Monday, November 30, 2020

7.30am

Hookipa has head to head and a third high relatively clean waves. 
6.7

Monday 11 30 20 morning call

Hookipa yesterday morning.


4am significant buoy readings and discussion.
South shore
No southerly energy at the buoys, check the Lahaina webcam if interested, for size, conditions and consistency.

North shore
NW001
4.5ft @ 12s from 330° (NW)

Waimea

3.9ft @ 6s from 32° (NE)
3.8ft @ 11s from 317° (NW)

Mokapu

4.7ft @ 6s from 38° (NE)
4.2ft @ 9s from 37° (NE)

Mix of leftover 11-12s NW energy and 6-9s NE energy in the water. Hookipa and the eastern exposures will have waves in the head to possibly overhead high range. Pat Caldwell called for a 4ft 16s NNW swell to rise later today, but I see no signs of it at the NW buoys, so I wouldn't count on it.

Wind map at noon .The other ones can be found at link n.-2 of GP's meteo websites list in the right column (click on animation of the 10 meter column).



Fetches map (circles legend: red: direct aim, blue: angular spreading, black: blocked, yellow: apparent direct aim, but out of the great circle ray map, so not 100% sure).
North Pacific (about 4 days travel time from the NW corner of the North Pacific):



South Pacific (about 7 days travel time from east/west of New Zealand):



Morning sky.


Sunday, November 29, 2020

8.30am

Hookipa has a mix of nw and 9s nne energies with relatively clean waves up to head and a half. 
7

Sunday 11 29 20 morning call

The NOAA and NWS are about (jan 1st) to ditch the lovely page with Pat Caldwell table and discussion. Here's the page with the notice.
They're asking to send comments to nws.srd.feedback@noaa.gov. Please let them know by December 20 if you don't want that to happen.

Due to sideon NE winds, conditions were quite horrible at Hookipa all day. This is the best shot I found out of this album from Jimmie Hepp.


After a big rain, it cleaned up at sunset. The size was there and it was mostly NE short period energy.

6am significant buoy readings and discussion.
South shore
Lanai
1.2ft @ 15s from 189° (S)

Minimal southerly energy at Lanai, check the Lahaina webcam if interested, for size, conditions and consistency (there's nothing).

North shore
NW101
5.4ft @ 12s from 327° (NW)

Waimea

5.7ft @ 9s from 12° (NNE)
4.2ft @ 12s from 329° (NW)

Mokapu
6.1ft @ 9s from 21° (NNE)

NW energy came up as predicted, but the dominant energy in the water is still going to be the 9s one from the NNE fetch we saw on yesterday's map. Dominant because much more consistent. Hookipa will have overhead waves.

Wind map at noon .The other ones can be found at link n.-2 of GP's meteo websites list in the right column (click on animation of the 10 meter column).


Fetches map (circles legend: red: direct aim, blue: angular spreading, black: blocked, yellow: apparent direct aim, but out of the great circle ray map, so not 100% sure).
North Pacific (about 4 days travel time from the NW corner of the North Pacific):




South Pacific (about 7 days travel time from east/west of New Zealand):



Morning sky.


Saturday, November 28, 2020

7am

Hookipa has scattered shoulder high waves. Sideon light wind makes them crumbly and almost unsurfable. Not much nw energy yet. 
1

Saturday 11 28 20 morning call

No photos from yesterday, this is one from Ben Thouard.

5am significant buoy readings and discussion.
South shore
Barbers
0.9ft @ 16s from 201° (SSW)

Lanai
1.2ft @ 12s from 175° (S)

0.8ft @ 16s from 199° (SSW)

Small southerly energy at the buoys, check the Lahaina webcam if interested, for size, conditions and consistency.


