Mendo conditions this week

Today

S wind 10 to 20 kt with occasional gusts to 25 kt. Wind waves building to 5 to 7 ft in the afternoon. NW swell 4 to 6 ft at 11 seconds. Slight chance of rain in the afternoon.
 
Tonight

Se wind 20 to 25 kt. Wind waves 7 to 9 ft. NW swell 4 to 6 ft at 10 seconds. Chance of rain.
 
Tue

Se wind 20 to 30 kt. Occasional gusts up to 35 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 8 to 10 ft. NW swell 4 to 5 ft at 11 seconds. Rain.
 
Tue Night

Se wind 20 to 30 kt with occasional gusts to 35 kt. Wind waves 9 to 11 ft. W swell 10 ft. Chance of rain.
 
Wed

Se wind 20 to 30 kt with gusts to 35 kt...becoming SW 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 9 to 11 ft...subsiding to 5 to 7 ft. NW swell 11 to 12 ft. Rain.
 
Thu

W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 to 3 ft. NW swell 13 ft. Showers likely.

Fri

Se wind 5 to 10 kt...becoming S 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. NW swell 14 ft.

Ugly

Why would they use "Se" for southeast when "NW" is used for northwest?

Or maybe they're "Selenium winds"...   

In any case, I may go abbing Wednesday in the gale and high swell just so I can show the importance of tides...

Why would they use "Se" for southeast when "NW" is used for northwest?

Or maybe they're "Selenium winds"...   

In any case, I may go abbing Wednesday in the gale and high swell just so I can show the importance of tides...

Awesome, please explain the tide thing so this inlander might use it to more carefully plan trips to the coast in the future.  Pretty please?

Why would they use "Se" for southeast when "NW" is used for northwest?

Or maybe they're "Selenium winds"...   

In any case, I may go abbing Wednesday in the gale and high swell just so I can show the importance of tides...

Awesome, please explain the tide thing so this inlander might use it to more carefully plan trips to the coast in the future.  Pretty please?

Sorry, Bro, I made a provocative comment and then failed to return for followup in a timely fashion.   

The tide thing:  In my 20's I used to chase minus tides.  There were certain places I'd heard about along the Lost Coast where the reef wasn't even visible at high tide, but a good minus produced acres of abalone-baring rocks and pools.  This led to me putting all of my stuff in a framepack and hiking to all the most remote spots I could find, and I had much success.  The key:  tide.  I would plan my trips around the minus tide.  Even if the swell or visibility prevented a dive in 6-20' of water, I could always fall back on the minus tide to assure that I had an option for the search.  Ironically, the type of searching associated with tide-specific conditions is really what I've had most of my success at, in terms of 10 inch abs.  The surf zone is like a seldom travelled wilderness - just outside the rockpickers and just inside the divers...  The tide gets you there, even if you're in 7' of water holding onto a strong piece of bull kelp between sets so you can pull down and reach under that perfect rock that no one has ever touched(!) - this is where big abs live.

Plan a trip around the tide - there are areas around Ft. Bragg and Mendo where you should be able to rockpick some legal abs - I haven't been there in over 20 years, but I'll bet you could do it.  If you're coming to Humboldt, just call me.   

Minus tide was kind to me today despite the nasty seas outside.