Favorite Surfing Season?

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Favorite Season

Fall
11
69%
Winter
3
19%
Spring
2
13%
Summer
0
No votes
 
Total votes : 16

Favorite Surfing Season?

Postby pkbum » Wed May 21, 2008 2:54 am

This is taken from surfline.

Here's a basic breakdown of what all the seasons typically experience both surf and wind/weather wise:

Spring: This is a transitional time when both the North Pacific and South Pacific can spit out swell, so we'll often see a peaky combo of NW/WNW and S/SW swells in the water. This is particularly good for the beachbreaks, which really like the cross of swells. We'll often see some of our largest Southern Hemi swells of the year between late March and May to with the Antarctic ice sheet being smallest (less ice equals more open for wind to blow over equals larger fetch/surf). NW windswell really starts to increase too as the North Pacific high settles into a position right off the US West Coast, setting up the aforementioned windswell but also lots of onshore NW wind.

Pros: Good combo of swells, bikinis start showing up on the beach

Cons: Onshore wind, water can get quite cold with the strong NW wind due to upwelling


Summer: South and Southwest Southern Hemi swells pulse in sporadically through the summer months, best in the south facing regions of Orange and Northern LA Counties, as well as select areas in San Diego and Ventura. Unfortunately, long periods of flatness can and often do prevail when storm activity in the South Pacific takes a breather. NW windswell still occasionally kicks up, but is not as strong or consistent as the spring months. S/SE hurricane swells start to make an occasional appearance, generally from August through October.

Pros: warmer water, lots of bikinis on the beach

Cons: long flat spells, crowded lineups, most afternoons are blown out with an onshore wind/seabreeze


Fall: Similar to spring but with generally much better conditions. We can often see a good combo of WNW and S/SW swell, which is again particularly good for the beachbreaks (think about the Fire swell from Oct. 2007). Wind conditions are often excellent as this is the season for Santa Anas and several days with offshore wind all day.

Pros: Good combo of swells, excellent wind conditions, kids are back in school

Cons: Um...maybe slightly less bikinis on the beach?


Winter: Generally larger and more consistent swells out of the W/NW...this is prime season for spots in Santa Barbara, Ventura, South LA and most of San Diego. Weather can deteriorate a bit but often for only a day or two in SoCal before sunny skies and excellent conditions return. Many days with clear blues skies and light wind/glassy conditions all day.

Pros: Generally the largest and most consistent surf of the year, less crowds

Cons: occasional bouts of inclement weather, poor water quality due to run off after rain, colder water and air temps, limited days of bikinis on the beach


Hope that helps!

Kevin Wallis
Surfline Forecaster
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Honestly it becomes the question of glassiness and crowdiness to me. I guess fall would be the best for me :D
Last edited by pkbum on Thu May 22, 2008 1:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Postby joem » Wed May 21, 2008 4:25 pm

being british what do you think im gona say

and its autum
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Postby isaluteyou » Wed May 21, 2008 5:16 pm

whenever theres swell im happy :wink: However you cant beat a sunny hot day in boardies with decent waves :wink:

Although i have to admit that fall usually has the best combinations here :wink:
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Postby greg@hoodatsurfco » Wed May 21, 2008 9:22 pm

^^California seems to love the fall time (autumn for you UK folk?)
Its very warm here in the fall along with nice winter-ish waves.
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Postby parrysurf » Sat May 24, 2008 5:33 pm

Fall closely followed by winter!!!

Offshore groomed perfection
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Postby pkbum » Sat May 24, 2008 7:23 pm

Warm water + no crowd + clean sets with no onshore flow + some good grub after the session = heaven.
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Postby tomcat360 » Tue May 27, 2008 1:30 am

Our fall is so great. We have hurricane left overs, fall northeasters, and some mixed in winter stuff. Our winter waves tend to have no shape.

Fall, no summer goobers, nice waves, and warm water.
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Re: Favorite Surfing Season?

Postby Luke » Tue May 27, 2008 12:22 pm

pkbum wrote:
Pros: Generally the largest and most consistent surf of the year, less crowds

Cons: occasional bouts of inclement weather, poor water quality due to run off after rain, colder water and air temps, limited days of bikinis on the beach



Yeah I have to admit, in the UK winter does tend to limit the bikinis :lol:

I like the novelty factor of warm days in the summer, but the best times i've had have always been in Autumn.
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