North shore
NW101
5.5ft @ 12s from 339° (NNW)

Waimea
2ft @ 14s from 327° (NW)

Mokapu
4.5ft @ 8s from 63° (ENE)

New small NW pulse is at the NW and Waimea buoys and will be on the rise locally all day. Here's Pat Caldwell's description of the evolution of the fetch(es):
A zonal jet stream set up near the Aleutians 11/23 with a long-lived parent surface low-pressure area in the Bering Sea. A series of offspring low pressures and associated fronts near and just south of the Aleutians spaced 1-2 days apart have kept a mostly west to east surface winds flow of lower gales north of 40N aimed highest NE of Hawaii. All the back-to-back fetches progressed east with time. This should make for overlapping, below average events Saturday into Tuesday.

The head of the fetch of the first one passed 160W about 1500 nm NNW to N of Hawaii 11/24. NOAA NW Hawaii buoys mid Friday 11/27 show this event slower to arrive and weaker than expected. A JASON altimeter pass 2 AM HST 11/27 did show 8 feet combined seas and swell near 28N or about 450 nm away aimed at Hawaii. Along with the precursors in the 14-16 second band at buoy 51001, this suggests an increase Saturday. It should be filled in by the morning from 325-345 degrees then hold about the same with subtle ups and downs given the complex source into Monday.

The last low in the Bering Sea wave family is nearing the eastern Aleutians 11/27. There are some gales hugging the Aleutians and near gales to near 40N all aimed NE of Hawaii. It should move east of the Hawaii swell window 11/28. This source should fill in locally Monday PM from 325-350 degrees, peak Tuesday pre-dawn, then drop 12/1 PM as a winter-caliber event rises quickly.


Below is the collage of the maps of Nov 24 to 27 that will help follow the above description.

Below are the graphs of NW101 and Waimea together with the Surfline forecast calling for 5ft 12s on Sunday.

As usual, without the Pauwela buoy it's hard to guess the size of Hookipa, but, also considering that there's still 4.5ft 8s of ENE windswell (and that should increase from the NE tonight, due to the fetch you can see in today's map), my home call is for head high waves, increasing to overhead as the NW pulse fills in. Beach report coming up later.

Wind map at noon .The other ones can be found at link n.-2 of GP's meteo websites list in the right column (click on animation of the 10 meter column).



Fetches map (circles legend: red: direct aim, blue: angular spreading, black: blocked, yellow: apparent direct aim, but out of the great circle ray map, so not 100% sure).
North Pacific (about 4 days travel time from the NW corner of the North Pacific):



South Pacific (about 7 days travel time from east/west of New Zealand):



Morning sky.


Friday, November 27, 2020

Friday 11 27 20 morning call

Thanks to blog reader Micheal for the donation.

Photo of Hookipa yesterday morning.


Big (actually XL) NW swell n.3 I mentioned yesterday is now on the long term Surfline forecast, here's how different the first half of December is going to look compared to the actual conditions:
Wed 12/2: 15ft 16s from 326
Tue 12/8: 15ft 16s from 321
Sat 12/12: 14ft 16s from 321

Unfortunately that means the vast majority of the north shore spots will be unsurfable in the peak days of those long lasting swells. The WSL ladies at Honolua (Dec 4-15) will have plenty size to deal with, while the mens at Pipe (Dec 8 to 20) will have to pick the smaller days to run the comp. But in my opinion the show might end up being stolen by the tow surfing at the outer reefs (particularly Jaws). In anticipation of the flooding of big waves shots we'll probably get on the social medias in those days, here's Dave Kalama in a photo by Darrel Wong.

4am significant buoy readings and discussion.
South shore
Barbers
0.9ft @ 13s from 183° (S)

Lanai
1.5ft @ 12s from 180° (S)

Very small southerly energy at the buoys, check the Lahaina webcam if interested, for size, conditions and consistency.


North shore
NW

Waimea

2.2ft @ 11s from 329° (NW)
0.9ft @ 16s from 333° (NNW)

Mokapu
4.1ft @ 9s from 81° (E)

New small NW pulse is showing at Waimea, but not at the less sensitive (because more exposed to the other energies) NW buoys and that's not a good sign of a healthy swell. In Pat Caldwell's description of the evolution of the fetches I posted yesterday, there was this sentence:
There could be some addition longer period energy of 14-18s though of lower height out of 340-360 degrees, via angular spreading from the hurricane-force winds that formed just east of the Hawaii swell window 11/23.
Wonderful call bu uncle Pat, but nonetheless overall the waves are going to be fairly small today at Hookipa and on the whole north shore.

