Pacific Storm & Surf Forecast (Stormsurf)

Buoy 238 (Barbers Pt)/Buoy 239 (Lani): Seas were 3.6 ft @ 12.5 secs with swell 2.1 ft @ 11.9 secs from 294 degrees. Water temp 77.2 degs (Barbers Pt), 76.6 (Pearl Harbor 233), 78.1 (Lani 239).
Buoy 106 (Waimea): Seas were 6.3 ft @ 11.8 secs with swell 4.9 ft @ 11.8 secs from 326 degrees. Water temp 77.4 degs.
Buoy 46025 (Catalina RDG): Seas were 6.0 ft @ 13.7 secs with swell 5.0 ft @ 13.7 secs from 269 degrees. Wind northeast at 6-8 kts. Water temperature 58.8 degs, 58.3 (Topanga 103), 58.5 degs (Long Beach 215), 59.2 (Oceanside Offshore 045), 58.1 (Del Mar 153), 59.7 (Torrey Pines Outer 100). At Harvest Buoy (071) primary swell was 8.4 ft @ 15.0 secs from 290 degrees. At Santa Monica (028) swell was 5.0 ft @ 13.7 secs from 266 degrees. At Oceanside (045) swell was 1.9 ft @ 13.2 secs from 242 degrees. Southward at Pt Loma (191) swell was 5.1 ft @ 13.2 secs from 276 degrees. Water temperate was 59.7 degrees.
Buoy 46012 (Half Moon Bay)/029 (Pt Reyes): Seas were 15.8 ft @ 14.7 secs with swell 11.6 ft @ 13.8 secs from 283 degrees. Wind southwest at 12-16 kts. Water temp 53.1 (Bodega Bay 46013), 53.6 degs (Pt Reyes 029), 52.7 (San Francisco 46026), 52.5 (SF Bar 142), 54.5 (Pt Santa Cruz 254) and 55.6 (Monterey Bay 46042).

PACIFIC OVERVIEW
Current Conditions
On Tuesday (12/27) North and Central CA had sets at 15+ ft and torn to shreds from south wind and fully chopped and not rideable. Protected breaks were chest to head high and fairly clean and closed out. At Santa Cruz surf was 4 ft overhead and a warbled mess with chop on top and not rideable. In Southern California/Ventura waves were 2 ft overhead with sets 3-4 ft overhead and lined up with decent form and clean but with some warble in the mix. Central Orange County had sets at head high to 1 ft overhead and lined up and clean. South Orange County's best summertime breaks had some head high sets and clean and lined up but soft. North San Diego had sets at up to 2 ft overhead and clean and lined with good form but soft. Hawaii's North Shore had sets at 2 ft overhead and pristine clean with good form and no lump. The South Shore had some thigh high sets and clean but with sideshore texture and soft. The East Shore was getting wrap around northwest swell at waist high and chopped from modest east trades.

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

Meteorological Overview
On Tuesday (12/27) Hawaii was getting fading leftover swell from the second of two gales that passed north of the Islands on Sat (12/24). And California was getting swell from another more local gale that developed off the North Coast tracking east with 33 ft seas impacting the coast today and dragging much weather with it. Another gale was developing just east of the dateline forecast to lift east-northeast Tues-Wed (12/28) fading in the Gulf producing 26-28 ft seas aimed east. And another gale is forecast developing over the dateline tracking east into the Central Gulf with 38 ft seas aimed east Fri-Sun (1/1) producing up to 33 ft seas aimed east. Swell is to no longer be an issue.

