Pacific Storm & Surf Forecast (Stormsurf)

Buoy 238 (Barbers Pt)/Buoy 239 (Lani): Seas were 4.2 ft @ 15.4 secs with swell 2.3 ft @ 14.8 secs from 190 degrees. Water temp 80.6 degs (Barbers Pt), 80.4 (Pearl Harbor 233), 80.2 (Lani 239).
Buoy 106 (Waimea)/Buoy 202 (Hanalei): Seas were 5.3 ft @ 6.2 secs with swell 4.2 ft @ 6.4 secs from 35 degrees. Water temp 80.1 degs
Buoy 46025 (Catalina RDG): Seas were 2.7 ft @ 10.0 secs with swell 1.9 ft @ 10.3 secs from 169 degrees. Wind south at 0-2 kts. Water temperature 69.1 degs, 71.6 (Topanga 103), 67.8 degs (Long Beach 215), 72.0 (Oceanside Offshore 045), 72.1 (Del Mar 153), 71.6 (Torrey Pines Outer 100). At Harvest Buoy (071) primary swell was 1.4 ft @ 14.7 secs from 196 degrees. At E. Santa Barbara (46053) swell was 0.6 ft @ 12.2 secs from 176 degrees. At Santa Monica (028) swell was 1.4 ft @ 13.9 secs from 195 degrees. At Oceanside (045) swell was 1.6 ft @ 13.3 secs from 190 degrees. Southward at Pt Loma (191) swell was 1.7 ft @ 14.6 secs from 188 degrees. Water temperature was 71.1 degrees.
Buoy 46012 (Half Moon Bay) Out of Service /029 (Pt Reyes): Seas were 3.6 ft @ 11.8 secs with swell 2.0 ft @ 12.4 secs from 185 degrees. Wind northwest at 2-42 kts (46026). Water temp 52.9 (Bodega Bay 46013), 51.1 degs (Pt Reyes 029), 54.7 (San Francisco 46026), 56.3 (SF Bar 142), 59.0 (Pt Santa Cruz 254) and 57.6 (Monterey Bay 46042).

PACIFIC OVERVIEW
Current Conditions
On Thursday (8/10) North and Central CA waves were flat to knee high and warbled from southerly wind. Protected breaks were flat and lightly textured. At Santa Cruz surf was knee to thigh high on the bigger sets and lined up and clean and soft and inconsistent. In Southern California/Ventura waves were thigh to waist high and clean and lined up but soft. Central Orange County had occasional sets at waist high and lined up coming from the south and clean with no wind but very soft. South Orange County's best summertime breaks had sets at waist to maybe chest high and lined up but soft and short in length but clean. North San Diego had sets at waist high or so and lined up but a bit warbled from southerly wind and crumbled. Oahu's North Shore was flat to thigh high and clean with intermixed warble. The South Shore had sets at head high or maybe a bit more and clean and lined up. The East Shore was getting east windswell at head high and chopped from moderate easterly trades.

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

Meteorological Overview
On Thursday (8/10) minimal residual hurricane swell was hitting Southern California but all was calm north of Pt Conception. Hawaii was getting southern hemi swell originating from a tiny gale just east of New Zealand on Wed-Thurs (8/3) producing 26-28 ft seas aimed north. That swell is tracking towards CA too. Beyond a small gale is developing on the eastern edge of the CA swell window on Thurs (8/10) producing 25 ft seas over a small area aimed north. Something to monitor. And another is forecast in the upper reaches of the Southeast Pacific on Mon-Tues (8/15) producing 28-30 ft seas aimed north. Up north a gale is forecast developing in the Northern Gulf of Alaska on Fri-Sat (8/12) producing 24 ft seas aimed east. Otherwise we continue to monitor the development of El Nino.

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

Overview
Surface Analysis
On Thursday (8/10) no swell of interest was in the water or being generated relative to Hawaii or California.

Over the next 72 hours a gale is forecast developing in the Northern Gulf of Alaska on Fri PM (8/11) producing 35 kt west winds with seas building. On Sat (8/12) 35-40 kts west winds are to be lifting northeast in the Northern Gulf producing seas to 23 ft at 51N 152W aimed east. In the evening 35-40 kt west winds to continue with seas building to 27 ft at seas at 53.5N 146W aimed east (320 degs NCal). Interesting.

