
Of interest, the water temp anomaly data provided by NOAA/NESDIS (satellite based) versus the TAO/TRITON buoy array, present different depictations of the same event. The TAO array suggests max heating is occurring on the dateline, with temps easing as one tracks east, while the satellite based data from NOAA presents an analysis of continuous warm waters over the length of the equator from Ecuador to the dateline. The difference is in how the data is collected (buoys at fixed points versus a satellite view of the entire.cgiaying field). We're siding with the satellite view not because it is more favorable, but because we believe it more accurately represents reality. The buoy arrays strength is in waters temps at depth (i.e. for detecting Kelvin Waves). This is exactly what the array was built to detect. The satellite view cannot do that. Likewise, the satellite has far superior coverage.
Below the surface on the equator things continue to look favorable. A steady flow of warmer than normal subsurface water continues tracking from the West Pacific (150 m below the surface) under the dateline and breaking the surface near Central America as it has for months now. As of 12/1 a core of 5 deg warmer than normal sub-surface water is currently tracking east located at 110W with it's leading edge starting to move off the charts, and into the Central American coast. This should fuel an increase in the warm water surface pool as it erupts along the coast building there and eventually tracking back west on the equator driven by trades. This Kelvin Wave that first appeared under the dateline on 9/17 and tracked steadily east through 12/1. and was the result of a prolonged persistent westerly surface wind flow that had been in.cgiace west of the dateline from 9/8 and continued into 11/5.
Over the Equatorial Pacific and consistent with the Active Phase, surface winds started to move anomalously from the west extending the whole way from Indonesia to a point south of Hawaii, with weak real west winds confirmed in the far West Pacific. A new Westerly Wind Burst started to develop on 11/28 and was very obvious on 11/30 with fully blowing west winds near 165E, and strong. This Westerly Winds burst continued on 12/2 with a most solid area of west winds pushing almost to the dateline. Suspect another tropical system is building there. This could help to form yet another Kelvin Wave which would be good. The Kelvin Wave currently tracking east was formed from a prolonged bout and mult.cgie pulses of westerly winds and westerly anomalies that occurred from 9/8 through 11/2. At one point towards it's end the anomalies reached the whole way from the West Pacific to almost Ecuador. Embedded in that run were Typhoons Dujuan, Choi-Wan, Parma, Melor and Nepartak. All this helped to deepen the surface warm pool in the tropical Eastern Pacific.
El Nino is expected to affect the global atmospheric weather pattern at least through Spring of next year if not into the middle of summer. All data suggests this will not be a strong El Nino, more likely a moderate one. NOAA's last update (11/5) forecasts the same outcome, though hints at some uncertainty. In short, all the best models aren't exactly sure how this is going to.cgiay out. Regardless a solid accumulation of warm water in the equatorial East Pacific is evidence in-favor of continued development. As long as there continues to be WWB's (as there obviously is), then warm water will be migrating east, and the warm water pattern will hold if not build, and the atmosphere above it will respond in-kind to the change (towards El Nino). At this point there is no evidence to suggest this El Nino will stall or dissipate. The only remaining question is whether it will hold, or grow. And current data indicates that the warm pool will hold if not slowly build. And historically it is already larger and strong than any other in the past 12 years.
The current El Nino is gaining strength, with a 2 degree water temp anomaly in the tropical East Pacific the likely outcome. Coverage is pretty solid for this event, but the lack of really high water temp anomalies will likely limit it's strength. Strong El Ninos bring lot's of bad weather to the US West Coast, along with the potential for storm and swell enhancement. A moderate El Nino provides storm and swell enhancement, a gentle but steady push/momentum in-favor of storm development rather than the manic frenzy of a strong El Nino, but without all the weather associated with a strong event. So in many ways a moderate El Nino is more favorable from a surf perspective. As of right now things remain better than anything the Pacific has seen in the past 12 years regarding anomalous sea surface temperatures, besting anything since the big El Nino of 1997. That is very good news. But the lack of anomalous water temps exceeding 3 degrees and an unremarkable SOI suggests a modest El Nino at best. Still, it should be enough to provide storm enhancement, and a better than average winter surf season for the North Pacific, and still likely better than anything in the past 10 years. Better yet, if it's not too strong (as this event appears to be) perhaps it will not degrade into La Nina the year after (which typically happens after stronger El Ninos), but hold in some mild El Nino like state for several years in a row. This would be an even better outcome.
