A record-setting wet month, with the largest recorded El Nino / Southern Pacific Oscillation on tap all summer long finally being tapped for 21.74" of rain, more than 5 times the mean rainfall for February, 25% more than the mean seasonal total to-date, and the wettest February on record since records began in 1967. Glug. All the storm activity made for some pretty big surf and a lot of windy conditions, either southeasterly frontals or southwesterly clearings.Surf was big all month long, but conditions were often sketchy. The hard searcher was rewarded with some excellent conditions and solid waves. Highlights were a big day on the Gaviota Coast at the start of the month and some all-time longboard surf at Campus Point, as well as a tube fest at Rincon on the newly formed sandbars from the winter rains. Lowlights? All the southeasterly winds and a 60+ million gallon sewage spill in Thousand Oaks that forced the closure of beaches from Malibu to Rincon for the entire month.
The beaches were transformed this month. Erosion set in first with big swells pulling sand offshore, notably at Goleta Beach. The rains brought plumes of sand, silt, and driftwood, with satellites showing runoff crossing 2/3 of the channel. By the end of the month many beaches had come back, especially in the cove at Rincon, as the creek dumped its sand, and atop that were tons of driftwood, logs, and shoots, most of which will likely remain around for some time.
Out of fifteen reports, got good surf nine times. Rode twice on the semi-gun and twice on the longboard. Average wave height was in the solid overhead range.
The Reports
February 25th, Rincon
February 24th, Campus Point
February 19th, Stables
February 18th, Rincon
February 16th, Stables
February 15th, Rincon
February 13th, Rincon
February 12th, RinconFebruary 9th, Rincon
February 8th, Rincon
February 6th, Devereux
February 5th, Rincon
February 4th, Campus Point
February 3rd, Campus Point
February 1st, Gaviota Coast