Tropical Update
Hurricane Dora was located 900 nmiles southwest of Oahu on Thurs AM (8/10) with winds 120 kts (138 mph) tracking west at 20 kts. All swell energy was tracking to the west and not aimed at the Hawaiian Islands. Looking forward Dora is to continue on a westerly track offering no swell production potential to our forecast area.

Typhoon Lan was located 480 nmiles south southeast of Tokyo Japan on Thurs AM (8/10) with winds 75 kts tracking north-northwest. Lan is to build Friday into Sat AM (8/12) with winds 90-95 kts continuing on the same heading, then weakening and impacting Japan a bit west of Tokyo with winds 65 kts on Mon AM (8/14). No recurvature to the northeast is forecast offering no swell production potential for our forecast area.

Fri AM (8/11) northwest winds are forecast at 15 kts early for Cape Mendocino but otherwise 10 kts and holding in the afternoon for North and Central CA. No windswell production forecast.
Sat AM (8/12) northwest winds are forecast at 20 kts for Cape Mendocino early but otherwise 5-10 kts south of there early. In the afternoon northwest winds are to be 20-25 kts off Cape Mendocino but otherwise northwest at 5-10 kts if not a south eddy flow but northwest at 10 kts for Pt Conception. Minimal windswell to result.
Sun AM (8/13) a normal summertime gradient is forecast producing northwest winds st at 20-25 kts off Cape Mendocino early but northwest at 5-10 kts for the rest of North and Central CA if not a weak eddy flow. In the afternoon no change is forecast. Windswell building some.
Mon AM (8/14) the pressure gradient is to continue producing northwest winds 25 kts solid off Cape Mendocino but with northwest winds 10 kts for most of North CA and 5 kts if not an eddy flow (south winds) from Bodega Bay southward early. In the afternoon the gradient is to pull away from the North CA coast more with and eddy flow at 5-10 kts for all of North and Central CA. Windswell holding.
Tues AM (8/15) northwest winds to be 20 kts off the Coast of Cape Mendocino with and eddy flow at 5-10 kts for all of North and Central CA. The gradient is to dissipate in the afternoon with a light eddy flow in control. Windswell fading.
Wed AM (8/16) a light northwest flow is forecast at 5 kts for all of North and Central CA. early. No change in the afternoon. No windswell forecast.
Thurs AM (8/17) northwest winds are forecast at 5 kts for all of North and Central CA early.

Temperatures for the Pacific Crest Trail and Tioga Pass Road intersection (8,700 ft): 50-60 degrees and beyond.

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

Overview
Jetstream
On Thursday (8/10) the jet was extremely split over the width of the South Pacific with the influential southern branch running due east down on the 68S latitude line and over Antarctic Ice with winds to 130 kts with no troughs indicated anywhere over the South Pacific. The Northern branch was strong running east on the 35S latitude line at 190 kts with a trough north of New Zealand and another over the Southeast Pacific and in the California swell window offering some support for gale formation. Over the next 72 hours the trough north of New Zealand is to fade on Fri (8/11) while the trough in the east moves east of the California swell window while fading on Sun (8/13) but still offering some support for gale development until that time. Beyond 72 hours starting Mon (8/14) the southern branch of the jet is to be weak at 90 kts running flat east on the 66S latitude line and over Antarctic Ice still offering nothing. The northern branch in to flatten out tracking east at 120-130 kts offering nothing either. But on Thurs (8/17) there's some suggestion of a trough trying to form in the northern branch of the jet in the East Pacific in the California swell window being fed by 140 kts winds offering some potential. Will monitor.

Surface Analysis
On Thursday (8/10) small swell from a tiny gale previously just east of New Zealand was hitting Hawaii and bound for California (see Tiny New Zealand Gale below)

Over the next 72 hours another gale started developing Wed AM (8/9) on the eastern edge of the California swell window producing 35 kt south winds and seas building. In the evening south winds were 35-40 kts over a decent sized area aimed north with 23 ft seas at 40S 128.5W aimed north. On Thurs AM (8/10) south winds held at 35-40 kts with seas 24-25 ft at 42S 130W aimed north. Fetch fading from 30-35 kts in the evening with seas fading from 23 ft at 39S 130W aimed north. Minimal swell is to be radiating north towards CA.