See more details in the new El Nino update.
South Pacific
Beyond 72 hours the models suggest no swell producing fetch is to develop.
Details to follow...
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External Reference Material: El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO), Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), Kelvin Wave
Add a STORMSURF Buoy Forecast to your Google Homepage. Click Here:
Then open your Google homepage, hit 'edit' button (top right near graph), and select your location
Local Interest
See a screening of recent Powerlines Production Mav's footage: Tues Dec 1st at 6 PM at La Costanera Restaurant, Montara Beach. www.lacostanerarestaurant.com 8150 Cabrillo Hwy, Montara CA 650-728-1600
Interview With Stormsurf: The crew at SurfScience.com worked with Stormsurf on a feature about why surfers should be able to read wave charts themselves. They are firm believers that a little learning can go a long way to help your surfing. This is a great article to help convince your friends that they can benefit from being able to read the data themsleves rather than just relying on the forecasts of others. See the full thing here: Create Your Own Surf Forecast with Stormsurf
Mavericks - Everest of the Sea & Longboard Vineyards: Come late October Sonoma County will not only welcome a new crop of world class wines, but the award winning photography of some of Action Sports best lensmen. “ Mavericks – Everest of the Seas” comes alive again just in time to set the stage for another epic Big Wave Season. Mix two of Northern California's finest institutions – big wave surfing and the wine country – and you have what promises to be an amazing weekend at the Longboard Vineyards Tasting Room in Healdsburg
October 23 – 25.
Relive heroic battles between man and wave as seen through the eyes of the cutting-edge photojournalists who risk life and limb to document the wave's intense man-against-the-sea drama and obsessive lifestyle of Maverick's elite riders. Oded Shakked, a longtime surfer who founded Longboard Vineyards, will be unveiling his latest release, The Peter Mel/Mavericks Cabernet Sauvignon. This signature wine will be blended by not only Shakked but guest vintner, Peter Mel. Mel, one of the most respected names in Big Wave Surfing is known as perhaps the most skillful surfer ever to ride Mavericks. The famed spot off the Half Moon Bay. In October of 1998 he was whipped into to what is now considered the biggest wave ever ridden… Mel along with the featured photographers, surfboard shapers and wine makers will be on hand for the Friday night reception. The reception will begin at 5pm and run until roughly 9pm.
Longboard Vineyard has always had a soft spot for surfers. It's a.cgiace where you can hangout at a redwood-surfboard bar, or sa.cgie one
of its award winning wines while kicking back on a comfortable sofa watching surf movies. For this harvest weekend event Shakked has
enlisted “Mavericks: Everest of the Seas,” the heralded collection of Mavericks surf photography from Frank Quirarte, Doug Acton, Seth
Migdail and Ed Grant.
“Everest of the Seas” first made its debut recently at the Coastal Arts League Gallery in Half Moon Bay, drawing large crowds and an
enthusiastic response. It just finished a one-month highly successful run at San Francisco's world class Museum and Gallery, SFMOMA.“Everyone who sees the exhibit is just blown away,” said Grant, the curator of the Coastal Arts League Gallery. “Both surfers and non-surfers can't help but get caught up in the energy and stoke that surrounds Maverick's, the surfers and photographers who put it on the
line every time they go out there.”
The event also represents a high point in the career of Oded Shakked, who was born in Israel and grew up near a beach just north of Tel
Aviv. Immersed in surfing from the start, he made several trips around Europe's Atlantic coast while discovering, to his delight, that “it
was easier, cheaper and safer to drink good red wine than bottled water.” His twin loves of surfing and wine brought him to California,
where he studied winemaking at UC Davis and became enamored with the pe.cgie, climate and rich soil of Sonoma County. He founded Longboard Vineyards with the motto “Wine, waves and soul,” making it a highly unique fixture in wine country.
