San Diego Surf Forecast – Wednesday – NW swell and clean conditions continue

The Swell
NW swell (290-300), some WNW-NW leftovers, and some small SW swell (200-220) will continue to hold on Wednesday...but may lose a little steam by the afternoon. Look for the NW swell to show better in the south half of the county…and the SW’er to show a little better as you get closer to the county line.



Waves
Average spots are going to see surf in the waist high range on Wednesday with a few inconsistent chest high sets mixing in at the better NW combo breaks. The standout NW facing breaks in South County will be in the chest-shoulder high range with some occasional head high sets showing at the spots that can pull in a bit of the SW combo.

Winds
Look for E-NE winds around 10-12 knots for the morning…strongest near the passes and canyons in South County. Winds come onshore out of the WNW around 10-12 knots for the afternoon but may lay down to light/variable by the end of the day.

San Diego County Tides
11/25/2009 Wed
04:10AM LST 4.1 H
10:21AM LST 2.4 L
03:26PM LST 3.5 H
09:55PM LST 1.2 L

San Diego Surf Forecast – The Weekend – New WNW-NW swell peaks Sunday

The Swell
Saturday starts off with mostly leftovers but a WNW-NW swell (280-300) builds in through the afternoon and peaks throughout the day on Sunday. Small, much less consistent, SW energy (200-220) holds in the background.





Waves
Saturday will have mostly leftover energy for the dawn patrol…but still with plenty of rideable waves in the waist-chest high+ range at the average spots and some chest-shoulder high+ sets at the standouts. The new WNW-NW swell will start to move in later in the afternoon but may have a hard time showing through the building onshore bump from the local winds.

The WNW-NW’er peaks on Sunday with consistent chest-shoulder high surf at the average exposed breaks. Top NW facing spots…again mostly in South County, will have shoulder-head high+ surf fairly consistently and sets going a couple of feet overhead at times. Looks like exposed points and reefs will have the best shape but expect smaller less consistent sets in those areas as the tide fills in.

Winds
Saturday will see some eddish flow through the morning…so a sort of W-SW wind around 10-12 knots. Not enough to blow it out…but enough to make it a bit crumbly and sort of funky. Look for building onshore winds out of the W-NW in the 10-15 knot range for the afternoon.

Sunday will have mostly light and variable to light offshore winds and clean conditions. Winds will stay light through the first part of the morning and then build out of the NW around 10-15 knots for the afternoon.

San Diego County Tides
11/21/2009 Sat
12:33AM LST 3.3 H
04:26AM LST 2.9 L
10:38AM LST 5.0 H
06:33PM LST 0.4 L

11/22/2009 Sun
01:41AM LST 3.3 H
5:27AM LST 3.0 L
11:25AM LST 4.5 H
07:25PM LST 0.6 L

San Diego Surf Forecast – Friday – Smaller WNW-NW swell mix…but still fun

The Swell
The mix of WNW-NW swell (280-300 but with more energy in the 290-300 range) and some weak SW swell (200-220) will back down on Friday. Look for the biggest, most consistent surf through the morning and further shrinkage by the afternoon.



Waves
Average WNW-NW facing spots, like most of North County, will be in the waist-chest high range through the morning…with a few chest-shoulder high sets sneaking through before the tide gets too high. Top NW facing spots through South County will have surf in the chest-shoulder high range with some head high…maybe even head high+ sets early in the morning but will become smaller and less consistent as we head towards the afternoon.

Winds
Look for light and variable winds through the morning…even a few pockets of light E-ESE-SE offshore winds in some areas. Increasing clouds and light/moderate NW winds 10-14 knots move in through the afternoon. Chance for some light showers later in the night.

San Diego County Tides
11/20/2009 Friday
03:46AM LST 2.7 L
10:00AM LST 5.3 H
05:44PM LST 0.1 L

San Diego Surf Forecast – Thursday – WNW-NW swell peaks

The Swell
WNW-NW swell (280-300 but with most of the energy around 290-300) will peak on Thursday as it mixes with some background SW swell (200-220).