Southern CA: Expect swell arrival on Thurs (8/17) building to 1.4 ft @ 15-16 secs later (2.0 ft). .Swell peaking on Fri (8/18) at 2.5 ft @ 14-15 secs later (3.5 ft). Swell fading on Sat (8/19) from 2.2 ft @ 13-14 secs early (3.0 ft). Dribbles on Sun (8/20) fading from 1.8 ft @ 12-13 secs early (2.0-2.5 ft). Swell Direction: 195 degrees

North CA: Expect swell arrival on Thurs (8/17) building to 1.1 ft @ 16 secs later (1.5 ft). .Swell peaking on Fri (8/18) at 2.3 ft @ 15 secs later (3.5 ft). Swell fading on Sat (8/19) from 2.3 ft @ 14 secs early (3.0 ft). Dribbles on Sun (8/20) fading from 2.1 ft @ 12-13 secs early (2.5 ft). Swell Direction: 191 degrees

Tiny New Zealand Gale
On Mon AM (7/31) a small gale developed just south of Tasmania with 45-50 kt southwest winds and seas building from 37 ft at 45S 148.75E starting to Target Fiji. In the evening the gale was racing east across the Tasman Sea with 45 kt west winds and seas 44 ft at 46S 159.75E aimed northeast. On Tues AM (8/1) a gale was pushing over New Zealand with 35 kt southwest winds still in the Tasman Sea and 31 ft seas at 46.25S 166.25E still targeting Fiji. In the evening 35 kt southwest winds were pushing northeast off the east coast of New Zealand getting traction with seas building from 23 ft at 48S 175E aimed north. On Wed AM (8/2) south winds were 35-40 kts embedded in a broad area of 30 kt south winds just east of New Zealand with 26-28 ft seas over a tiny area at 45S 180W aimed north and just west of Chatham Island. In the evening south winds built to 40+ kts over a decent sized area east and clear of Chatham Island with seas 29 ft over a small area at 39.5S 177W aimed north and north and clear of Chatham Island. On Thurs AM (8/3) 30-35 kt south winds were pushing hard north with seas 24 ft over a small area at 38S 172W aimed north and clear of any land. In the evening fetch was fading from 40 kts over a tiny area with seas 26 ft at 40.25S 177W well east of the northeast tip of New Zealand and just north of Chatham Island. The gale dissipated from there. Maybe some small swell to result for Hawaii and even less for the mainland. Something to monitor.

Oahu: Swell holding Thurs (8/10) at 1.9 ft @ 14 secs later (2.5 ft). Swell fading on Fri (8/11) from 1.8 ft @ 13-14 secs early (2.0-2.5 ft). Swell gone after that. Swell Direction: 215 degrees

Southern CA: Expect swell arrival on Thurs (8/10) building to 0.9 ft @ 18 secs late (1.5 ft). Swell building slightly on Fri (8/11) to 1.3 ft @ 16-17 secs later (2.0 ft). Swell peaking on Sat (8/12) at 1.6 ft @ 15-16 secs (2.0-2.5 ft). Swell holding Sun (8/13) at 1.9 ft @ 14-15 secs (2.5-30 ft). Swell fading Mon (8/14) from 1.7 ft @ 13-14 secs early (2.0-2.5 ft). Swell Direction: 222-220 degrees

North CA: Expect swell arrival on Thurs (8/10) building to 0.9 ft @ 18 secs late (1.5 ft). Swell building slightly on Fri (8/11) to 1.4 ft @ 16-17 secs later (2.0-2.5 ft). Swell peaking on Sat (8/12) at 1.8 ft @ 15-16 secs (2.5-3.0 ft). Swell holding Sun (8/13) at 2.0 ft @ 14-15 secs (2.5-3.0 ft). Swell fading Mon (8/14) from 1.8 ft @ 13-14 secs early (2.0-2.5 ft). Swell Direction: 222 moving to 220 degrees

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

El Nino Moving Forward Steadily Now
Kelvin Waves #3, #4 and #5 Erupting - NINO3.4 SSTs well in El Nino Territory and Slowly Rising
1 Kelvin Wave traversed the Pacific in Dec '22 with a 2nd in Jan-Feb and a 3rd and 4th in March-April and a 5th in May. But after the last Active MJO in mid-to-late May, the MJO stalled, until Possibly restarting in Aug. Sea Surface Temperatures in the east are very warm and holding, but not expanding. The atmosphere is showing only the weakest signs of being coupled with the ocean mainly in ORL and surface currents. Fortunately, another Active MJO is getting limited traction (8/1) and seems to be creating one last Kelvin Wave that will help push the atmosphere towards El Nino.

