_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SURF FORECAST UPDATED on 12-21-18
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Biggest Wave of the Winter Contest is already seeing some serious contenders and it’s only December 21st!

mohag 728

Matty Mohagan – The South Bay – December 2018 – Photo – Lucio Gomes

gray 728

Alex Gray – The South Bay – December 2018 – Photo – Ron Lyon
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

For Saturday morning it looks like we’ll finally come up for air, but there will still be shoulder high to OH sets at the best West facing beaches. As with a huge swell like this there’s always a chance for some widow maker straggler sets so don’t get too comfortable just yet!

Monster tide early: 08:09 AM 6.84 feet High Tide

Saturday
2018-12-22 Sat 01:51 AM 1.75 feet Low Tide
2018-12-22 Sat 06:44 AM Moonset
2018-12-22 Sat 06:56 AM Sunrise
2018-12-22 Sat 08:09 AM 6.84 feet High Tide
2018-12-22 Sat 09:50 AM Full Moon
2018-12-22 Sat 03:21 PM -1.36 feet Low Tide
2018-12-22 Sat 04:49 PM Sunset
2018-12-22 Sat 05:10 PM Moonrise
2018-12-22 Sat 09:49 PM 4.08 feet High Tide

The conditions look to be fantastic with variable breezes at 2-3 MPH until noon and placid 1-3 MPH whispers out of the SW in the afternoon. Looks like you’ll have about 12 hours to find something that’s working! The air temp dips to 66 degrees.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

For Sunday morning we’ll see a slightly more user friendly version of surf and yes it will be Costco compliant as the waves fade into the chest to shoulder high zone for the top West facing breaks. While still kind of sizeable it will pale in comparison to last weeks PUMP FEST!

Tide issues: 08:51 AM 6.91 feet High Tide

Sunday
2018-12-23 Sun 02:35 AM 1.82 feet Low Tide
2018-12-23 Sun 06:56 AM Sunrise
2018-12-23 Sun 07:48 AM Moonset
2018-12-23 Sun 08:51 AM 6.91 feet High Tide
2018-12-23 Sun 04:05 PM -1.47 feet Low Tide
2018-12-23 Sun 04:49 PM Sunset
2018-12-23 Sun 06:13 PM Moonrise
2018-12-23 Sun 10:37 PM 4.10 feet High Tide

The conditions look pretty damn good again variable breezes at 0-4 MPH until late afternoon and 4-6 MPH out of the West after that. The air temp tops out at 67 degrees.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

For Monday morning we will see another NW ground swell rumble into town. This energy will move in from a 295-300 degree angle, (16 second intervals), and fill in through the day. The top spots should see chest high + sets early and get up to head high to OH later in the morning.

Maybe early?: Tide zaps it around 9:30AM – 09:36 AM 6.76 feet High Tide

Monday
2018-12-24 Mon 03:22 AM 1.93 feet Low Tide
2018-12-24 Mon 06:56 AM Sunrise
2018-12-24 Mon 08:47 AM Moonset
2018-12-24 Mon 09:36 AM 6.76 feet High Tide
2018-12-24 Mon 04:50 PM Sunset
2018-12-24 Mon 04:52 PM -1.36 feet Low Tide
2018-12-24 Mon 07:21 PM Moonrise
2018-12-24 Mon 11:29 PM 4.11 feet High Tide

The conditions look good with variable 1-6 MPH breezes all day long. The air temp bumps up to 68 degrees.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

For Tuesday, Christmas morning we’ll see that NW ground swell dish up head high to OH + sets for the better West facing breaks from a 295-300 degree angle and 15-16 second intervals. That energy will be coupled with some short interval NW wind swell from 310 degrees. It looks like Santa has called for a stiff onshore wind scenario throughout the day and based on todays read it will be pretty blown out and choppy all day!

Nice tide push through the AM: 10:25 AM 6.38 feet High Tide

Tuesday
2018-12-25 Tue 04:14 AM 2.07 feet Low Tide
2018-12-25 Tue 06:57 AM Sunrise
2018-12-25 Tue 09:39 AM Moonset
2018-12-25 Tue 10:25 AM 6.38 feet High Tide
2018-12-25 Tue 04:51 PM Sunset
2018-12-25 Tue 05:41 PM -1.08 feet Low Tide
2018-12-25 Tue 08:30 PM Moonrise

The conditions look poor… See todays wind model run below. The air temp dips to 63 degrees.

winds 2
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

For Wednesday morning things might be okay if the ocean surface cleans up overnight. The top West facing breaks will see a combo of the NW energy that should dish up head high + sets, (possibly even larger).

Wednesday
2018-12-26 Wed 12:25 AM 4.16 feet High Tide
2018-12-26 Wed 05:16 AM 2.23 feet Low Tide
2018-12-26 Wed 06:57 AM Sunrise
2018-12-26 Wed 10:25 AM Moonset
2018-12-26 Wed 11:18 AM 5.80 feet High Tide
2018-12-26 Wed 04:51 PM Sunset
2018-12-26 Wed 06:33 PM -0.65 feet Low Tide
2018-12-26 Wed 09:39 PM Moonrise

The conditions look a bit iffy with N/NNE winds in the 3-10 MPH range until noon and 3-8 out of the SW in the afternoon. The air temp tops out at 63 degrees.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Water temps are as follows, (day of 4CAST update) and are as follows: Malibu 61 Santa Monica 61 South Bay 63, Huntington 58, Newport 62.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

The next 4CAST will be posted on Sunday!
______________________________________________________________________________________________________




ABOUT THE SWELLMAGNET FORECAST – One of the most exciting–and yet most challenging–aspects of surfing is the sheer variety of waves and weather conditions that affect the entire surfing experience. Any surfer who is interested in going beyond the most basic level of surfing will have to develop the ability to interpret waves and environmental conditions. This is important for ensuring both a safe and enjoyable experience.

The main difficulty lies in predicting how exactly the ocean and the environment will behave at any given time. One day, you could be riding four-footers all day and the next, you might be facing a glasslike surface with nary a ripple. Conditions can change drastically from day-to-day and even within the space of a couple of hours. To avoid wasted time and unproductive trips to the surf, it is essential to have access to reliable information on surf conditions.

Sites such as Swellmagnet.com offer up-to-the-minute surf reports that are essential to all California surfers. The company relies on an extensive network of surf cams and surf experts in order to monitor the precise surf conditions on any given day. All information is collated and analyzed by qualified surf specialists, with the resulting data being provided to the public via the Swellmagnet site.

Swellmagnet provides some of the best surf reports in the industry, with accurate and verifiable results gathered via an innovative system of surf condition monitors and detectors. Expert surf analysis is provided by the company’s team of highly experienced specialists, each with long years of experience monitoring and actually experiencing the full range of surf conditions. This combination of state-of-the-art technology and extensive practical experience ensures the highest quality and most accurate surf reports available.

For surfers who wish to take full advantage of the best that the California coast has to offer, the services provided by Swellmagnet are essential.