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

Overview
Jetstream
On Tuesday (12/27) the jetstream was fully consolidated tracking east from Japan on the 38N latitude line into North CA with winds 180 kts over it's width. A gentle trough was west of the dateline offering support for gale development and another trough was trying to develop while pushing into California producing weather. Over the next 72 hours winds to build to 200 kts over Japan and over the Gulf on Wed (12/28) with the dateline trough easing east improving support for gale formation there and the trough off California building and pushing inland on Wed-Thurs (12/29) producing more weather there. Beyond 72 hours starting Fri (12/30) the dateline trough is to fade some now positioned north of Hawaii with the California trough inland. The jet is to hold with a weak split trying to develop just off California on Sun (1/1) but pushing inland on Mon (1/2) with a gentle trough over the dateline offering some weak support for gale development. By Tues (1/3) the jet is to still be consolidated running due east on the 36N latitude line with 200 kt winds from Japan to the dateline then weaker east of there with a trough trying to develop north of Hawaii and the jet weaker east of there with 120 kts winds pushing up to the Central CA coast but still supporting weather. A most impressive jet is forecast.

Surface Analysis
On Tuesday (12/27) swell was hitting California from a gale that was just off the coast (see Local CA Gale below). For Hawaii swell was fading from a gale previously north of the Islands Sat-Sun (12/27).

Over the next 72 hours swell is to be developing targeting primarily Hawaii from a gale that is developing over the dateline (see Small Dateline Gale below).

Local CA Gale
On Mon PM (12/26) another gale was developing off North CA producing west winds at 35-45 kts and seas 28 ft at 40N 139W aimed east. On Tues AM (12/27) the gale was just off Southern Oregon with 40-45 kt west winds and seas 33 ft at 42.5N 130W aimed east. In the evening the gale is to be pushing into North Oregon with 35-40 kt west winds and residual seas 28 ft on the OR-WA border and of no interest.

North CA: Expect swell building through the day Tues (12/27) peaking early evening at 12.6 ft @ 14-15 secs (15+ ft) and very raw. Swell fading on Wed (12/28) from 9.8 ft @ 13-14 secs early (13 ft). Residuals on Thurs (12/29) fading from 5.6 ft @ 12-13 secs (7.0 ft). Swell Direction: 282 degrees

Southern CA: Expect swell building Tues evening (12/27) peaking Wed morning (12/28) at 4.0 ft @ 15 secs (6.5 ft) and a bit raw. Swell trickling down some in the afternoon. Swell fading on Thurs(12/29) from 3.0 ft @ 13 secs early (4.0 ft). Residuals on Fri (12/30) fading from 2.0 ft @ 12-13 secs (2.5 ft). Swell Direction: 290 degrees

Small Dateline Gale
On Tues AM (12/27) a gale was developing west of the dateline with 30-35 kt west winds over a decent sized area with seas 25 ft at 35N 173E aimed east. In the evening 30-35 kts west winds to push east with seas 26-27 ft over a broad area at 38N 176E aimed east. On Wed AM (12/28) the gale is to fade some with 30-35 kts west winds and seas 28 ft at 38.75N 176W aimed east. Fetch is to be gone in the evening with seas fading from 22 ft at 38N 171W aimed east. Some swell to result for Hawaii.

Oahu: Expect swell arrival late afternoon on Wed (12/28) building to 4.1 ft @ 15 secs (6.0 ft). Swell fading Thurs AM (12/29) from 4.1 ft @ 14 secs early (5.5 ft). Swell Direction: 310 degrees

Tropical Update
No tropical systems of interest are being monitored at this time.