Waves
With the steeper swell angle on the incoming surf it looks like North County could miss out on a lot of the new energy…oh it will have some bigger surf compared to the last couple of days…but the South County breaks are really going to be the ones that see most of the bigger energy. Average spots, mostly north county breaks, will be in the waist-shoulder high range…maybe a few head high sets on the lower tides. The top NW facing breaks in Central and South SD will be in the shoulder-head high+ range pretty consistently with some overhead+ sets mixing in on the lower tide.

Winds
Look for light and variable to light offshore winds for the morning, some patchy fog in spots as well. Variable…mostly onshore…flow builds in through the afternoon but stays around 5-10 knots.

San Diego County Tides
11/19/2009 Thursday
03:12AM LST 2.5 L
09:25AM LST 5.7 H
04:59PM LST -0.3 L
11:35PM LST 3.4 H

San Diego Surf Forecast – Wednesday – Building WNW-NW swell

The Swell
A new mix of WNW-NW swell (280-300 degrees but with the main push of energy around 290-300) will fill in throughout the day. Small SW swell (200-220) will also increase slightly in the background. Look for most spots to start small (and tide swamped) but expect more size to arrive as the swell fills in more in the afternoon...bigger waves will arrive after dark and hold into Thursday.





Waves
Not a ton of new waves showing for the morning…and what little increase in energy we do see will have to break through that 6’ high tide. Most spots will continue to hold around the knee-high+ range for the morning, while the standout Mid-South County breaks see some waist-chest high sets.

As the tide drops and the new swell fills in…look for the average breaks to push into the waist-chest high+ range. Standout spots will be more in the chest-shoulder high range with a few bigger waves starting to show before dark.

Winds
Light offshore to light and variable winds on tap through the morning and W-WNW winds around 10-12 knots for the afternoon. Conditions look nice and clean through the first half of the day.

San Diego County Tides
11/18/2009 Wednesday
02:40AM LST 2.2 L
08:51AM LST 6.1 H
04:18PM LST -0.6 L
10:44PM LST 3.5 H

San Diego Surf Forecast – Tuesday – Small and close to shore

The Swell
Leftover WNW-NW energy…mostly local windswell and a trace of SW swell…really I wouldn’t have known these swells were in the water, let alone mention them, if we had something real to ride.



Waves
The tide continues to be an issue through the early morning a handful of breaks may have some semi-rideable shorebreak sections. As the tide drops look for the average spots to see surf in the knee-waist high range while the standout NW facing spots see some knee-waist high+ surf with a few waist-chest high sets.

Winds
Light offshore to light and variable winds on tap through the morning and W-WNW winds around 10-12 knots for the afternoon. Conditions look nice and clean through the first half of the day.

San Diego County Tides
11/17/2009 Tuesday
02:08AM LST 1.9 L
08:19AM LST 6.3 H
03:38PM LST -0.7 L
09:59PM LST 3.7 H

San Diego Surf Forecast – Monday – Clean with a side of morning swampthing

The Swell
We will have a mix of small WNW-NW windswell, some weak SW swell (190-210), and some new, but background, NW swell (295-300) from a little further out in the NPAC.



Waves
The tide continues to be an issue through the early morning but a few of the best high tide breaks may have some rideable peaks as we try to power through the 6’+ high tide. As the tide drops look for the average spots to see surf in the knee-waist high+ range while the standout NW facing combo breaks see some knee-chest high surf with a few chest high+ waves sneaking as we get closer to the low tide.

Winds
Light offshore to light and variable winds on tap through the morning and W-WNW winds around 10-12 knots for the afternoon. Looks clean through the first half of the day.

Light and variable to light offshore winds will be on tap Sunday morning. NW winds 10-15+ knots move in through the afternoon.

San Diego County Tides
11/16/2009 Monday
01:36AM LST 1.7 L
07:47AM LST 6.3 H
03:00PM LST -0.8 L
09:15PM LST 3.9 H

San Diego Surf Forecast – Weekend Waves – More windswell…but with a little cleanup on Sunday

The Swell
WNW-NW windswell will peak into early Saturday, fade slightly through midday and then increase again in the afternoon. Look for the windswell (and a small SW swell) to fade through the day on Sunday.





