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Pacific Storm and Surf Forecast
Updated: Monday, December 16, 2019 4:38 PM
Buoys: Northern CA - Southern CA - Hawaii - Gulf of Alaska - Pacific Northwest
Buoy Forecast:
Northern CA - Southern CA - Hawaii - Gulf of Alaska - Pacific Northwest
Pacific Links:  Atmospheric Models - Buoy Data - Current Weather - Wave Models
Forecast Archives: Enter Here
A chronology of recent Mavericks Underground forecasts. Once you enter, just click on the HTML file forecast you want to review (e.g. 073199.html equals July 31, 1999). To view the maps that correspond to that forecast date, select the html file labeled 073199 maps.html
3.8 - California & 3.7 - Hawaii
Using the 'Winter' Scale
(See Swell Category Table link at bottom of page)

Probability for presence of largest swells in near-shore waters of NCal, SCal or Hawaii.    

Issued for Week of Monday 12/16 thru Sun 12/22

Swell Potential Rating Categories
5 = Good probability for 3 or more days of Significant swell
4 = Good probability for 1-2 days of Significant swell
3 = Good probability for 3 or more days of Intermediate/Advanced swell
2 = Good probability for  1-2 days of
Intermediate/Advanced swell
1 = Good probability for 3 or more days of Impulse or Windswell
0 = Low probability for 1-2 days of Impulse or Windswell   

Dateline Swell Poised For HI
Another Right Behind and More After That

BUOY ROUNDUP
On Monday, December 16, 2019 :

  • Buoy 233 (Pearl Harbor Entrance)/Buoy 239 (Lanai)/Barbers Point (Buoy 238) : Seas were 2.5 ft @ 11.1 secs with swell 1.3 ft @ 10.1 secs from 203 degrees.
  • Buoy 106 (Waimea): Seas were 5.4 ft @ 10.5 secs with swell 3.0 ft @ 10.1 secs from 238 degrees.
  • Buoy 46025 (Catalina RDG): Seas were 3.5 ft @ 12.0 secs with swell 1.9 ft @ 12.6 secs from 245 degrees. Wind at the buoy was northeast at 8-106 kts. Water temperature 59.9 degs. At Harvest Buoy (071) primary swell was 8.0 ft @ 13.1 secs from 305 degrees. At Santa Monica (028) swell was 1.9 ft @ 13.3 secs from 263 degrees. At Oceanside (045) swell was 1.8 ft @ 11.8 secs from 274 degrees. Southward at Pt Loma (191) swell was 3.3 ft @ 13.4 secs from 278 degrees.
  • Buoy 46012 (Half Moon Bay)/029 (Pt Reyes): Seas were 8.9 ft @ 11.8 secs with swell 6.3 ft @ 12.3 secs from 297 degrees. Wind at the buoy (012) was east at 8-10 kts. Water temp 55.0 degs (013), 56.7 degs (012) and 56.8 degs (042).

See Hi-Res Buoy Dashboards (bottom of the page)

Swell Classification Guidelines

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 Monday (12/16) in North and Central CA waves were 2 ft overhead and lined up and clean with light offshore winds. Protected breaks were head high to 1 ft overhead and lined up and mostly closed out. At Santa Cruz surf was 1 ft overhead and lined up and clean and fun looking. In Southern California/Ventura there was no surf with nuking south winds and whitecaps in control. In North Orange Co sets waves were chest high or so and gentle with soft lines coming through and light winds with glassy conditions. South Orange Country's best summertime breaks were thigh to maybe waist high and lined up and clean but weak. North San Diego had waves at waist high and clean and lined up with light offshore winds. Hawaii's North Shore was getting easterly windswell wrapping in with waves shoulder high and reasonably clean but with some northerly lump running through it. The South Shore was flat and clean. The East Shore was getting northeast windswell at waist to chest high and chopped from brisk northeasterly trades.

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

Meteorological Overview
On Monday (12/16) in California residual swell from what previously was Storm #1 was still hitting but from a more northerly angle making for rideable surf. Windswell was hitting Hawaii for the moment, but longer period swell from a storm that pushed over the dateline was poised to hit. That storm pushed off the North Kuril Islands Fri-Sat (12/14) with seas at first up to 39 ft aimed east, then faded with seas down to 29 ft as it tracked east approaching the dateline, but pulsed slightly in the Northwestern Gulf Sun-Mon (12/16) with seas up to 30 ft aimed east. Yet another gale developed off the Kuril Islands tracking east over the dateline Sun-Mon (12/16) with 34-36 ft seas aimed east then is to rebuild some in the Western Gulf on Wed-Thurs (12/19) with seas again building to the 38 ft range. Another storm is forecast developing on the North Dateline region moving into the Northwestern Gulf on Sat-Sun (12/22) with 41 ft seas aimed east. The storm pattern continues.