Wed AM (12/28) a new front is to be developing well off the coast. A break in the weather is forecast with northwest winds 5-10 kts for all of North and Central CA but 15 kts south of Monterey Bay. In the afternoon northwest winds to be 5 kts for North CA and northwest 5-10 kts for Central CA. Light patchy rain early mainly for Southern CA and clearing through the morning. No snow forecast.
Thurs AM (12/29) a weak front is to be impacting North Ca with south winds 20-25 kts for North CA and light winds for Central CA early. In the afternoon the front is to weakly push into Central CA with south winds at 15 kts and southwest winds 15-20 kts from North CA. Rain for North CA early pushing south to San Diego in the afternoon and evening. Snow for the Sierra late morning into the afternoon.
Fri AM (12/30) early west winds to be 15 kts for North CA early and northwest 10 kts for Central CA. In the afternoon winds to be northwest 5 kts for North CA and southwest 5 kts for Central CA. Rain for all of CA early but focused mainly for North CA continuing through the day and evening. The dividing line is to be Monterey Bay. Snow for the Sierra all day into the evening focused on Tahoe.
Sat AM (12/31) a new local low is to be developing just off North CA with south winds 5 kts for North CA and southwest 20 kts for Central CA early. In the afternoon the low is to move onshore with northwest winds 30 kts for North and Central CA and south winds 15-20 kts sweeping down over Southern CA. Rain for North and Central CA early pushing south to San Diego later in the day. Snow for the Sierra building to strong status late morning continuing through the evening.
Sun AM (1/1) northwest winds to be 20-25 kts for all of CA including Southern CA early. No change in the afternoon. Rain fading mainly for Central and Southern CA clearing late morning. Snow fading for the Sierra early.
Mon AM (1/2) another weak front is to be pushing over Cape Mendocino with south winds 30 kts there and south 10 kts down to the Golden Gate. Northwest winds are forecast at 10-15 kts for Central CA. The front is to sweep south and dissolve over Monterey Bay late morning with west to northwest winds in the afternoon 10 kts for North Ca and 15 kts for Central CA. Rain for Cape Mendocino early pushing to Pt Conception in the afternoon . Modest snow to the Sierra in the afternoon.
Tues AM (1/3) a weak wind pattern is forecast early with mostly light offshore winds forecast for North and Central CA. Another local low and front are to move over the coast in the afternoon with south winds 20+ kts for all of North and Central CA. Rain developing for Central CA up to the Golden Gate in the afternoon.

Total snow accumulation for the next 10 days respectively for Squaw Valley, Sugar Bowl, Kirkwood and Mammoth are projected at 136, 134, 146, and 187 inches forecast with it split between Tues (12/27) and Fri-Sat (12/31) and again on Wed-Thurs (1/5).

Freezing level for Lake Tahoe is 7,500 ft today falling to 4,000 ft by late on Wed (12/28) rising to 8,000 ft 12/30-31 before falling again to 4,000 ft on 1/2 then rising to 7,000 ft on 1/5 and falling afterwards.

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
Surface Analysis
No swell producing fetch has occurred with no swell in the water or radiating towards the coast.

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

Beyond 72 hours a small gale is to develop in the Northwestern Gulf on Fri AM (12/30) producing 35-40 kt west winds over a small area with seas 28 ft at 47.5N 162W aimed east. Fetch is to fade in the evening from 35 kts with seas 25 ft at 48N 154W aimed east. The gale to fade from there. Maybe small background swell to result for CA.

Possible Dateline-Gulf Gale
On Fri AM (12/30) a stronger gale is to develop west of the dateline with 35-45 kt west winds and seas building from 26 ft at 40N 168E aimed east. In the evening fetch is to consolidate with 45 kt west winds and seas building to 34 ft at 40.25N 173.75E aimed east. On Sat AM (12/31) the gale is to be pushing east of the dateline with 35-45 kt west winds and seas 32 ft at 41.25N 175.25W aimed east. In the evening fetch is to be fading over the Western Gulf from 35-40 kts with seas 29 ft over a large area at 40N 165W aimed east. On Sun AM (1/1) fetch is to be fading from 30-35 kts lifting northeast in the Gulf with seas 27 ft at 43N 155W aimed east. Fetch dissipating in the evening from 30 kts with seas 26 ft up at 48.75N 148.5W aimed east.

Cool Pool Poised to Collapse
West Wind Anomaly Pattern Building Over the West KWGA
Cool subsurface water volume peaked under the equatorial Pacific on 10/15/21, faded in May and June 2022, but rebuilt in late July and hold till mid-Nov, then started to retreat east. La Nina conditions are in control at the oceans surface but appear to be weakening while the foundations of it subsurface collapse. And atmospherically anomalous Westerly Winds are getting steadily more established over the KWGA and are forecast to continue for the foreseeable future, with a total collapse of La Nina near Christmas and water temps steadily rising beyond. The last link in the chain is to see SSTs actually rising and the SOI falling (but that has not happened yet).The outlook is turning optimistic.