Waves
Saturday looks pretty ugh…high tide and building onshore winds will keep things from ever getting very surfable…though there may be a couple of random surf pockets if you have a spot that can handle the mix of tide/windswell. Most breaks will be in the waist-chest high range (if they can power through the tide), while the standout NW windswell spots see some chest-shoulder high+ sets.

Sunday looks cleaner but the tide will continue to be an issue…more swampy waist-chest high waves on tap for the morning…with a few chest-shoulder high+ sets sneaking into the top spots as the tide drops. Look for smaller, less consistent, surf by the afternoon.

Winds
Mostly light and variable onshore winds and a bunch of areas with minor texture for the morning. Look for some moderate W-WNW winds in the 10-15+ knot range for the afternoon.

San Diego County Tides
11/14/2009 Saturday
12:27AM LST 1.1 L
06:42AM LST 6.2 H
01:41PM LST -0.5 L
07:44PM LST 4.1 H

11/15/2009 Sunday
01:02AM LST 1.5 L
07:15AM LST 6.3 H
02:21PM LST -0.7 L
08:30PM LST 4.0 H

San Diego Surf Forecast – Friday – More windswell and more onshore wind

The Swell
Windswell builds in more throughout the day on Friday while a small SW swell (200-220) fills in through the background. Look for increasing wave heights at the better NW facing spots through the South half of the County…and only a slight uptick in size for the North County breaks.



Waves
Look for the average spots hold around knee-waist+ high on Friday. Top NW facing breaks, in South County, will have waist-chest high waves with some rare chest high+ sets in the morning…and some more consistent chest-shoulder high slop by the afternoon. Unfortunately we can expect swampy shape through the dawn patrol as the high tide peaks right before sunrise.

Winds
Mostly light and variable onshore winds and a bunch of areas with minor texture for the morning. Look for some moderate W-WNW winds in the 10-15+ knot range for the afternoon.

San Diego County Tides
11/13/2009 Friday
06:10AM LST 5.9 H
12:58PM LST 0.0 L
06:53PM LST 4.2 H

San Diego Surf Forecast – Thursday – Fading combo and building windswell

The Swell
Not a lot of changes for early Thursday…we will still have a mix of sort of holding NW-energy (290-300) and some weak background SW swell (200-220) as well as some small local windswell. Look for the windswell to start to increase by later in the afternoon…this will continue to build overnight and into Friday.



Waves
Look for the average spots hold around knee-waist high on Thursday. Top NW facing breaks, in South County, will have waist-chest high waves with some rare chest high+ sets at times. Unfortunately we can expect swampy shape through the dawn patrol as the high tide peaks right before sunrise.

Winds
Mostly light and variable onshore winds and a bunch of areas with minor texture for the morning. Look for some moderate W-WNW winds in the 10-15+ knot range for the afternoon.

San Diego County Tides
11/12/2009 Thursday
05:36AM LST 5.5 H
12:11PM LST 0.6 L
05:57PM LST 4.2 H
11:50PM LST 0.8 L

San Diego Surf Forecast – Wednesday – Backing off a bit more

The Swell
The NW energy (290-300) will start to dip some…but not totally fade out on Wednesday thanks to a mix of more weak NW swell joining the mix as well as a touch of local windswell. A small SW swell (200-220) will begin to fade out as it hangs in the background.



Waves
Look for the average spots hold around waist-chest high on Wednesday…with smaller less consistent surf coming through the North half of the County. Top spots, mostly the better NW facing breaks as well as the best combo spots in the Southern half of the county, will be in the waist-shoulder high range.

Winds
Mostly light and variable winds with just a few areas of minor texture for the morning. Look for some light/moderate W-WNW winds in the 10-15 knot range for the afternoon. Patchy fog and overcast skies will be on tap through the first part of the day.

