Posts Tagged ‘Flat spell blues’

Winter’s icy grip

Monday, January 4th, 2010 by MC

picture-7

ANZ450-451-051000-
COASTAL WATERS FROM SANDY HOOK TO MANASQUAN INLET NJ OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM MANASQUAN INLET TO LITTLE EGG INLET NJ OUT
20 NM-
332 PM EST MON JAN 4 2010

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT

TONIGHT
NW WINDS 15 TO 20 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 KT. SEAS 2 TO
4 FT. A CHANCE OF LIGHT FREEZING SPRAY.

TUE
W WINDS 15 TO 20 KT WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS UP TO 25 KT.
SEAS 2 TO 3 FT. A CHANCE OF LIGHT FREEZING SPRAY IN THE MORNING. A
CHANCE OF FLURRIES IN THE AFTERNOON.

TUE NIGHT
NW WINDS 15 TO 20 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 KT. SEAS
2 TO 4 FT. A CHANCE OF FLURRIES.

WED
NW WINDS 15 TO 20 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 KT. SEAS 2 TO
4 FT.

WED NIGHT
NW WINDS 15 TO 20 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 KT. SEAS
2 TO 4 FT.

THU
W WINDS 15 TO 20 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 KT. SEAS 2 TO
3 FT.

THU NIGHT
W WINDS 15 TO 20 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 KT. SEAS
2 TO 3 FT. A CHANCE OF SNOW AFTER MIDNIGHT WITH VSBY 1 TO 3 NM.

FRI
NW WINDS 20 TO 25 KT. SEAS 3 TO 5 FT. A CHANCE OF SNOW…
THEN A CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS. VSBY 1 TO 3 NM.

SAT
NW WINDS 20 TO 25 KT. SEAS 2 TO 4 FT.

Red blobs typically excite me but, unfortunately, all the swell is headed AWAY from our coast.

Winter is always a challenging time of year, this one seems especially brutal even though it’s only just begun. Massive amounts of snow fell before winter even started, and historically low temps have been prevalent, our only saving graces have been the consistent swells. If this high pressure pattern keeps up though, there won’t be any swell and depression could seep in and take hold until spring. I remember a particularly painful winter of 2002 or 2003 where I didn’t surf once from Christmas until mid February. I think it was 7 weeks of total flatness.

A glimmer of hope lays in the form of a very consistently pumping Caribbean. Even though finances are super tight and chances are very, very slim that I could pull off a trip, I begin most mornings on the Atlantic WAM studying the swells heading to PR and points beyond. It has been pumping. Maybe a credit card max out is in order!

Suggested remedies for extended wintertime flatspell surf jonez include: Snowboarding (El Nino years have great effect on the east coast peaks and snowfalls), travel, home renovation, hibernation, skateboarding, ice fishing, baby making and whittling in front of the fire…I like whittling.

Good luck Squids…if this flat spell endures, we’re going to need it.