MJO/ENSO Discussion
The Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) is a periodic weather cycle that tracks east along the equator circumnavigating the globe. It is characterized in it's Inactive Phase by enhanced trade winds and dry weather over the part of the equator it is in control of, and in it's Active Phase by slackening if not an outright reversing trade winds while enhancing precipitation. The oscillation occurs in roughly 20-30 day cycles (Inactive for 20-30 days, then Active for 20-30 days) over any single location on the planet, though most noticeable in the Pacific. During the Active Phase in the Pacific the MJO tends to support the formation of stronger and longer lasting gales resulting in enhanced potential for the formation of swell producing storms. Prolonged and consecutive Active MJO Phases in the Pacific help support the formation of El Nino. During the Inactive Phase the jet stream tends to split resulting in high pressure and less potential for swell producing storm development. Wind anomalies in the Kelvin Wave Generation Area (KWGA) are key for understanding what Phase the MJO is in over the Pacific. The KWGA is located on the equator from 135E-170W and 5 degs north and south (or on the equator from New Guinea east to the dateline). West wind anomalies in the KWGA suggest the Active Phase of the MJO in the Pacific, and east anomalies suggests the Inactive Phase. In turn the Active Phase strengthens and the Inactive Phase weakens the jetstream, which in turn enhances or dampens storm production respectively in the Pacific.And the El Nino/La Nino cycle (collectively know as ENSO - El Nino Southern Oscillation) is a less frequent (about once every 7 years) but more impactful cycle that affects world wide weather. Specifically, strong El Nino events promote storm production in the Pacific while La Nina events suppress storm production. These therefore have a significant impact on the production of swell and surf. The paragraphs below analyze the state of the MJO and ENSO in the Pacific and provide forecasts for upcoming activity (or inactivity depending on the state and interaction of these two oscillations).

Overview: In 2019 warm equatorial waters were fading, and by August a tongue of cool water was tracking west on the equator from Ecuador over the Galapagos reaching to a point nearly south of Hawaii. A bit of a recovery tried to occur during Fall of 2019, with weak warm water building in the Nino 1.2 region, but cool water held in a pool off Peru. By April 2020 a cool pool was starting to build, forming a well defined cool tongue that evolved into La Nina, with it fully developing through July 2020. A slow dissolving of La Nina started in March 2021 with 2 Kelvin Waves sweeping east and arriving over the Galapagos in June. Weak warming set up over the equator with no cool waters present. NOAA declared La Nina dead. But cold water returned in July 2021 and a second pulse of La Nina developed through the Winter of 2022 and is continuing today, though possibly weaker with its foundation appearing to be in decline.

Rationale: It was assumed that the moderate La Nina from the Winter of 2020/2021 was on the wane and that a return to neutral ENSO state would set up over the Pacific Basin through the summer of 2021. But La Nina made a strong return by the end of Sept much like what the CFS model suggested would happen and a full double dip pattern took hold through the Winter of 21/22. But a quick fade is forecast as we move into late December 2022 with the CFS predicting a return to a neutral wind anomaly pattern and the low pressure bias making headway in to the KWGA in early Jan. Still it will take some time for the atmosphere to fully respond, resulting in a less than normal swell production forecast especially for Fall into early Winter 2022. But by later in Jan or early Feb 2023 a return to a more normal pattern might take hold. As a result a significantly reduced number of storm days and storm intensity is expected Oct 22-Jan 23, resulting in a below normal level of swells, with swell being below normal duration and period. But by Feb 2023, the number of storm days, intensity and duration of those storms should start improving as La Nina fades out. 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 Jan 2023. The swell pattern will be below normal before Jan and above normal after Jan 23 with the average of the two being 'normal'. Of course this is all highly speculative at this early date.