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 Monday (12/16) the jetstream was reasonably consolidated pushing east off Japan forming a weak trough off the Kuril Islands being fed by 130 kt winds and offering some support for gale development. From there the jet starting ridging gently northeast and building with winds to 150 kts over the Gulf of Alaska falling into a small pinched trough in the Central Gulf offering limited support for gale development. From there the jet pushed east into North CA. Over the next 72 hours the Gulf trough is to steadily track east and still pinched off moving inland over the San Francisco Bay Area on Wed (12/18) offering some weak support for gale development and better odds for weather there. Back to the west the jet is to be split over the dateline on Wed (12/18) but consolidated over the Gulf with 170 kts winds possibly forming a trough and it building and deepening into Thurs (12/19) offering support for gale development. Beyond 72 hours the Gulf trough is to deepen and build in coverage while slowly tracking east being fed by up to 140 kts winds on Sun (12/22) just off the North and Central CA coast offering support for gale development and weather for the coast into Mon (12/23). At the same time a new trough is to be building over the North Dateline region on Sat (12/21) being fed by 160 kts winds offering good support for gale development with that trough lifting northeast and barely tracking over open water into the Northern Gulf of Alaska on Mon (12/23), still offering support for gale development. In all reasonably good jetstream pattern is forecast. By Mon (12/23) a bit of a split in the jet is forecast over the dateline but over Japan the jet is to be consolidated being fed by 140 kts winds with the whole jet generally running east on the 35N latitude line.


Surface Analysis
On Monday (12/16) swell from a gale that was traversing the North Pacific was poised to hit Hawaii (see Dateline Storm below).

Over the next 72 hours

Dateline Gale
A small gale developed while pushing off the Northern Kuril Islands on Fri AM (12/13) with 45 kt west winds and seas 39 ft at 44.5N 158.5E aimed east. In the evening west winds faded at 40-45 kts over a broad area aimed east with 33 ft seas at 43N 170E aimed east. On Sat AM (12/14) the fetch moved over the Dateline with west winds 35-40 kts producing 31 ft seas 42.5N 179W aimed east. Fetch held in the evening over the Western Gulf at 35 kts with 29 ft seas at 45N 170W aimed east. Fetch moved east on Sun AM (12/15) at 30-35 kts over a broad area with 26 ft seas at 45N 163W aimed east. Fetch was fading in coverage in the evening while lifting north at 30-40 kts aimed east and seas fading from 30 ft over a small area up at 50N 161W aimed east. The gale faded Mon AM (12/16) with winds dissipating from 30 kt and seas fading from 25 ft at 48N 155W aimed east. Swell to result for Hawaii and the US West Coast.

Hawaii: Expect swell arrival on Mon (12/16) building to 6.2 ft @ 17 secs later (10 ft). Swell to be fading Tues AM (12/17) from 6.2 ft @ 16 secs (9.5 ft). Residuals fading on Wed AM (12/18) from 3.7 ft @ 13-14 secs (5.0 ft) early. Swell Direction: 323 degrees

North CA: Expect swell arrival Wed AM (12/18) with swell building to 5.6 ft @ 17-18 secs (9.5 ft) early. But this swell is to get overridden by more locally produced swell mid-day (see Local CA Gale below). Swell fading on Thurs (12/19) from 6.8 ft @ 14 secs early (9.5 ft). Swell Direction: 292-293 degrees

 

Local CA Low
A small local gale is forecast developing just off North CA on Mon PM (12/16) producing 30 kt northwest and west winds and seas building to 21 ft at 45N 134W aimed east. On Tues AM (12/17) northwest winds to be 30 kts just off the North Coast with seas 21 ft at 43N 128W (just off the OR-CA border) aimed southeast. 25 kt northwest winds to hold in the evening drifting east with 18 ft seas at 42N 125W aimed east. The gale is to move onshore over the Pt Reyes area on Wed AM (12/18) producing west winds at 25-30 kts. Local swell for North CA possible.