Wind map at noon .The other ones can be found at link n.-2 of GP's meteo websites list in the right column (click on animation of the 10 meter column).



Fetches map (circles legend: red: direct aim, blue: angular spreading, black: blocked, yellow: apparent direct aim, but out of the great circle ray map, so not 100% sure).
North Pacific (about 4 days travel time from the NW corner of the North Pacific):



South Pacific (about 7 days travel time from east/west of New Zealand):



Morning sky.


Thursday, November 26, 2020

6.20am

Hookipa has inconsistent nw sets ranging from head high to occasionally overhead but also significant lulls.
Bit dark, looks like a 5.

Thursday 11 26 20 morning call

Relatively small day at Hookipa yesterday, this photo is from this album by Jimmie Hepp.


4am significant buoy readings and discussion.
South shore
Barbers
1ft @ 18s from 213° (SW)

That foot 18s at Barbers is highly suspicious, as there were no fetches whatsoever that could justify it, so check the Lahaina webcam if interested, for size, conditions and consistency.

North shore
NW001
3.7ft @ 12s from 349° (NNW)

Waimea
4.1ft @ 14s from 341° (NNW)

Mokapu
4.7ft @ 9s from 74° (ENE)

New NW pulse should be on the rise all morning and peak in the afternoon. Here's Pat Caldwell description of the evolution of the fetch:
A low-pressure system raced NE from the central NW Pacific to the Gulf of Alaska 11/21-23. Highest seas were not over the quadrant aimed at Hawaii, which had only lower end gales that stayed beyond 1500 nm away. NW Hawaii NOAA buoys 51001 and 51101 11/25 AM show low energy filling in for the 13-15 second band. This event should be near its peak by Thursday morning at levels well below the seasonal average out of 320-340 degrees with short swell periods of 10-14 seconds. There could be some addition longer period energy of 14-18s though of lower height out of 340-360 degrees, via angular spreading from the hurricane-force winds that formed just east of the Hawaii swell window 11/23. This should not make breakers any higher than the shorter-period swell. Both should trend down into Friday morning from 320-360 degrees.

Below are the maps of Nov 22 and 23 that will help follow the above description.

It might be well below the seasonal average, but 4ft 14s should still be better than what we had in the last few days. With the easterly windswell on the slow decline, NW might actually be the dominant energy in the water today. I expect Hookipa to be overhead, but without Pauwela that is really hard to guess. I'll beach report later.

With the exception of the first week, November really has been well below the season average, but I just say three big NW swells back to back during the whole first half of December on Windy.

Wind map at noon .The other ones can be found at link n.-2 of GP's meteo websites list in the right column (click on animation of the 10 meter column).



Fetches map (circles legend: red: direct aim, blue: angular spreading, black: blocked, yellow: apparent direct aim, but out of the great circle ray map, so not 100% sure).
North Pacific (about 4 days travel time from the NW corner of the North Pacific):



South Pacific (about 7 days travel time from east/west of New Zealand):



Morning sky.


Wednesday, November 25, 2020

8.15am

Hookipa has waist to shoulder high short period waves and light to moderate trades texture. 
2

Wednesday 11 25 20 morning call

Blog reader Scott found out that the NOAA and NWS are about (jan 1st) to ditch the lovely page with Pat Caldwell table and discussion. Here's the page with the notice.
They're asking to send comments to nws.srd.feedback@noaa.gov. Please let them know by December 20 if you don't want that to happen. Mine had: "please keep Pat Caldwell's page up" already the subject... Thanks.

Hookipa in the late afternoon had moments of magic light and plenty rainbows. Surfing conditions were very poor.