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. That pattern continued until late Fall 2022 when trades started fading and by early 2023 multiple Kelvin Waves were in flight with significant warming developing over the East Equatorial Pacific. La Nina was dead on 3/18/2023 with El Nino apparently developing. But it was not coupled with the atmosphere as of 7/20/2023.

Rationale: A 3 year La Nina started fading in Jan 2023 and was gone by April. 3 Active MJO's produced 3 Kelvin Waves with the 3rd in that series poised to start erupting off Ecuador now (May 2023). The CFS model is predicting steady west anomalies from here forward and the leading edge of the low pressure bias on the dateline and forecast to nearly fill the Pacific during June. We are in a state of transition from ENSO neutral to El Nino during the summer of 2023. As a result we will be moving from a period of reduced number of storm days and storm intensity during the early part of Summer towards a period of enhanced storm production starting Late July and beyond, getting fairly intense come Fall. This should result in a slightly below normal level of swells, with swells being below normal duration and period over early Summer. But by late July 2023, the number of storm days, intensity and duration of those storms should start improving as El Nino starts getting a solid footprint on the atmosphere. The net result is we're currently thinking a near normal number of swells with normal size and duration is to result, but all focused sometime after late July 2023. The swell pattern will be normal to somewhat below normal before July and above normal after July 23. And By Sept, the El Nino footprint should be solid. Of course this is all highly speculative at this early and based mostly on the CFS model and it's projection of a building ENSO footprint getting solid by Sept.

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 (8/9) 5 day average winds were strong from the east over the East equatorial Pacific and moderate east over the Central Pacific and light west over the KWGA with the dividing line at 175E. Anomalies were light east over the far East equatorial Pacific but weak west over the Central Pacific and moderate west over the KWGA. (Note: These are 5 day average winds, versus realtime, so they lag what is happening today (by about 2.5 days).
2 Week Forecast (GFS Model): (8/10) Modest to moderate west anomalies were filling the KWGA. The forecast indicates west anomalies are to hold over the KWGA through about 8/12 with east anomalies starting to build and nearly filling the KWGA growing in coverage through 8/24 then quickly collapsing. Starting 8/24 moderate west anomalies are forecast redeveloping filling the KWGA and holding through the end of the model run on 8/26. The GEFS depicts the same scenario. The ECMWF shows west anomalies collapsing 8/12-8/16 then rebuilding filling the KWGA by 8/17. So perhaps a small burst of easterly anomalies are possible for a few days then back to westerly anomalies.