North CA: Swell arrival on Wed AM (12/18) and very raw and confused mixing with Dateline Swell (see above) producing seas at 11.6 ft @ 8-17 secs (10-13 ft). Mixed swell fading on Thurs (12/19) see above. Swell Direction: 283 degrees

 

Another Dateline Gale
Another gale developed Sun AM (12/15) while tracking just off the Kuril Islands producing northwest winds at 45 kts resulting in 33 ft seas at 42N 158.5E aimed east. In the evening 40-45 kt northwesterly winds were tracking east over a tiny area with 32 ft seas at 41.5N 166.5E aimed east-southeast. On Mon AM (12/16) a moderate sized area of 40 kt west-northwest winds were approaching the dateline with 32 ft seas at 42.5N 174E aimed east. In the evening the gale is to move over the Dateline with 40 kt west winds producing 33 ft seas at 45N 178W aimed east. On Tues AM (12/17) a broad area of west winds at 35-45 kts are forecast over the Northwestern Gulf producing 35 ft seas at 47.5N 172W aimed east. More of the same expected in the evening with 35-40 kt west winds over a solid area in the Gulf aimed east producing 37 ft seas at 47.5N 162W aimed east. The gale is to hold together Wed AM (12/18) with 30-35 kt west winds filling the Gulf resulting in 36 ft seas at 47.5N 155W aimed east. In the evening the gale is to stall in the Gulf with 30-35 kt west winds over a large area and 31 ft seas at 47.5N 147W aimed east. The gale is to be fading Thurs AM (12/19) with 25-30 kt northwest winds and 25 ft seas filling the Gulf centered at 46.5N 143W aimed east. Secondary fetch is to develop in the evening at 30-35 kts from the northwest and seas 22 ft at 45N 155W aimed southeast. The gale is to fade from there with 22 ft seas fading Fri Am (12/20) at 41N 151W aimed southeast. Something to monitor. Swell likely for Hawaii and the US West Coast.

 

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

 

Tropical Update
No tropical systems of interest are being monitored.

California Nearshore Forecast
On Monday (12/16) a light to modest northeasterly flow at 10 kts was occurring early for North and Central CA and is to continue through the day as another low starts building a bit off the coast. No precip forecast. Winds turning southeasterly for the area over the evening. Tues (12/17) southeast winds are forecast at 15-20 kts early for North CA building to 30 kts later mainly north of Pt Arena and southeast winds 10+ kts early for Central CA building to 20 kts at sunset. Rain developing along all of the North and Central CA coast down to Pt Conception late evening. Wednesday (12/18) northwest winds are forecast at 10-15 kts for Central CA and for North CA southwest winds 25 kts early turning northwest 15 kts later. Light rain for North and Central CA mainly early. Modest snow for the Tahoe area through the day fading early evening. Thurs (12/19) a front is to be over the area from Pt Arena northward with south winds 25-30 kts and not moving. Light winds for Central CA. Rain developing over Cape Mendocino early reaching to Bodega Bay late afternoon and stalling there. No snow is forecast. Fri (12/20) the front is to remain stalled over Cape Mendocino with south winds there 25 kts and 15 kts or less from the south from the Golden Gate northward. Light winds for Central CA. Rain continues from Pt Arena northward but getting lighter through the day. Sat AM (12/21) the front is to push south to Pt Conception late evening with south winds 20-25 kts in the front turning west to northwest 10 kts behind the front. Rain pushing south to Pt Conception and solid. Heavy snow developing for Tahoe late evening and building southward. On Sun (12/22) low pressure is to build off the Golden Gate with south winds 20 kts from Big Sur northward but offshore north of Pt Arena and the low moving inland through the day with a light northwest flow behind it. Rain for the coast down into Southern CA mid-morning and getting lighter everywhere later in the day. Solid snow for the Sierra fading in the evening. Monday light north winds are forecast. Rain for Southern CA all day.

Total snow accumulation for the week for Squaw Valley, Sugar Bowl, Kirkwood and Mammoth at 24, 29, 20 and 9 inches respectively.

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

 

South Pacific

Overview
Surface Analysis
No swell producing fetch is occurring.