6am significant buoy readings and discussion
.
South shore
Barbers
0.4ft @ 20s from 204° (SSW)

Lanai

0.7ft @ 14s from 197° (SSW)

Slivers of long period period SSW energy at the buoys, I checked the maps and didn't find any possible fetch for it. That usually means that there won't be much in the water, so check the Lahaina webcam if interested, for size, conditions and consistency.

North shore
Mokapu
6.7ft @ 9s from 77° (ENE)

No NW energy left at any of the buoys, all we have today is the usual short period ENE energy. Hookipa will have waves up to head high (or smaller) while bigger size can probably be found on  eastern exposures.

Wind map at noon .The other ones can be found at link n.-2 of GP's meteo websites list in the right column (click on animation of the 10 meter column).



Fetches map (circles legend: red: direct aim, blue: angular spreading, black: blocked, yellow: apparent direct aim, but out of the great circle ray map, so not 100% sure).
North Pacific (about 4 days travel time from the NW corner of the North Pacific):



South Pacific (about 7 days travel time from east/west of New Zealand):



Morning sky.


Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Tuesday 11 24 20 morning call

Couple of shots from yesterday's session.


Jackson's wrap.

4am significant buoy readings and discussion.
South shore
No southerly energy at the buoys, check the Lahaina webcam if interested, for size, conditions and consistency. At least today there is something. I haven't seen a wave like this over there in a long time.

North shore
Waimea
3.1ft @ 13s from 323° (NW)

Mokapu
7.3ft @ 9s from 70° (ENE)

Small NW energy will be going up and down throughout this week, with an up trend towards Friday. More details on where those 3ft 13s come from can be found in Pat Caldwell's description of the evolution of the fetches below:
The source for the surf 11/22-23 was from a long, wide fetch of middle gales north of 40N aimed highest to the NE of Hawaii. The pattern progressed eastward behind a cold front starting from the Kuril Islands 11/18 to a position north of Hawaii about 1200 nm away 11/20 then east of the Hawaii swell window 11/21. The decay phase of this source should allow breakers to stick around for a few days since the tail of the fetch of marginal gales was still 2400 nm Friday morning. Heights should slowly trend down late Monday to quasi-moderate Tuesday on the sets then small on Wednesday from the same direction when a new below average event is due.
 
The already posted collage of maps of Nov16 to 20 might help follow (fetch n.2).

Since the easterly windswell energy is still at pretty elevated levels, I believe that is what we will see most in the water. Hookipa will be head to overhead high and blown out. Plenty messy waves on eastern exposures too.

Wind map at noon .The other ones can be found at link n.-2 of GP's meteo websites list in the right column (click on animation of the 10 meter column).



Fetches map (circles legend: red: direct aim, blue: angular spreading, black: blocked, yellow: apparent direct aim, but out of the great circle ray map, so not 100% sure).
North Pacific (about 4 days travel time from the NW corner of the North Pacific):



South Pacific (about 7 days travel time from east/west of New Zealand):



Morning sky.


Monday, November 23, 2020

Monday 11 23 20 morning call

No photos of the day, here's the latest video released by Kai Lenny. 33minutes, haven't watched it yet.

4am significant buoy readings and discussion.
South shore
No southerly energy at the buoys, check the Lahaina webcam if interested, for size, conditions and consistency.

North shore
NW101
5.5ft @ 12s from 335° (NNW)

Waimea
3.2ft @ 13s from 330° (NW)

Mokapu
8.7ft @ 9s from 64° (ENE)

Hilo
10.5ft @ 9s from 83° (E)

NW swell not looking particularly impressive at Waimea, at least compared to the really high windswell this episode of blustery trades has created. Hookipa will be well overhead and blown out, the direct eastern exposures will be drowning material.

Wind map at noon .The other ones can be found at link n.-2 of GP's meteo websites list in the right column (click on animation of the 10 meter column).



Fetches map (circles legend: red: direct aim, blue: angular spreading, black: blocked, yellow: apparent direct aim, but out of the great circle ray map, so not 100% sure).
North Pacific (about 4 days travel time from the NW corner of the North Pacific):



South Pacific (about 7 days travel time from east/west of New Zealand):



Morning sky.