Pismo Beach Ocean / Surf Report
4/2/2020
SEA/SWELL:
Increasing northwesterly winds off and along the California
coastline will generate a 6- to 8-foot northwesterly (310-
degree, deep-water) sea and swell (with a 7- to 11-second
period) through Friday.
A 4- to 6-foot west-northwesterly (290-degree, deep-water)
swell (with an 8- to 11-second period) is forecast along
our coastline on Saturday into Tuesday.
Combined with this west-northwesterly swell will be 3- to
5-foot southerly (195-degree, shallow-water) seas on Sunday
into Monday.
Arriving from the Southern Hemisphere:
A 1- to 2-foot Southern Hemisphere swell (with a
20- to 22-second period) will arrive along our
coastline on Monday, increasing to 2 to 4 feet (with
an 18- to 20-second period) on Tuesday.
ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS:
The pattern of moderate to fresh (13 to 24 mph) Santa
Lucia (northeasterly) winds developing during the
morning, shifting and increasing out of northwest to
strong to gale-force (25 to 38 mph) levels during the
afternoon will continue through Friday.
Note: At this time of the year, when the winds shift
out of the northeast (Santa Lucia/offshore)
and blow from the land out to the ocean, they
transport pollens from the grasses and tress
in the inland valleys and mountains toward
the sea. At times like these, communities
throughout the Central Coast will experience
higher pollen counts.
Clear skies and above normal temperatures will continue
with the coastline reaching the 60s and 70s in the
coastal and interior valleys.
Saturday will be a transition day with decreasing winds
and increasing clouds as a 1,006 millibar low-pressure
system and associated cold front moves southward
down the California coastline.
This storm is forecast to move over the Central Coast
on Sunday with strong to gale-force (25 to 38 mph)
southerly winds and moderate to heavy rain. An upper-
level trough will follow on Monday with convective
rain showers and a chance of thunderstorms. Snow
levels will drop to around 3,500 to 4,000 feet
with 1 and 3 feet of new snow accumulation possible
across higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada through
Monday.
Total rainfall on Sunday into Monday is expected to
range between 1 and 2 inches.
This wet and cooler weather pattern may continue into
next Tuesday and Wednesday as the surface low-pressure
system lingers off the coastline. Over this period,
dense valley fog may develop.
WILDFIRE INDEX RATINGS:
The PG&E Fire Index Ratings will be at low (R1) to
medium (R2) levels along the Coastline, Coastal and
Inland Valleys and Far Inland Areas today and Friday,
decreasing to low (R1) levels this weekend.
DIABLO CANYON METEOROLOGICAL TOWER TEMPERATURE DATA:
Yesterday's Today's Tomorrow's
Min Max Min Max Min Max
54.3° 60.4° 50.1° 62.0° 52.0° 61.0°
PG&E Weather Office in San Francisco predicted temperatures
for San Luis Obispo County
Inland Temperatures, Paso Robles
Actual Predicted
Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu
46 71 36 70 37 69 41 68 48 58 44 56 40 59 40 62 43 63
Coastal Valleys Temperatures, San Luis Obispo
Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu
45 65 42 70 43 66 42 65 51 59 47 56 43 59 44 60 46 61
WINDS:
Strong to gale-force (25 to 38 mph) afternoon northwesterly winds
are forecast today through Friday, decreasing to fresh to strong
(19 to 31 mph) levels on Saturday.
Strong to gale-force (25 to 38 mph) southerly winds are forecast
on Sunday, decreasing to fresh to strong (19 to 31 mph) levels
by Monday.
DIABLO CANYON METEOROLOGICAL TOWER WIND DATA:
Today's Maximum Winds:
Max peak winds: NE 39.0 mph @ 7:15 a.m.
Max sustained wind: NE 15.0 mph @ 7:15 a.m.
Yesterday's Maximum Winds:
Max peak winds: NW 44.0 mph @ 5:30 p.m.
Max sustained wind: NW 34.0 mph @ 5:30 p.m.
SEAWATER TEMPERATURES:
Strong to gale-force (25- to 38-mph) spring time northwesterly
winds have produced frigid seawater temperatures along the
coastline. Seawater temperatures at the Diablo Canyon Marina
dropped to 50 degrees this morning.
Because of the Coriolis Effect, the surface water flows to the
right, or offshore. This, in turn, causes upwelling along the
coast as cold, clear and nutrient-rich water rises from the
ocean’s depths to the surface along the immediate shoreline
to replace the shallow water that is pushed out to sea.
Intake seawater temperatures will range from 50 and 53 degrees
through today, decreasing to 49 and 52 degrees on Friday into
Saturday. Seawater temperatures will warm on Sunday into
Monday.
OCEAN CURRENTS:
A southerly (offshore) flowing current is forecast to flow
southward through Saturday, becoming a northerly (onshore)
flowing current on Sunday into Monday.
SEAWATER VISIBILITY:
Seawater visibility was 6 to 8 feet at the Diablo Canyon Marina.
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24-Hour Ocean Condition Outlook for Thursday 04/02 to Friday 04/03
SEA/SWELL: DIR. NW HT. 6-8 PER. 7-11 This morning
Remaining at: DIR. NW HT. 6-8 PER. 7-11 This afternoon
Remaining at: DIR. NW HT. 6-8 PER. 7-11 Tonight
WINDS: DIR. NE SPEED 15-20 + 35 This morning
Increasing to: DIR. NW SPEED 30-35 + 45 This afternoon
Decreasing to: DIR. NW SPEED 20-25 + 30 Tonight
==========================================================================
48-Hour Ocean Condition Outlook for Friday 04/03 to Saturday 04/04
SEA/SWELL: DIR. NW HT. 6-8 PER. 7-11 Friday morning
Remaining at: DIR. NW HT. 6-8 PER. 7-11 Friday afternoon
Remaining at: DIR. NW HT. 6-8 PER. 7-11 Friday night
WINDS: DIR. NE SPEED 15-20 + 30 Friday morning
Increasing to: DIR. NW SPEED 30-35 + 45 Friday afternoon
Decreasing to: DIR. NW SPEED 20-25 + 30 Friday night
==========================================================================
Extended Ocean Condition Outlook:
A storm is forecast to move over the Central Coast
on Sunday with strong to gale-force (25 to 38 mph)
southerly winds and moderate to heavy rain. An upper-
level trough will follow on Monday with convective
rain showers and a chance of thunderstorms. Total
rainfall on Sunday into Monday is expected to range
between 1 and 2 inches.
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