Over the next 72 hours no swell producing fetch 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 a new gale is to to be developing over the North Dateline region on Sat PM (12/21) producing a broad area of 30-40 kt northwest winds with a core to 45 kts and seas building from 34 ft over a small area at 48N 179W aimed east. On Sun AM (12/22) west winds to build to 45-50 kts over a solid area aimed east just south of the Central Aleutians with 37 ft seas building at 50N 171W aimed east. In the evening 45 kt west winds to hold coverage while easing east with 41 ft seas at 50N 172W aimed east. On Mon AM (12/23) 35-40 kt west winds to be moving into the Northwestern Gulf just south of the Eastern Aleutians with 33 ft seas at 51N 164.5W aimed east. Fetch to fade in the evening from 35-40 kts from the west with 31 ft seas fading at 49N 160W aimed east. Something to monitor.

Also a cutoff gale is to develop just 600-800 nmiles northwest of Kauai on Sun-Mon (12/23) with northeast winds 35+ kts and 20 ft seas building over a tiny area at 25N 172W aimed south. No direct impact is forecast to Hawaii at the moment, but this bears monitoring.

Also a new gael is to be building while tracking well off North Japan on Mon AM (12/23) producing 35-40 kt westerly winds while lifting northeast. In the evening north winds to be 40-45 kts over a small area with seas 24 ft at 42n 172E aimed southeast. Something to monitor.

 

South Pacific

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

 

 

MJO/ENSO Forecast

 

Inactive MJO Fading - Kelvin Wave #5 Fading While Impacting Ecuador

The Madden Julian Oscillation 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.The paragraphs below analyze the state of the MJO in the Pacific and provide forecasts for MJO activity (which directly relate to the potential for swell production).

Overview: A double dip La Nina was in control through the Winter of 2017-2018. But warming started building along the South and Central American coast in early March 2018 associated with two upwelling Kelvin Waves, and continued trying to build over equatorial waters over the Summer and Fall, but not enough to declare El Nino and not coupled with the atmosphere. In January 2019, those warm waters were fading, but then rebuilt late in Feb associated with Kelvin Wave (#3). But as of early June 2019 warm water was 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. El Nino was dead.

LONG-RANGE PACIFIC STORM AND SWELL GENERATION POTENTIAL FORECAST
Fall/Winter 2019/2020 = 5.0/4.0 (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 is assumed the PDO has moved to the warm phase and that a weak borderline El Nino from 2018 is fading out, but not yet completely gone, especially in the atmosphere. Likewise it looks like a La Nina ocean temperature pattern is developing in the equatorial East Pacific, with cooler than normal waters tracking west on the equator. We assumed El Nino like momentum will hold for a while in the atmosphere will take a while to sense that the ocean temperature pattern has changed. But once it does, a turn towards a La Nina like atmospheric pattern will start to develop. that transition is expected in the late Nov-early Dec timeframe. Even so, moderation from the PDO might prevent La Nina from fully developing. Given all that, there is decent probability for a normal start to the Fall surf season (in the Northern Hemisphere) meaning a normal amount of number of storm days and storm intensity, resulting in a normal levels of swell, with normal duration and normal period. But by mid-Dec 2019, the number of storm days, intensity and duration of those storms should start fading and as a result, swell production should fade slightly as well. This pattern is expected to hold through April 2020.

KWGA/Equatorial Surface Wind Analysis & Short-term Forecast (KWGA - Kelvin Wave Generation Area - The area 5 degrees north and south of the equator from 170W to 135E)
Analysis (TAO Buoys): As of (12/15) 5 day average winds were strong from the east over the Eastern equatorial Pacific fading to moderate from the east over the Central Pacific building to moderate strong on the dateline then turning modest westerly over the KWGA. Anomalies were neutral over the far East equatorial Pacific turning light westerly over the Central Pacific continuing on the dateline and weak westerly over the KWGA.
1 Week Forecast (GFS Model): On (12/16) weak west anomalies were over the KWGA today. The forecast continues to miraculously call for weak west anomalies building in coverage filling the KWGA by 12/18 and growing in coverage through the end of the model run on 12/23.