San Diego County Tides
11/11/2009 Wednesday
05:01AM LST 5.0 H
11:17AM LST 1.5 L
04:53PM LST 4.3 H
11:09PM LST 0.6 L

San Diego Surf Forecast – Tuesday – Playful but slowly fading

Our WNW-NW swell (285-300+) and minor SW swell (200-220) will continue to fade on Tuesday. It won’t drop super fast, thanks to some small NW reinforcements, but expect a noticeable drop in size and consistency as we move throughout the day.



Waves
Average spots will be in the waist-chest high range on Tuesday…with a couple of bigger sets mixing into the average NW combo spots through the morning low tide. The top NW facing spots though South/Central County will be in the chest-shoulder high range with some inconsistent bigger, near head high, sets mixing in on the morning tide push. Swell periods are starting to shorten up as the swell fades…so expect even the top breaks to start to lose some of the “pop” that it had over the last couple of days. Expect smaller and less consistent surf by the afternoon.

Winds
Clean conditions on tap for Tuesday. Mostly light and variable winds with just a few areas of minor texture for the morning. Look for some light/moderate W-WNW winds in the 10-12 knot range for the middle of the day and then lighter winds setting back up as we get close to sundown.

San Diego County Tides
11/10/2009 Tuesday
04:22AM LST 4.4 H
10:08AM LST 2.2 L
03:36PM LST 4.4 H
10:22PM LST 0.4 L

San Diego Surf Forecast – Monday – NW’er fades but still send in some fun surf

Monday our WNW-NW swell (285-300+) and our minor SW swell (200-220) will both back down as we move through the day...but still manage to send in some decent energy, enough that we can get out and have some fun at the well exposed breaks.



Waves
On Monday the average NW facing spots will be in the waist-chest high range with a few inconsistent shoulder high sets. A few of the more shadowed breaks through the North part of the county will be a touch smaller and less consistent. The standout NW facing spots, particularly the ones that can handle a fatter tide, will be in the chest-head high range with a few of the biggest sets hitting a little bigger on the lower tides.

Winds
Clean conditions on tap for Monday. Mostly light and variable winds with just a few areas of minor texture for the morning. Look for some light/moderate W-WNW winds in the 10-12 knot range for the middle of the day and then lighter winds setting back up as we get close to sundown.

San Diego County Tides
11/09/2009 Monday
03:34AM LST 4.0 H
08:34AM LST 2.8 L
02:07PM LST 4.6 H
09:28PM LST 0.2 L

San Diego Surf Forecast – Weekend Waves – New NW swell peaks on Sunday

On Saturday we will have a mix of playful NW swell (290-300) and some inconsistent, but fun, SW swell (200-220). A larger NW swell may show a few new lines at the top spots by the afternoon…but most of the energy will arrive after dark.



Sunday the NW swell (285-300+) will peak and mix with the smaller SW energy (200-220). Look for the peak of the swell to hold through the morning but expect plenty of energy holding through the afternoon (and into Monday).



Waves
Saturday will see mostly waist-chest high at the average spots…biggest through the middle and southern half of the county. The standout NW facing breaks, again mostly in those areas, will be in the chest-shoulder high range with a couple of bigger sets mixing in at times. Look for the bigger NW’er to show a few new lines before the end of the day...but don’t expect a big jump until later in the night.

Sunday the NW’er (285-300+) will peak…we can expect an increase in size across the county with the average NW spots building into the chest-head high range. The northern half of the county will be a bit shadowed so expect surf to be on the smaller side through those breaks. The standouts in South SD will be bigger with waves holding consistently around shoulder-overhead with sets going a couple of feet overhead on the better tides…I wouldn’t be surprised to see some occasionally bigger sets through the morning tide push.

Winds
Saturday may see a little funkiness as outer water winds try to spin up a bit of eddy…it shouldn’t be totally blown out or anything but there is the potential for some onshore texture through the dawn patrol that will strengthen through the afternoon.

Sunday looks clean with light/variable to light offshore winds through the morning. W-WSW winds 10-15 knots move in through the afternoon.

