Orange County Surf Forecast – Wednesday – Clean but a bit swell-shadowed

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. The SW’er will actually show OK down in South County but don’t expect much from either part of the swell mix.



Waves
Look for most spots to hold around the knee-waist high range…a little inconsistent at times but still rideable at the more WNW-NW facing spots. The top combo breaks and good SW facing spots will be in the waist-chest high range.

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.

Orange County Tides
11/25/2009 Wed
04:23AM LST 4.2 H
10:40AM LST 2.4 L
03:31PM LST 3.4 H
10:02PM LST 1.2 L

Orange County Surf Forecast – The Weekend – More surf and more reasons to blow off chores

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 in the morning but should still be good enough for knee-chest high surf at the average exposed spots…top breaks will have some inconsistent shoulder high sets. 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 North County will have shoulder-head high+ surf fairly consistently and sets going a little overhead at times. Looks like exposed points and reefs will have the best shape but expect smaller less consistent sets in those areas.

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.

Orange County Tides
11/21/2009 Sat
12:56AM LST 3.4 H
04:26AM LST 3.0 L
10:37AM LST 4.9 H
06:43PM LST 0.4 L

11/22/2009 Sun
02:08AM LST 3.5 H
05:30AM LST 3.2 L
11:24AM LST 4.5 H
07:36PM LST 0.7 L

Orange County Surf Forecast – Friday – On the way down…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
Look for smaller but still fun/rideable surf on Friday. The average exposed spots will be in the waist high range…maybe even a few chest high sets through the morning. Standout NW exposed spots will be in the chest-shoulder high range…with a few North County plus sets early in the morning. Looks like shape will continue to be a little wally at the beach breaks so the best shape will be at spots that have something to break up the swell a little bit better.

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.

Orange County Tides
11/20/2009 Friday
03:45AM LST 2.8 L
09:58AM LST 5.4 H
05:53PM LST 0.1 L

Orange County 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). Due to the steeper swell angle this swell will show most of its energy at the winter spots in North County…but expect a (smaller) increase in surf across the county.



Waves
New swell moves in and helps to increase wave heights in most spots…average breaks are going to hold around waist-chest high…with some occasionally bigger sets at the better NW facing and combo breaks. Top NW facing spots will have surf in the chest-shoulder high range with some head high sets…possibly even a rare bigger one 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.

Orange County Tides
11/19/2009 Thursday
03:12AM LST 2.6 L
09:23AM LST 5.7 H
05:08PM LST -0.2 L
11:52PM LST 3.4 H

Orange County Surf Forecast – Wednesday – WNW-NW swell on the way up

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
There will be a little new WNW-NW swell sneaking in through the morning as well as a little more SW energy…but I don’t think either swell is going to be able to push through that morning high tide. Yeah there are a couple of really shallow sandbars that might have some new waves but mostly it will continue to be small and soft. Look for more knee high shorebreak lines through the morning at the average breaks. Standout combo spots will be slightly bigger in the knee-waist high range.

By the afternoon the swell will be on the way up while the tides are on the way down…look for more waist-chest high waves at the average NW facing breaks…standout NW spots will see some shoulder high sets before sundown.

Winds
Light and variable winds on tap through the morning and W-WNW winds around 10-15+ knots for the afternoon.

Orange County Tides
11/18/2009 Wednesday
02:40AM LST 2.4 L
08:50AM LST 6.0 H
04:26PM LST -0.5 L
10:58PM LST 3.6 H

Orange County Surf Forecast – Tuesday – hmmm tide burgers

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
Ankle high tide burgers will be on tap for most areas in the morning. Look for the best NW combo spots, mostly in parts of North County, to see some knee-waist shore break early on…but then getting slightly more rideable as the tide drops. Mostly windswell mush shape but you might be able to get a big board on it.

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.

Orange County Tides
11/17/2009 Tuesday
02:09AM LST 2.1 L
08:18AM LST 6.2 H
03:46PM LST -0.7 L
10:10PM LST 3.6 H

Orange County Surf Forecast – Monday – Small and Clean

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
Thanks to the morning high tide most spots will be pretty small for the dawn patrol…though a few of the shallower sand bars may see some inconsistent sets. As the tide drops look for the average breaks to fill in to about knee high with some inconsistent waist high sets. The standout combo spots, that can mix the windswell and SW energy, will be more in the waist high range but I wouldn’t rule out some chest high sets as the tide drops.

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.