MJO/WWB/Wind Projections:
OLR Models: (8/9) A weak Inactive MJO was over the KWGA. The statistic model indicates the Inactive MJO pattern is to slowly build over the KWGA to moderate status through day 15 of the model run. The dynamic model depicts the MJO turning neutral on day 5 and holding through day 15.
Phase Diagrams - 2 week forecast (CA and GEFS): (8/10) The statistical model depicts the Active signal was weak over Africa and is to track east to the Central Indian Ocean and split between very weak ad modest strength. The dynamic model indicates the Active Phase backtracking to the West Pacific at very weak status about 8 days out and holding there.
40 day Upper Level Model (assumed to be a statistical mode and 1 week ahead of what is occurring at the surface): (8/10) A weak Active (wet) pattern was over over the West Pacific today. The forecast has the Active Phase (wet air) continuing over the KWGA through 8/20 then fading while pushing east of the KWGA by 8/30 and weak. A new modest Inactive Phase (dry air) is to develop over the KWGA on 8/30 tracking slowly east to the East Pacific at the end of the model run on 9/19 with a weak Active signal (wet air) moving over the west KWGA.
4 Week CFS Model (850 mb wind): (8/9) Today no MJO signal was indicated but with moderate west anomalies over the KWGA. A small Westerly Wind Burst occurred started 7/14 and is continuing to this date. The forecast indicates west anomalies fading some to weak to modest status on 8/11 with a few pockets of east anomalies developing through 8/24 then west anomalies returning at moderate strength filling the KWGA through the end of the model run on 9/8.
3 Month CFS Model (850 mb wind): (8/10) - using the 5th ensemble member - the mean of the 4 individual members which are all from the 00Z run - 1 run per day):
Today the Active Phase was fading over the KWGA with west anomalies at modest strength filling the KWGA. The forecast has the Active Phase holding through 8/14 with west anomalies moderating. A weak Inactive Phase is to try and pass over the KWGA today through 8/20 but fading before reaching the dateline with weak west anomalies continuing over the KWGA. After that a general pattern of steady pockets of the Active Phase of the MJO are forecast with west anomalies solid from 8/26 through the end of the model run on 11/7 with imbedded strong pockets. Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR) suggests cloud activity took over the KWGA on 6/24 and is holding if not building starting 8/15 and solid moving forward. If anything clear skies started building over the Maritime Continent 7/16 and are forecast building from here forward. The low pass filter indicates a broad low pressure bias is established over the KWGA centered at 170E with 3 contour lines and it's leading edge well east of the dateline at 140W today (it started pushing east on 2/15). The primarily contours leading edge is to slowly ease east to 122W (Up to the California coast) at the end of the model run with it's center easing east to 178E. The high pressure bias was south of California at 120W and is to dissipate on 10/19. 7/18 was the start of a major positive change in the development of El Nino with a advent of the Active Phase of the MJO and west anomalies. It appears a borderline strong El Nino is developing.

Subsurface Waters Temps
TAO Array: (8/10) Today in the far West Pacific the leading edge of the 30 deg isotherm was easing east to 175W (previously 175W). The 29 degree isotherm was easing east at 155W (previously 160W). The 28 deg isotherm line was steady at 143W. The 24 degree isotherm extended the whole way across the Pacific but was a little shallower at 30m down (previously 65m) in the far East. Anomaly wise, warm anomalies at +2 deg C started at 156W (previously 156W) pushing east with +3-5 degs anomalies over the East Pacific starting at 135W (145W on 7/20). +6 degree anomalies were gone. The warm pool is discharging to the surface. But a steady base warm state at +1 to +2 degs were in the West Pacific, with a building pocket of +2 deg anomalies developing near 180W. There's about 2 months of warm water backed up off the Ecuadorian Coast today with a steady stream of warm water backfilling into it. Of some concern was a cool pocket at -2.0 degs developing down 150m centered at 150W in mid-July, but it's gone for the moment at -1.0 deg at 150W and has been there in some form since 7/9. We will monitor this. The hi-res GODAS animation posted 8/6 indicates a large very warm stream of +1-2 degs anomalies extending west to east over the whole subsurface Pacific and building while tracking east with 2 deg anomalies from 138W and point east of there and +4-5 degs anomalies from 122W and point east of there erupting into Ecuador. +2 degree anomalies were falling off the Maritime Continent merging with the preexisting warm stream with a new pocket of 2-3 degs anomalies centered at 160E (Kelvin Wave #6). In other words, this image suggests a steady flow of warm water flowing east from the Maritime Continent suggesting perhaps another Kelvin Wave is developing. No cool anomalies were indicated. El Nino is developing. The GODAS animation is 1 week behind the TAO data but also is more detailed and accurately depicted since its satellite based.
Sea Level Anomalies: (8/6) Sea heights were positive across the whole equatorial Pacific at +0-5 cms and a little thinner at 155W and 145E. +5 cm anomalies were in the east from 130W east into Ecuador. Positive anomalies extending north into Central America up to the southern tip of Baja and south to Chile. This means no cool water was at depth. Per the Upper Ocean Heat Anomaly Histogram warm water continues at +1.00-2.00 degs over the East Pacific from 120W and east of there. A broad pocket of near neutral temps was in place west in the West and Central Pacific (140E-145W) but now appears to be warming again with a broad warm pocket appearing between 160E to 165W. The warm water flow had backed off some with nothing to force more warm water east (i.e. no Active MJOs occurring). But that pattern is changing for the better now. Otherwise there's been no change since mid March, a steady flow of warm water pushing east.