San Diego County Tides
11/07/2009 Saturday
12:59AM LST 3.4 H
04:55AM LST 2.8 L
11:18AM LST 5.5 H
07:14PM LST -0.1 L

11/08/2009 Sunday
02:25AM LST 3.6 H
06:36AM LST 3.0 L
12:35PM LST 5.1 H
08:24PM LST 0.1 L

San Diego Surf Forecast – Building through the day

The Swell
SD will start off with the same sort of mix it had on Thursday…but with a touch more size thanks to a combo of building WNW-NW energy and a slightly lower morning tide. Look for more WNW-NW swell (280+290-300) to move in as we head into the afternoon.



Waves
Our surf will be mostly leftovers in the morning…lots of knee-high+ sets at the average NW facing spots. Standout NW breaks will be in the knee-waist high range with a couple of plus sets on the lower tides. Look for the new swell to build in and push the average spots into the waist-chest high range by the late afternoon…top spots will be close to waist-shoulder high by the end of the day. Shape won’t be the greatest by the evening, thanks to onshore winds…but it will still be nice to see some more size out there.

Winds
Look for variable onshore flow during the morning but with winds remaining mostly light in the 4-6 knot range. Look for more texture around the pockets of fog that will be roaming around the county in the morning. W-NW winds around 10-15 knots move in by the afternoon.

San Diego County Tides
03:54AM LST 2.5 L
10:19AM LST 6.0 H
06:07PM LST -0.4 L

San Diego Surf Forecast – Small and textured…my favorite

The Swell
San Diego will see a mix of backing down NW swell (290-300 but most of the energy closer to 295-300), some minor SW energy (200-220), and some leftover local windswell.



Waves
Most spots will be in the knee high range…and inconsistent…and mostly shorebreak as the high tide fills in…did I mention the onshore texture yet? Nevermind I think you get the picture. The better NW facing breaks and excellent combo spots are going to be in the knee-waist high range on sets…maybe even rideable if you break out the longboard on the lower tides. Unfortunately even the best spots are going to get hammered by the 6.3’ high tide that peaks around 9:30am.

Winds
Look for variable onshore flow during the morning but with winds remaining mostly light in the 4-6 knot range. Look for more texture around the pockets of fog that will be roaming around the county in the morning. W-SW winds around 10-12 knots move in by the afternoon.

San Diego County Tides
03:12AM LST 2.2 L
09:32AM LST 6.3 H
05:07PM LST -0.6 L
11:41PM LST 3.4 H

San Diego Surf Forecast – Waves for Wednesday

The Swell
San Diego will see a mix of fading NW swell (290-300), some background SW energy (200-220), and some building NW windswell that pushes in throughout the day. In general look for the biggest waves at the well exposed NW spots in South County…and expect smaller, less consistent waves as you move further north.



Waves
Average spots, with ok exposure to the NW swell (and/or a little of the swell combo), will be in the knee-waist high range…with maybe even a little plus set now and then on the lower tides. The top NW facing spots, particularly if they can handle a higher tide, will be in the waist-chest high range with some chest-high+ sets as the tide drops to more manageable levels. Like I said above…look for the biggest and most consistent (both being relative terms) surf through unshadowed areas of South County.

Winds
Look for light and variable conditions early…but with a touch of onshore flow picking up by midmorning. Generally it will be clean but with a couple of pockets of texture at the really wind exposed areas, particularly around the areas of patchy fog that may roll through. W-NW winds 10-15 knots build in through the afternoon.

San Diego Tides
02:38AM LST 1.9 L
08:51AM LST 6.4 H
04:15PM LST -0.7 L
10:37PM LST 3.6 H

Transworld Surf Forecast – the North Pacific is set to go boom

If you read the long-range forecast that I posted this morning (or have looked at any of the swell models) you already know that the North Pacific is getting ready to lay down a smacking on the West Coast.

The majority of the energy will be heading to the Pacific NW as well as Northern and Central California. (Socal will get some waves but will be quite a bit smaller thanks to shadowing from Point Conception as well as the Nearshore Islands).

I go into a little more detail for Northern and Central California in the forecast for Transworld, and talk a little bit more about why and how this storm is pulling together…give it a read when you get a chance.

http://surf.transworld.net/features/west-coast-surf-forecast/