Orange County Tides
11/16/2009 Mon
01:37AM LST 1.9 L
07:46AM LST 6.3 H
03:07PM LST -0.8 L
09:24PM LST 3.8 H

Orange County Surf Forecast – Weekend Waves – The windswell continues

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 knee-waist high range while the standout NW windswell spots see some waist-chest high sets.

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

Winds
Saturday will see variable onshore flow for the morning…mostly below 10-knots but starting to get some texture on the water early (if it ever lets up from Friday night). Look for NW winds around 10-20 knots for the afternoon.

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

Orange County Tides
11/14/2009 Saturday
12:30AM LST 1.2 L
06:44AM LST 6.1 H
01:47PM LST -0.4 L
07:50PM LST 4.0 H

11/15/2009 Sunday
01:05AM LST 1.6 L
07:15AM LST 6.3 H
02:28PM LST -0.7 L
08:38PM LST 3.9 H

Orange County Surf Forecast – Friday – Building windswell lumps

The Swell
New WNW-NW windswell and some minor SW swell (200-220) will filter through the exposed spots on Friday. Look for increase in size as the tide drops and the windswell increases later in the day.



Waves
Not much surf on tap for the morning thanks to a nearly 6’ high tide that peaks during the dawn patrol…expect a few weak, basically shorebreak, lines to sneak through early…but without much in the way of rideable shape. Look for the mix of windswell and SW energy to build surf in the knee-waist high range at the average spots as the tide drops. Standout breaks may see some bigger sets but will likely blow out before many slip through.

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.

Orange County Tides
11/13/2009 Friday
06:12AM LST 5.9
H 01:04PM LST 0.1
L 06:59PM LST 4.1 H

Orange County Surf Forecast – Thursday – More leftovers…and building lump

The Swell
Not much change out there in the morning…the NW swell (290-300) will continue to wind down along with the weak SW swell (200-220). Local WNW-NW windswell will start to increase late in the day but won’t put many new waves on the beach until Friday.



Waves
The combo of fading swell and a lovely 5’+ morning high tide is going to shut off surf for many spots. Look for flat to knee high waves for the average spots during the dawn patrol…and a few waist highers at the top spots. We will get a slight improvement as the tide drops…more in the knee high+ range for the average spots and knee-waist high+ at the standout spots...unfortunately it will be a race to see if the tide drops or the winds pick up first. Personally I think that the wind is going to win tomorrow.

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.

Orange County Tides
11/12/2009 Thursday
05:39AM LST 5.5 H
12:18PM LST 0.7 L
06:02PM LST 4.2 H
11:54PM LST 1.0 L

Orange County Surf Forecast – Wednesday – Leftovers again

The Swell
Our mix of NW swell (290-300) and the smaller, less consistent, SW swell (200-220) will both continue to back down on Wednesday. Weak local windswell moves in through the afternoon but won’t add much extra size to the mix.



Waves
The average spots throughout the County will be in the knee-thigh high range…with a few waist high sets coming through at the average combo spots. The standout NW facing breaks, and the best SW facing spots in South County, will be more in the knee-chest high range…again with a couple of chest high+ waves on the better tides.

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.

Orange County Tides
11/11/2009 Wednesday
05:05AM LST 5.0 H
11:24AM LST 1.4 L
04:56PM LST 4.3 H
11:13PM LST 0.7 L

Orange County Surf Forecast – Tuesday – NW swell continues to wind down

The Swell
WNW-NW swell (285-300) and the smaller SW swell (200-220) will both continue to fade on Tuesday while the local mix of windswell holds in the background.



Waves
Average exposed spots, mostly the NW facing ones in North County, will be in the waist-high+ range. Top NW facing spots, and the best combo breaks, will be in the chest-shoulder high range through the morning low tides. Look for smaller, less consistent surf as the swell mix fades more during 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.

Orange County Tides
11/10/2009 Tuesday
04:28AM LST 4.5 H
10:16AM LST 2.2 L
03:38PM LST 4.4 H
10:28PM LST 0.4 L

Orange County Surf Forecast – Monday – A few fun ones as the swell mix fades.

The Swell
Our WNW-NW swell (285-300) and SW swell (200-220) will both be slowly fading throughout the day on Monday.



Waves
Average breaks will be in the waist-chest high range, with a couple of bigger waves on the lower tides in the morning. The standout NW facing spots, mostly through the select spots in North County, will be closer to shoulder-head high on sets. Both size and consistency will drop off as we head into the afternoon and the tide starts to swamp out the fading swell mix.