The October 23-25 weekend will also feature the sale of surfboards and memorabilia, along with Acton's acclaimed book, “Inside Maverick's.”
Admission is free. Opening reception sponsored by Maverick Events and Longboard Vineyards
The Kelly Slater Project - A fundraiser is scheduled for Aug 29th at the Cocoa Beach Country Club to help raise funds for both the Kelly Slater Project and the Central Florida Animal Reserve. A Casino night is.cgianned including a silent auction and raffle. Sponsors are also needed. Learn more about these projects at : http://www.thekellyslaterproject.com/
Rebuild Jeff Clark: Jeff Clark the first pioneer of Mavericks, recently underwent hip resurfacing surgery due to severe pain from deterioration of his hip. Needless to say the procedure is very expensive and his insurance only covers tiny portion of the bill. If you're interested in learning about the procedure or would like to donate to help Jeff out,.cgiease take a look here: http://www.rebuildjeffclark.blogspot.com/
North California Surf Report Works Again: After an extended downtime we finally got the North California Surf Report working again. Thanks for your patience. See it here: http://www.stormsurf.com/page2/report/ncal.html
Shark Video: Our friend Curt Myers of Powerlines productions shot this footage of 2 great whites munching on a whale carcass off Devils Slide (south of San Francisco) on Thursday. Kind of interesting to watch. Check it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I4rZYEZMWQ (Fixed link)
Wave Model Upgrade Status Report: At this point we believe the installation of the new wave models is complete, with no problems being reported, the server stabilizing and the much requested return of the old style hemispheric Surf Height models now operational (again) and running side-by-side along the new ones. We thank you for your patience and input as we went though this process. Your feedback helps guide our efforts and ultimately results in a better product for everyone. Now we're off to start providing better menus to some wave model products most of you probably haven't uncovered yet (site specific graph and text forecasts), updateing the wave model FAQs and then upgrading the Weather Models.
New Wave Model Facts: Click HERE to read more about the new wave models. Important info.
Stormsurf Wave Models Updated: On Friday (2/6) we installed the latest upgrade to our wavemodels. A year in the works, this upgrade essentially is a total re-write of every wave model product we produce. They now take advantage of the new Version 3 of the Wavewatch wavemodel. This version runs at a much higher resolution, specifically 0.0 X 0.5 degrees for the global grib with local products at 0.1667 X 0.1667 degrees, and it uses the hi-res GFS model for wind speeds. And of even more interest, the model now identifies primary swell and windwave variables. As such we now have new model images which displays this data. Also we've included out special 3D topographic land masks into all models. In all it makes for a radical step forward in wave model technology. We'll be upgrading minor components (FAQ, new menu pages etc) for a few weeks to come, but all the basics are available for your use now. Check it out here: http://www.stormsurf.com/mdls/menu_wam.html
Story About Stormsurf: The folks at SurfPulse (and specifically author Mike Wallace) have written up a really nice article about Stormsurf, complete with some good pics. Learn about how we came to be and a little of where we are going. Check it out here: http://www.surfpulse.com/2009/01/visceral-surf-forecasting-with-mark-sponsler/
Stormsurf Video: Just for fun - here's a clip about Stormsurf that ran on Bay Area TV a while back. Thought you might enjoy it: http://vimeo.com/2319455
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.
Need Chiropractic Help? Visit our friends at Darrow Chiropractic. Not only will Dr. Darrow fix you up, he might give you some big wave surfing tips too! See more here: http://www.darrowchiropractic.com/
Stormsurf Google Gadget - Want Stormsurf content on your Google Homepage? It's si.cgie and free. If you have Google set as your default Internet E.cgiorer Homepage, just click the link below and a buoy forecast will be added to your Google homepage. Defaults to Half Moon Bay CA. If you want to select a different location, just click on the word 'edit', and a list of alternate available locations appears. Pick the one of your choice. Content updates 4 times daily. A great way to see what waves are coming your way!
http://www.google.com/ig/add?moduleurl=http://www.stormsurf.com/gadget/stormsurf .xml
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Surf Height-Swell Height Correlation Table