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: (8/9) The latest images depict a strong warm signal along the coasts of Peru and Ecuador and rebuilding some after fading some 3 weeks ago affected by east winds blowing solidly over this area. Lesser but still serious heat continued west to about 135W. Lesser heat extended west to the dateline and beyond. Heat also extends north up Mexico reaching San Diego and south down into Patagonia. There is a very clear El Nino signal with the classic El Nino triangle in-place. The last remnants of La Nina are gone on the equator but remnants are still evident mainly from Pt Conception down to San Diego and west to a point south of Hawaii. La Nina is collapsing atmospherically over the Pacific.
Hi-res 7 day Trend (8/9): A neutral pattern was in control of the equatorial Pacific but with a tiny stream of cooling waters between the Galapagos and 115W. It's not surprising there's no clear warm signal along Ecuador because temps are already so warm they can't get any hotter. A neutral trend was along the coasts of Chile and Peru. The pattern of adding energy to the warm surface pool is stable if not inching forwards. A warming trend had been well entrenched over the East Pacific since Nov 1 with no cooling waters over the equatorial East Pacific since 12/15 except for the time frame from 4/23 to today. And strong warming is developing off California. This possibly signals the demise of the cool upwelling 'La Nina hangover' pool.
Hi-res Overview: (8/9) Warmer than normal waters are filling the East Pacific off Chile, Peru, Ecuador and north up to Mexico with strong warming in many pockets along the immediate cost of Peru and Ecuador out to 110W. And the classic El Nino tongue of more intense warming is building considerably over the equator west to the dateline and beyond. Everything is now looking like El Nino. But the La NIna enhanced cool pool off California persists, though weaker. Very perplexing. It's a clear sign of the negative PDO and it is not budging.
Nino1.2 Daily CDAS Index Temps: (8/10) (Coral Reef temps run about +0.2 degrees higher). Today's temps were steady at +2.925 after rising at +3.074 degs (8/7) after being up to +3.391 (on 7/20) and had been rising from +2.906 (starting 7/3) rising from +2.451 after peaking at +2.7926 on 6/13 and have been up in the +2.0 to +3.0 degs range since 4/1 having previously peaked at +2.891 (4/13). Previously temps reached +2.302 degrees on 4/6, +1.732 degs (3/22), up from +0.462 since 2/28. Temps had reached as high as +1.076 on 2/19 and were previously steady at +0.848 since 2/7. Previously they started steadily rising 11/13 when they were around -1.5 degs C.
Nino 3.4 Daily CDAS Index Temps: (8/10) (Coral Reef anomalies run about +0.2 degrees higher). Today temps are rising at +1.058 (first time above 1.0 degs on 8/7) after being up to 0.967 (8/1) up from +0.873 degs (7/25) after peaking at +0.985 (7/18). Previously temps were rising slightly at +0.882 (7/9) after being steady at +0.794 4-5 days and that after being steady at +0.895 (3 days near 6/25) after being in the +0.712 range the previous 9 days after previously rising to +0.975 on 6/9. We are now 31 days into a trend of being above the El Nino threshold (for the 2nd time). Temps reached the El Nino threshold for the first time on 5/17 at +0.507 then quickly fell over the next 10 days down to +0.378 (5/26). Previous peaks of +0.318 on 4/30 besting the previous peak at +0.199 on 4/21. Temps have been steadily increasing hitting 0.0 on 4/12 and were then more or less steady the previous 4 weeks. Temps previously rose to -0.402 on 2/23. Temps rose above the La Nina threshold (-0.5 degs) on 2/22 and had been rising slowly since 2/12 when they were about -1.0 degs C. They had been in the -1.0 deg range since at least Nov 2022.