Sunday the NW’er (285-300) will peak through the morning while the SW swell holds. Average spots will push up into the waist-chest high range with some shoulder high sets. The better combo breaks will see some inconsistent head high sets. The stand NW facing breaks, mostly through North County, will see surf in the shoulder-head high range with overhead sets mixing in 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.

Orange County Tides
11/09/2009 Monday
03:43AM LST 4.0 H
08:42AM LST 2.9 L
02:08PM LST 4.6 H
09:34PM LST 0.2 L

Orange County Surf Forecast – Weekend Waves – New NW swell peaks on Sunday

The Swell
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 late 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 biggest surf through the morning and then a gradual slow down by the afternoon and into Monday.



Waves
Saturday morning the average spots are going to hold in the knee-waist high range with a few waist-high+ sets showing at the combo spots. Standout SW facing spots and excellent combo spots will have some waist-chest surf with some occasional chest-shoulder high sets. Keep an eye out for some new NW energy to start to filter into the best exposed spots by late in the afternoon.

Sunday the NW’er (285-300) will peak through the morning while the SW swell holds. Average spots will push up into the waist-chest high range with some shoulder high sets. The better combo breaks will see some inconsistent head high sets. The stand NW facing breaks, mostly through North County, will see surf in the shoulder-head high range with overhead sets mixing in on the lower tides.

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.

Orange County Tides
11/07/2009 Saturday
01:19AM LST 3.4 H
05:00AM LST 2.9 L
11:20AM LST 5.6 H
07:24PM LST -0.2 L

11/08/2009 Sunday
02:42AM LST 3.6 H
06:41AM LST 3.1 L
12:36PM LST 5.0 H
08:32PM LST 0.1 L

Orange County Surf Forecast – creeping up

The Swell
Look for a mix of small inconsistent SW swell (200-220) and building NW-WNW energy that fills in slowly as we move throughout the day.



Waves
Still not the greatest swell mix for Orange County but it will increase our surf a little bit. Average spots can expect knee-waist high waves, while the standout SW facing spots as well as the standout NW facing spots, see some inconsistent waist-chest high sets. High tide will keep things soft through the first part of the day, but there may be a little more wiggle-room for the dawn patrol as the tide peak moves back to about 10:30am.

Winds
Winds will be mostly light/variable in the morning with a few pockets of light onshore texture at the wind prone spots. NW winds around 10-15 knots will build in through the afternoon.

Orange County Tides
03:59AM LST 2.7 L
10:21AM LST 6.0 H
06:16PM LST -0.4 L

Orange County Surf Forecast – a good day for chores

The Swell
Small and inconsistent SW swell (200-220) will mix with fading NW leftovers and background local windswell.



Waves
Surf will be flat to about knee high for most of the average spots tomorrow…and by knee high I mean “knee high shorebreak” not very many rideable waves. Top SW facing breaks in South County will be a touch bigger but still not all that fun…basically the best breaks can expect more consistent knee-high sizes with a couple of knee-high+ sets on the lower tides. High tide will kill it off almost everywhere by midmorning.

Winds
Winds will be mostly light/variable in the morning with a few pockets of light onshore texture, particularly around the random fog banks. Look for W-SW winds coming onshore around 10-13 knots by the afternoon.

Orange County Tides
03:16AM LST 2.4 L
09:33AM LST 6.2 H
05:16PM LST -0.6 L
11:57PM LST 3.5 H

Orange County Surf Forecast – Waves for Wednesday

The Swell
Orange County will see a mix of fading WNW swell (290-300), some background SW energy (200-220), and some local NW windswell that pushes in a bit more by the afternoon.



Waves
The two longer-period swells don’t really mix well for OC thanks to shadowing by the Nearshore Islands. The NW swell hits in mostly North County and the SW’er shows almost exclusively in South County. Since we don’t see that much combo it looks like our surf is going to hold in the knee-high to knee-high+ range at most of the average spots. The standout NW and the standout SW facing spots will be slightly bigger in the knee-waist high range with a few rare chest high sets pushing through on the lower tides. Like I said in the main forecast the tide is going to be an issue…so try and avoid surfing as it peaks if you can.

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 building in at the really wind exposed areas, particularly around the areas of patchy fog that will roll through. W-NW winds 10-15 knots build in through the afternoon.

Orange County Tides
02:40AM LST 2.1 L
08:52AM LST 6.3 H
04:23PM LST -0.7 L
10:50PM LST 3.6 H