Kelvin Wave Generation Area wind monitoring model: West and East

Longer Range MJO/WWB Projections:  
OLR Models: (12/15) A modest Inactive MJO signal was over the Central KWGA today. The statistic model indicates the Inactive Phase is to push east and fading on the dateline at day 5 and then east of the dateline at days 10 and 15 while the Active Phase starts building moderately over the far West Pacific at day 15. The dynamic model indicates the same thing but with the Inactive Phase and the Active Phase gone at day 10 with a dead neutral pattern in effect. The 2 models are mostly in sync.
Phase Diagrams 2 week forecast (ECMF and GEFS): (12/16) The statistical model depicts the Active Phase was weak over the Central Indian Ocean today and is to move to the far West Pacific and very weak at day 15. The GEFS model suggests the same thing but with the Active Phase moving to the West Pacific and a bit stronger.
40 day Upper Level Model (assumed to be a statistical model): (12/16) This model depicts a weak Inactive MJO over the East Pacific today. The Inactive Phase is to track east pushing into Central America 12/26. A weak Active Phase is starting to build over the KWGA today and pushing to the East Pacific and over Central America on 1/15. A weak Inactive MJO signal is forecast setting up over the West Pacific on 1/12 pushing to the Central Pacific at the end of the model run on 1/25.
4 Week CFS Model (850 mb wind): (12/15) This model depicts a weak Inactive Phase over the KWGA with weak east anomalies over that area. The Inactive Phase is to be gone on 12/18 with weak west anomalies developing a day or two earlier and generally holding through the end of the model run on 1/12. Pockets of east anomalies are to occasionally appear at 135E during that window but mostly west of the KWGA.
3 Month CFS Model (850 mb wind): (12/16) This model depicts the Inactive Phase of the MJO was over the KWGA but with weak west anomalies over the KWGA. A generally weak wind anomaly pattern is to hold but with pockets of west anomalies embedded with the Inactive Phase holding through 1/1. A weak version of the Active Phase is to develop tracking east through the KWGA 1/8 holding through the end of the model run on 3/14 with weak west anomalies holding through 1/17, then fading out with weak east anomalies developing 1/20-12/17. The low pass filter indicates a low pressure bias with 2 contour lines in control of the KWGA centered on the dateline reaching east to the California coast. The second contour line is to hold till 2/10, then collapse. A high pressure bias built in the Indian Ocean starting 10/22 and is to hold through the end of the model run through getting a little weaker at the end of the run. A strong area of east anomalies in the Indian Ocean is forecast to significantly weaken by 2/10 and appears to track east through the KWGA 1/23-2/20.

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

Subsurface Waters Temps
TAO Array: (12/16) Today in the far West Pacific the 30 deg isotherm was backtracking some at 174E while the 29 deg isotherm was building east from 173W to 172W today. The 28 deg isotherm line was steady at 163W today. The 24 deg isotherm was backtracking to 115W today after previously pushing east into Ecuador. Anomaly wise, gentle warm anomalies are filling the entire Pacific with an interesting pocket at 2-3 degs building from the Maritime Continent moving east with it's leading edge at 138W indicative of new Kevin Wave #6 pushing east. A smaller area of warm water at +1 degs was pushing into Ecuador indicative of Kelvin Wave #5 mostly inland now. Warm water was filling the entire equatorial subsurface Pacific from 110 meters upwards. The hi-res GODAS animation posted 12/9 indicates warm water had formed a Kelvin Wave extending from 120E under the Dateline east to 150W at +2-3 degrees with lesser warm water pushing east from there then rebuilding to +2-4 degrees and impacting Ecuador. The GODAS animation appears to be 1 week behind the TAO data but also is more detailed and accurately modeled.
Sea Level Anomalies: (12/9) A small area of weak nondescript positive anomalies were fading on the equator in the vicinity of the Galapagos. A building pocket of +5 cms anomalies was tracking east between 155E-145W. Negative anomalies were gone along Peru and being replaced by very weak positive anomalies in pockets.

