The recent tragedy in the water and the loss of Steve Schafer, has been on everyone's mind. Whether you knew him or not. We all are out there in the water and know the risk we are taking paddling out in the ocean, but when something like this happens, it makes us all stop and think. "This
could happen to me."
I had a chance to go to the memorial paddle-out on Saturday at Stuart public. It was very touching to see all of Steve's friends telling stories and remembering all the good times with him. I did not have the pleasure of knowing Steve, but from what every single person who knew him says, he was a fantastic guy. Kind hearted, thoughtful, upbeat, cheerful, calm and easy-going.....we could use a lot more of Steve in the water these days, and now we have one less....which sucks. Next time you paddle out and you're an aggressive jerk....you want to snake that wave off someone, yelling and acting the fool.....remember this:
Life is short, sometimes too short....is it really worth being a big D-bag? Steve didn't think so.
SURF FORECAST
Not like everyone doesn't already know but looks like some solid swell headed our way...again for Monday and Tuesday(my days off!!!!!) I'm going to try not to get my hopes up too much though. The last two or three swell haven't been all that good, at least in my experience.
The swell is coming from that huge snowstorm in the mid-atlantic. The low bombed out off the coast and is heading further offshore, with a nice fetch pointed at us and sending some good groundswell. It is moving rather quickly though so the swell will be short lived. There will also be a pseudo-back door cold front working down the state which will enhance the swell, but also turn winds NE late Monday. The good news is the wind won't be that strong so look for Monday to be the call.
continuing with a VERY progressive weather pattern. A very active southern jet stream keeps storms reloading every few days, firing low after low eastward and keeping our potential for rideable surf high.
Sunday was decent. Bigger than expected. Waist-chest most of palm beach county. Reports of spinners all over the place from my buds....face to face encounters. Nice.
Water Temps: Palm Beach: 73, Ft. Pierce: 70, Cocoa: 62.
MONDAY: MSW shows the swell filling in later, I think the swell will arrive earlier. MSW is often 6hrs too slow. Although I don't see a solid swell on the buoys yet and that concerns me. Morning should be good form though with light offshore/sideshore winds and a good chest high plus swell pumping in. It should have good power too. Chilly in the morning with lows in the 40s. It'll build to head high by the afternoon, but the wind will turn onshore around 11 or 12. Just a little crumbly though as it shouldn't get about 10kts. Sunny and warmer in the afternoon, high 72.
Not a big difference in tides but low tide is around 10am, high around 4pm.
TUESDAY: The next systems approaches, switching the winds quickly to the southeast, and picking up in speed. Swell will still be pumping with with a cross chop in it, screwing it up. However, the wind will turn more southwest by the end of the day and will clean up the surf. quicker upcoast. If you have time, upcoast is the call.
WEDNESDAY: Cold front moves through the area, hard offshore wind blows most everything down. Leftovers upcoast though. Waist to maybe bigger. Palm Beach county maybe a knee high longboardable wave left.
THURSDAY: With the hard offshores Wednesday and Wednesday night, that could give us a nice waist-chest refraction swell. Could be pretty good in the morning. again, chilly with lows in the 40s. Wind will turn onshore by the afternoon.
EXTENDED: Another storm reloads for the weekend, possibly pumping in more north swell on Saturday, stay tuned!
Keep it safe in the water, watch for sharks and keep an eye on your fellow surfer out there. God Speed to all of us...I'm stuffing a 9-volt battery in my leash...who knows....maybe it'll work. Sharks hate electric fields...
~James Wieland
Meteorologist/Surf Forecaster
WPTV NewsChannel5
