Tag Archives: water temperature

Weather Forecast: Second Big Cold Front of Fall

Mid-day Friday the surf comes up with the arrival of a significant cold front. Surf will start filling in as the west southwest winds across the middle gulf increase prior to the arrival of the frontal boundary. This should be a fun southy, waist high or better before the front. As early as noon we could be able to surf from all that southwest wind. The next morning, on Saturday, the northwest winds significantly increase in offshore waters.  At the coast, surf will be in the head high plus range with lighter 15+ knot winds. Surf’s up all day on Saturday.  Overnight the winds gust from the north, then switch northeast sometime before or right around sunrise.  Sunday morning a small clean wave and strong side-offshore wind will remain.

The water temperature is currently around 71° in Clearwater, and has been there since the big cool down of the first cold front.  The Fall/Winter pattern continues as temperatures cool again behind this significant cold front.  Friday and Saturday we see a high just above 60°.  Dawn patrollers and sunset gazers will feel things cool off with lows upwards of 49° in the overnight hours.  There was a big full moon phase with strong tides, but we’re getting further away from those bigger tidal swings as you can see in the chart that takes us through Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Sand Key Tides - Dec 8-10, 2017

 

NOAA Hurricane Outlook

You may remember back at the beginning of April, the Klotzback report was published summarizing the expectations for the upcoming hurricane season.  Those finding suggested the season would Continue reading NOAA Hurricane Outlook

Warm Front in Texas, Cold Front in West Florida: Published:03/26/17

Texas is in for the best surf of the region in the coming week.  Mid-day on Wednesday the swell begins to rise to the 9-12 foot mark, biggest by evening, this of course accompanied by 25 knot winds.  First thing Thursday morning the swell will be dropping.  After noon the wave heights remain about the same, and by evening the winds will go offshore.

There is a pre-front front coming to the southeast in a couple days opening the door for the second front, another west Florida wave-maker.  The first will stall just north of West FloridaContinue reading Warm Front in Texas, Cold Front in West Florida: Published:03/26/17