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 (12/26) 5 day average winds were strong from the east over the Eastern equatorial Pacific and strong east over the Central Pacific and strong east over the KWGA. Anomalies were neutral over the East equatorial Pacific and moderate east over the Central Pacific and strong east over the KWGA. (Note: These are 5 day average winds, versus realtime, so they lag what is happening today (by about 2.5 days).
1-2 Week Forecast (GFS Model): (12/27) Strong east anomalies were over the dateline today with moderate to strong west anomalies filling the West KWGA to 150E. The 7 day forecast calls for east anomalies strong over the dateline through 12/30 then fading but still moderate till 1.1 then building some but isolated to the dateline. West anomalies are to remain strong from 150E and points west of there filling 50% of the KWGA through the end of the model run on 1/3. The 2 week GFS model is offline.

MJO/WWB/Wind Projections:
OLR Models: (12/26) A moderate Active signal was indicated over the KWGA today. The statistical model indicates the Active signal slowly pushing east and mostly east of the KWGA 15 days out at the end of the model run with a weak Inactive MJO developing over the KWGA at that time. The dynamic model indicates the Active signal slowly fading over the next 15 days with no Inactive signal forecast.
Phase Diagrams 2 week forecast (CA and GEFS): (12/27) The statistical model depicts the Active signal was modest over the East Maritime Continent and is to move to the West Pacific holding strength and then the fading over East Pacific at the end of the model run. The dynamic model indicates the Active Phase moving to the West Pacific and stalling there at modest strength.
40 day Upper Level Model (assumed to be a statistical mode and 1 week ahead of what is occurring at the surface): (12/16) No Update - A weak Active MJO (wet air) was over the KWGA today.The forecast has it moving east and into Ecuador on 1/15. A weak Inactive MJO (dry air) is forecast developing over the KWGA on 1/5 tracking east and filling the equatorial Pacific at the end of the model run on 1/25.
4 Week CFS Model (850 mb wind): (12/26) A weak Inactive MJO signal was pushing over the KWGA today with west anomalies filling the KWGA from 150E and points west of there and strong east anomalies on the dateline filling the area east of 150E. East anomalies are to hold at strong status on the dateline through 1/6 then fading but still present at moderate strength though steadily weakening through the end of the model run on 1/23. The Active Phase of the MJO is to develop and push east into the West KWGA starting 12/28 making it to 150E and stalling there through 1/22 before fading. Moderate to strong west anomalies are to hold filling the Western KWGA from 150E and points west of there from today forward. This is a positive change.
3 Month CFS Model (850 mb wind): (12/20) - 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 of the MJO was building over the KWGA with west anomalies moderate plus strength filling the western half of the KWGA. The forecast has the Active Phase of the MJO tracking through the KWGA through 2/2 with west anomalies in control of the western half of the KWGA (from 150E west) and building to strong status 1/4-1/20 and easing to the dateline just after that. Looks like a Westerly Wind Bust is to develop (WWB). This is very good news. After that a weak Inactive Phase of the MJO is to develop starting 1/20 through 2/23 but with westerly anomalies holding over the KWGA to the dateline. After that a neutral MJO is forecast with west anomalies holding filling the KWGA through the end of the model run on 3/26. The low pass filter indicates a high pressure bias with 2 contour lines centered at 180W with its western perimeter at 150E today. The second contour is to collapse on 1/26 with the primary contour collapsing or east of the KWGA by 3/3. A broad double contour low pressure bias is established centered over the West Maritime Continent at 90E with it's leading edge at 127E today and is be slowly pushing east then forecast to push hard east starting 2/24 and on the dateline at the end of the model run. This is all a big deal and is being repeated in some form consistently from one run of the model to the next for 2 months now. It appears that the high pressure lockdown of the KWGA is fading with no return in sight, indicating the demise of La Nina is underway.