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: (12/15) The latest images ( 1.2 3.4) indicate warming anomalies were building along Peru up into Ecuador with a stream of modest warm anomalies tracking west on the equator over the Galapagos out to the dateline. Weak cool anomalies were south of the equator off Peru starting at 10S reaching west to 110W. Weak warm anomalies were on and north of the equator building while tracking west to the dateline.
Hi-res 7 day Trend (12/15): Today a building area of warming was filling the entire area from Chile and Peru steaming west out to 130W and also off Ecuador on the equator out to the dateline. A few pockets of cooling were interspersed along the equator from Ecuador to 140W. The short term trend is now towards warming in the Southeast Pacific. This is a step in the right direction.
Hi-res Overview: (12/15) A weak fading area of cool anomalies is trying to hold on south of the equator off Peru reaching out to 125W. Otherwise gentle warming along Peru lifting north up to Ecuador then pushing west on the equator, out to the dateline. Warmer than normal water was north of the equator from the remnants of El Nino, but mostly gone south of the equator. Water temps appear to be stable mildly favoring El Nino.
Nino1.2 Daily CDAS Index Temps: (12/16) Today's temps appear to have bottomed out and are now rising up to -0.038 after bottoming out down at -0.900 on 12/12. Temps peaked at +1.55 degrees on 12/2. It now appears we are now in a falling trend.
Nino 3.4 Daily CDAS Index Temps:
(12/16) Temps were steady today at +0.166. Temps peaked on 11/14 at +0.509 degs, fell some to -0.018 on 11/28, and are now trying to rebuild. The trend has been steadily generally upwards since Sept when they bottomed out at -0.6 degs (9/14).

Click for Full Sized Image Click for Full Sized Image

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

SST Anomaly Projections
CFSv2 Uncorrected Data (12/16) Actual's indicate a cooling trend set up late summer with temps -0.2 degs in mid-Sept then then trend started rising to +0.25 degs in early Oct holding to Dec 1. The forecast has temps holding in the +0.3-+0.4 degree range into May, then fading steadily to 0.0 in early Sept. According to this model a neutral sea surface temperature pattern biased slightly warm is forecast for the foreseeable future.
IRI Consensus Plume: The Oct 2019 Plume depicts temps are at +0.25 degs, and are to hold in the +0.25 deg range into May 2020, then fading slightly to +0.15 in June 2020. 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) (12/16): The daily index was negative today at -15.00 and has been negative the last 5 days. The 30 day average was negative and falling at -5.94. The 90 day average was steady at -6.36, suggesting a neutral ENSO pattern was developing.
ESPI Index (like SOI but based on satellite confirmed precipitation. Positive and/or rising is good, negative and/or falling is bad): Oct +0.33 Sept +1.13, August +0.64, July +0.75, June -0.32, May +1.10, April +0.30, March +1.0, Feb +1.29, Jan +0.193. This index has been steadily positive but still indicates mostly ENSO neutral conditions (not El Nino).

Pacific Decadal Oscillation
Per NOAAs index recent values: June 2017 +0.21, July -0.50, Aug -0.62, Sept -0.25, Oct -0.61, Nov -0.45, Dec -0.13, Jan 2018 +0.29, Feb -0.19, Mar -0.61, April -0.89, May -0.69, June -0.85, July -0.09, Aug -0.43, Sept -0.46, Oct -0.75, Nov -0.78, Dec -0.12, Jan -0.23, Feb -0.55 This continues to look like the warm phase of the PDO, even with La Nina, because the warm PDO appears to be dampening the effects of La Nina. No consistently solid negative readings have occurred since Feb 2014
The Washington/JISAO index (Jan-Dec): June 2017 +0.79, July +0.10, Aug +0.09, Sept +0.32, Oct +0.05, Nov +0.15, Dec +0.50, Jan +0.70. Feb +0.37, Mar -0.05, April +0.11, May +0.11, June -0.04, July +0.11, Aug +0.18, Sept +0.09. No real negative readings have occurred since Dec 2013
The PDO turned from a 16 year negative run (Jan 98-Feb 2014) in early 2014 and has been positive ever since (other than a few months of negative readings in Fall 2016, the result of a turn towards La Nina). Looking at the long term record, it is premature to conclude that we have in-fact turned from the negative phase (La Nina 'like') to the positive phase (El Nino 'like'), but the data strongly suggests that could be a possibility. By the time it is confirmed (4-5 years out), we will be well into it.

See imagery in the ENSO Powertool 

****

External Reference Material: El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO), Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), Kelvin Wave


Powerlinessurf Jeff Clark Inside Mavericks

Local Interest

Stormsurf Video Surf Forecast for the week starting Sunday (12/15):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhUhQ3fg1b8&feature=youtu.be&hd=1
For automatic notification of forecast updates, subscribe to the Stormsurf001 YouTube channel - just click the 'Subscribe' button below the video.

- - -

NBC News - Climate Change and Surfing: https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/climate-change-good-surfing-other-sports-not-so-much-ncna1017131

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

Mavericks Invitational 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

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