Friday, April 20, 2018

Friday 4 20 morning call

A shortboard and a longboard session for me yesterday. That's how clean the waves were.






The foiling frog instead was at Hookipa.


5am significant buoy readings
South shore
No indication of southerly energy at the buoys anymore, the Surfline forecast looks pretty steady instead with 1.8f 12s.

North shore
Hanalei
4.9ft @ 6s from 74° (ENE)
3.8ft @ 9s from 72° (ENE)
2.1ft @ 11s from 320° (NW)
1.6ft @ 15s from 333° (NNW)
 
Pauwela
5.6ft @ 9s from 73° (ENE)
3.6ft @ 5s from 72° (ENE)
1.1ft @ 16s from 354° (N)
 
Yesterday's NW pulse was pretty small, but there were some fun waves at Hookipa. Today there's another one on the rise, as the longer period readings at the buoys confirm. Here's Pat Caldwell's explanation of the fetches:
 
A severe gale formed east of the Kuril Islands 4/15 with a NE track. The center entered the Bering Sea 4/16 with storm-force winds. A long fetch south of the Aleutians 4/15-17 aimed highest seas at the Americas. Long-period forerunners are expected locally Thursday PM from 320-330 degrees. Heights are expected to reach near the April average for the peak of the event on Friday.
The fetch width spread 4/17-18 with a large area of marginal gales north of 40N within 160-180W. With the tail of the fetch 2000 nm away, this should make for a long-lived event. The event should linger over the weekend from 325-340 degrees at levels under the average. A new episode is due Sunday PM.

Below is the collage of the maps of April 16, 17 and 18 and that might help you trying to follow what uncle Pat described in words. Nothing to be too excited about if you're a north shore surfer, as the wind will keep blowing relentlessly.


Wind map at noon.


North Pacific shows a NW fetch and the windswell one.


South Pacific shows a large and well oriented fetch, unfortunately greatly blocked by New Zealand.


Morning sky.

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