Subsurface Waters Temps
TAO Array: (12/27) Today in the far West Pacific the 29 degree isotherm was present barely at 163E. The 28 deg isotherm line was backtracking to 178E. The 26 degree isotherm was backtracking to 158W. The 24 deg isotherm was pushing east into Ecuador. Anomaly wise, warm anomalies at +3 deg C were in a broad pocket over the West, Central and now the East Pacific down 150m with it's leading edge easing east to 117W. No cool anomalies were indicated. The hi-res GODAS animation posted 12/19 indicates a Kelvin Wave pushing east to 110W and far warmer. A cool pocket was centered at 90W near the surface with residual weakly cool waters filling the area above the Kelvin Wave over the entire equatorial Pacific. This indicates the cool upwelling event that has been in play since July was being undercut and is fading. The GODAS animation appears to be 1 week behind the TAO data but also is more detailed and accurately modeled.
Sea Level Anomalies: (12/19) Sea heights were negative but rising over the East Equatorial Pacific. A broad pocket of positive anomalies were over the equator in the far West Pacific reaching east to 90W just north of the Galapagos. A pocket of negative anomalies were covering from Ecuador to 140W. A weak core of -10 cm anomalies were fading limited to the area over the Galapagos. Per the Upper Ocean Heat Anomaly Histogram cool anomalies were in quick retreat positioned in the East Equatorial Pacific between 115W to Ecuador. It appears the stubborn cool pool is quickly collapsing while a large warm pool builds in the West.

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: (12/26) The latest images depict a broad generic pool of cool water extending west from Ecuador to the dateline with far weaker but still cool waters filling the area well south of the equator in a line east to west down at 20S. The coldest stream was collapsing from Ecuador to 140W. And the broad area of cool water south of that stream previously reaching south to 25S was losing intensity steadily and now only fully positioned north of 20S ad barely that. And warmer than normal temps were present along the coasts of Chile and Peru. Overall this indicates the collapse of La Nina was underway.
Hi-res 7 day Trend (12/26): A stream of warming water extended west from Ecuador to 160W. A broad and solid are of warming water was locked along the coasts of Peru and Chile extending west to 100W. The balance was towards warming.
Hi-res Overview: (12/26) Cool waters cover a large area from Ecuador to 160E on and south of the equator from South America down at 20S with the coolest waters between mainly from 140W to 160E over the equator. The east equatorial Pacific is finally warming. Warmer than normal waters were along the coasts of Chile and Peru and nearly Ecuador. La Nina remains in control over the East Equatorial Pacific for the moment but the density and intensity of the cooling appears to be fading and warming water seems to be building.
Nino1.2 Daily CDAS Index Temps: (12/27) (These temps are biased high by about 0.2 degs compared to official sources). Today's temps were steady at -0.921 previous up to -0.695 on 12/22 after rising to -0.750 on 12/18, and that after rising from -1.267 in early Dec and then modestly in the -1.5 degs range late Oct and all Nov. Previously temps were in the -1.0 range since 7/29. Temps were down on 7/20 to -1.6 degs. Previously temps were stable near -1.4 degrees 6/12 through 7/27. Peaks in that time frame were -1.189 (7/7), -1.534 (7/5). Previously temps were at -1.822 on 6/9 after being up to -1.506 (5/21) and that after hovering around -2.0 degs since 4/21/22. Prior to that temps were fading after peaking at +0.760 on 3/18. Temps had been moving upwards since 2/20, and beat a previous high of -0.650 degs on 1/9 and that after being down at -1.871 on 1/3/22 and -1.954 on 12/18/21, the lowest this year so far. Previously temps dropped on 11/24/21 at -1.700, the lowest in months after previously toggling steady at about -0.6 degs from mid Aug to Oct 6, then falling from there. That year temps bottomed out at -2.138 on 8/13/20. The longterm trend has been steadily downward.
Nino 3.4 Daily CDAS Index Temps: (12/27) (These temps are biased high by about 0.2 degs). Today's temps were rising at -0.887 after falling to -1.255 on 12/6 but otherwise have been holding around -1.0 degree since 11/3 and up to -0.900 on 10/18 beating a previous peak of -0.819 on 9/22. In general temps have been in the -1.0 range since 8/16. Temps had fallen since 7/15 reaching La Nina threshold on 7/27 after being more or less steady the previous 3 weeks peaking at -0.25 on 7/14 and -0.275 on 7/5. Previously temps had been on an upward trend since 5/15/22 rising to -0.414 degs (6/19) and -0.493 on 6/9, the first reading above La Nina threshold values since Sept 2021. Temps were down to -0.929 (5/2/22) and that after rising to a peak at -0.704 on 3/27 and had been on a gentle rising trend since falling to -1.012 on 3/8. Previously temps were rising slightly to -0.505 on 2/2 and that after reaching a peak low of -1.096 on 1/3/22 beating the previous low of -1.080 on 11/2/21, the lowest in a year. Prior to that temps had been in a freefall starting from the -0.175 range in early Sept/21. Before that temps peaked up at 7/1/21 +0.332, the highest in a year. Temps previously had been steady near -0.222 since early March 2021. Temps bottomed out at -1.654 on 11/3/2020.

