More of the same.

After spending two weeks traveling around New England and enjoying summer weather that is best described as hot and humid, with afternoon thundershowers, it is about time that we head home.  So, I took a closer look at things, and what I found was what one would expect from Santa Cruz in August.  Foggy mornings, with afternoon clearing and low 70s.  In other words, more of the same.  But let me see if I can make this just a bit more interesting than that.

Turns out that sea gulls eat more than just bread crumbs and potato chips.  Wells Beach, Maine.

There is a little surf in the water, and more to come.  After what has been a lack luster south swell season, things are starting to look a bit better.  A SW swell is arriving through the day today and should fill in at the waist to chest high range.  By Monday, a steeper, more southerly, and much larger swell should hit.  Expect a peak on Tuesday, with top spots showing in the over head range.  But also know that these steep swells show up at fewer locations, so unless your surf spot can pull in from the 175 degree angle, you could be looking at flat conditions.  I'd tell you were to go, but I actually think that might be your job to figure out.  Anyway, that swell should settle out through the week, but we are seeing more storms in the southern Pacific, as well as some extra tropical action off of Japan, which could be giving us more waves for the end of the week and into next weekend.

Something of interest to note is the continued low pressures that have been in the Gulf of Alaska this summer.  Both the short and long term forecasts show some sort of low pressure system flirting around up there.  Nothing big enough or strong enough to break down our typical summer high pressure.  Nor really of interest for surf, other than some possible small, mid period swell.  Still, high pressure has not had a lock down on the north Pacific this summer.  I will continue to keep an eye on things up there to see how things adjust as we move through the summer and into the fall.  While many of us still think of August as high summer, the days have been getting shorter for some time, and we are almost half way to the solstice.  This is the period when things transition and storms begin to fuel in the colder latitudes.

Living the (good) seagull life.  Drake's Island Beach, Maine.

So for now, enjoy your Santa Cruz weather.  If the fog is getting to you, then head up the hill.  Felton has seen a lot more sun, and Boulder Creek even more so.  Or take some time to hit a river in the central valley or camp in the Sierra.  Or, you could just fly across country to see what humid feels like.  Now, I am off for one more beach day.