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

SST Anomaly Projections
CFSv2 Data (Nino3.4 Region)
Previous - Temps rose in early Nov 2020 after bottoming out at -1.25 degs, up to -0.01 degs in mid-June 2021 then fading to -1.05 degs in mid-Nov then rebuilding to -0.7 in mid Feb 2022 then fading to -1.1 degs in May before starting an upward climb peaking in mid-June at -0.65 degs and mid July at -0.55 degs. A steady decline set in after that falling to -1.00 degs in Aug and Sept rising to -0.8 degs mid Oct then falling to -1.0 in Nov but then slowly rising to -0.75 degs in Jan 2023 and up to -0.5 degs (above the La Nina threshold) on 2/12. Temps rose to +0.50 degs mid-May and were at +0.9 degs in mid-June, reaching +1.15 degs early Aug.
Forecast (8/10) - Temps are are to slowly rise to +1.10 degs in mid-Aug and +1.55 degs mid Sept, then start rising quickly, to +2.00 degs in Oct and +2.2 degs in Nov and solidly in El Nino territory. The PDF Corrected forecast suggests temps are forecast holding at +1.05 degs into mid-Aug then steadily rising in Sept to +1.25 degs, +1.50 degs in Oct and +1.70 degs in Nov-Dec. According to this version of the model we are building into a strong El Nino through the Summer. But max temps are down from previous runs.
IRI Consensus Plume: The July 19, 2023 Plume (all models) depicts temps are +1.262 degs today and it's the 5th month above the La Nina threshold. Temps to rise steadily from here forward up to +1.573 degrees in Oct then fading from there. The dynamic model suggest temps peaking at +1.809 in Oct while the statistic models show +1.128 degrees. The dynamic models are running much hotter than the statistic models. The CFS model is right in the middle of the dynamic model range.
See chart here - link.

Atmospheric Coupling (Indicating the presence of El Nino in the atmosphere driven by the ocean):
Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) (negative is good, positive bad - all but the Daily Index was a lagging indicator):
Today (8/10) the Daily Index was negative at -20.39 after plunging to -37.30 on 7/25 and has been negative the last 28 days 9since 7/14). It was positive the previous 21 days and had been negative 11 days prior to that and positive 5 days previous to that then negative for 27 days previous ending 6/6 with a peak down to -29.32 on 5/31, -64.63 on 5/24 and -31.31 on 5/12. Previously readings were toggling between +10 and -10 for 13 days, but negative the 15 days previous to that, positive the 6 days prior to that after being mostly negative 25 days before that. It fell to -19.40 on 4/2. -17.44 on 2/22, the beginning of a change from which no return seemed likely. It was up to +21.85 on 2/10 and +55.74 on 12/22 and were in the +20 range the previous 22 days.
The 30 day average was falling at -13.19 and fell below the neutral point on 7/26. It rose above positive 7/3-7/25. It previously fell to -19.64 on 6/5 had been falling to -4.13 on 4/4 (lagging indicator driven by the Active Phase of the MJO) after falling to -0.52 on 3/22 previously falling to +4.18 on 11/27 and peaking at +21.57 (10/16) after supposedly peaking at +19.66 on 9/28. It was down to +6.89 on 7/29. It peaked at +20.34 (5/12) the highest in a year and beating last years high of +19.51 (1/14).
The 90 day average was steady at -8.80 and turned negative the first time in years on 5/12. A recent max low was -7.57 on 6/6. It previously peaked at +14.63 on 2/20, +15.61 on 10/25 and +12.92 on 8/11 and that after peaking at +18.40 (7/2) beating it's previous peak of +16.86 (5/31), the highest in a year. It previously peaked at +9.80 (9/21) after falling to it's lowest point in a year at +1.06 (6/9). The 90 day average peaked at +15.75 (2/23/21 - clearly indicative of La Nina then). This index is a lagging indicator but suggests that the Active Phase occurring now is starting to drive the index down, hopefully with no upward trend in sight for at least a year.

Pacific Decadal Oscillation
The PDO theoretically turned from a 16 year negative run (Jan 98-Feb 2014) in early 2014 and was positive till Dec 2019, but has been negative ever since, driven by recent La Nina conditions. In May-July 2021 it was the most negative its been in the -1.80 to -2.04 range since Sept 2012 (-2.99) and then fell to -3.16 in Oct 2021 (the lowest since July 1933) then settled at -2.72 in Nov and Dec 2021. Looking at the long term record, it seems likely we are still in the Cool Phase of the PDO (La Nina 'like') with no signs of moving to the positive/warm phase (El Nino 'like').

Local Interest
Stormsurf Video Surf Forecast for this week. See it Here
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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.