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

SST Anomaly Projections
CFSv2 Data
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.
Forecast (12/27) - Temps are to hold steady at -0.95 degs into mid January then rising quickly reaching above the La Nina threshold (-0.5 degs) in mid-Feb and up to +0.90 degs in August and in El Nino territory. This model suggests we are going to steadily transition towards ENSO neutral in Jan. The PDF Corrected forecast suggests temps have bottomed out and to hold steady at -0.90 degs till mid-Jan then rising fast and above La Nina threshold the last week of Jan and rising from there forward to +0.70 degs in July and holding in August. All this is a significant upgrade. According to this version of the model we will hold in weak La Nina conditions through Fall before starting a trend towards neutrality in Dec with momentum towards El Nino in Spring. The surface temp coverage model suggests a temps holding steady through Nov. then a steady erosion of the coldest waters south of Nino3.4 (down at 20S) is to begin. By Dec a clear discharge of La Nina is to begin with near neutral temps prevailing over the entire equatorial Pacific and turning fully neutral in Feb and beyond. The greater equatorial Pacific cool signature looks to hold through mid-Oct then quickly dissolving beyond.
IRI Consensus Plume: The December 19, 2022 Plume depicts temps are -0.661 degs today. Temps to rise steadily from here forward to -0.415 degs in Jan and above the La Nina Threshold and -0.170 in Feb rising to +0.604 in July and +0.648 in Aug. This is an upgrade from the previous run.This model suggests a continuation of minimal La Nina temps through early Dec then transitioning to ENSO neutral. This model is in line with the CFS model.
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 (12/27) the Daily Index was steady at +19.56 after reaching +55.74 on 12/22 and have been in the +20 range the last 11 days, neutral 5 days before that, but above +10 the previous 13 days and then generally below +10.0 before that (from 11/5-11/27). It was negative for 5 days dropping to -31.05 on 11/7. This was the first negative run in months and suggests that the westerly anomaly wind activity in the West Pacific might be having an impact on the SOI. Previous peaks were +37.19 (10/5), +33.57 (5/24), +40.77 (5/10), +31.44 (4/27), +31.80 (4/6), +27.33 (1/31) and +46.71 (12/26). The trend has been solidly positive. Previous other notable peaks were +30.98 (11/26/21), +36.90 (9/28), +27.75 ( 9/13) and +37.86 (7/15).
The 30 day average was rising at +18.00 after 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 +13.58 previously peaking at +15.61 on 10/25 and previously peaking at +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 suggest La Nina is returning.

Pacific Decadal Oscillation
The PDO theoretically turned from a 16 year negative run (Jan 98-Feb 2014) in early 2014 and was positive till Dec 2019, but has been negative 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.