Santa Barbara Surf Report Archive
December 2002 Overview
December was filled with waves and also with weather. 14 sessions, of which the average was probably shoulder high. Perhaps the most epic swell was the one that was on December 15 and 16 but I was out with a bug and missed it. December 16th was also host to one of our rainest days of the season, around 2 inches. The lower eastside was flooded around Olive and Haley streets and it made semi-national news with photos on Yahoo and video on the 11:00 news. The media also had a feast with the many days of high surf advisorys and waves breaking up at Fort Point in San Francisco.

The 6th is when the first real swell of the month pulled in. It had a lot of West in it which was lighting up some of our point breaks and on the low tide sessions was sucking up some nice barrells. Waves stayed around and the 7th was also a great day. I managed to make it out for both the sunrise and sunset sesssions and both were overhead. Swell started to go away on the 8th and some of the beachbreaks that were big and closing out were now rideable again. Some consistent waves between the 11-13, no big swells but daily waves were available. Then the big swell came in on the 15th and then the rain came on the 16th. Some folks are calling the 16th one of the biggest days in years. After that it was either flat or incredibly un-organized. The following Saturday the 21st things started to clean up and the waves were overhead again. More storms on the eve of the 21st and into the 22nd. The storm blew out the morning of the 22nd to leave a crisp, clear, and cold sunset session. Things settled down after that. Some windswell on the 23rd and a pretty small Christmas Eve session in Ventura. Bought the Walden after that session. Things were small for awhile, the 26th session was knee high but fun. 28th was small yet again and the 29th had size but too much wind. The 30th things were working out better but still a bit too unorganized. Got completely bageled looking for waves around sunset on New Years Eve. 11 days on the shortboard (Progressive), 3 on the longboard (Walden)

You can also read Surfline's December Wrap-up.

The Reports

Santa Barbara Surfing -- Last updated December 2002