We are currently on the verge of the strongest El Nino event since 1997. What does that mean for your surfing and the waves that may or may not occur this winter?

Ben Freeston over at Magic Seaweed summarizes the events that are to take place in His article El Niño: The Winter Outlook pretty succinctly

We now have the strongest El Niño event since 1997.
El Niño will almost certainly last all winter.
We could see an event of the scale of 1997 but it's not guaranteed.
As well as a large body of warm water in the Eastern Pacific we have exceptional Central Pacific temperatures.
We can very reasonably expect overall larger and more frequent storms on a more southerly track in the North Pacific this winter.

For the most of us that should be enough of summation to put the hope into us that this is going to be an amazing Winter of waves coming up. And definitely enough to keep us signed up to our Surf-line or Magic seaweed account with those annoying email updates on overhead days coming up. However, Truth be told due to the fact that there really hasn't been recording for any significant amount of time, since the advent of satellite weather reading, which is in its infancy so to speak and has only been available for the last 40 years or so, Scientists really don't know what this season will bring for sure and especially what it will bring in the way of waves.

As Ben Freeston points out in his article. Tow in surfing and big wave surfing has come on at such a rapid rate that all the records set for the biggest waves have all been set within a period that wouldn't be seen as particularly over active according to the charts. Enough to make any armchair surfer drool at the anticipation of watching Teahpoo or any Hawaiian break for that matter start to heave. Think about it for a second..... 1997 There was no You tube barely an internet. Chances are we will be seeing some unbelievable feats being performed by some hell men and then again who knows.

The Big Wave spectacle aside for the moment, chances are we will see some pretty good winter at least a better winter than if there was no El Nino. Well that's the attitude ill be taking to get the most out of this winter. Keep an eye on the buoys, brush off that big wave equipment and up the training to a few more miles on the tread mill also don't forget to brush up on your breathing techniques

October 05, 2015

El-Nino winter 2015 what to expect

We are currently on the verge of the strongest El Nino event since 1997. What does that mean for your surfing and the waves that may or may not occur this winter?

Ben Freeston over at Magic Seaweed summarizes the events that are to take place in His article El Niño: The Winter Outlook pretty succinctly

We now have the strongest El Niño event since 1997.
El Niño will almost certainly last all winter.
We could see an event of the scale of 1997 but it's not guaranteed.
As well as a large body of warm water in the Eastern Pacific we have exceptional Central Pacific temperatures.
We can very reasonably expect overall larger and more frequent storms on a more southerly track in the North Pacific this winter.

steven watts

Author

Growing up in South Africa, Steve spent his youth dreaming of far off places. After spending eight years extensively traveling to many of the great surf destinations of the world getting dengue fever, having a near death experience from a falling coconut in mexico, Surviving a 15 foot drop on a handboard on a Nias bomb, jumping from every rock he could find without adequate health insurance. and comprehensively debunking the myth there are no waves in Thailand, even if they are small. He decided it was time for a a degree. Steve Graduated from Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design in London with a degree in product design. He missed his graduation to go surfing in Californian, found a kindred spirit with Venice and never left