The Pacific
Ocean provides more consistent swells than the
Atlantic Ocean. There are several components to
most wind storms that help explain this
phenomenon. One is the wind induced by local
pressure differences like the circulating winds
of a hurricane, or the sea breeze common in
Summer afternoons in the U.S. The other is the
overall circulation of the atmosphere induced by
solar radiation and the planet's rotation. This
latter circulation results in winds generally
easterly between plus and minus 30 degrees of
the equator, westerly between 30 and 60 degrees
in both northern and southern hemisphere and
easterly again between 60 degrees latitude and
the poles.
Check out the great
California Surfing Photos!
The local pressure variation type winds tend to
be stronger than the global winds so you may get
an onshore wind on any coast. Onshore winds tend
to enhance the size of waves making their way
ashore from some disturbance at sea. Offshore
winds tend to knock down waves coming ashore. In
the U.S. the global wind component is onshore in
the Pacific and off shore in the Atlantic, due
to our location in latitude. This may account
for somewhat better surf conditions on the
Pacific Coast.
Are you looking for some great surfing combined with a
family vacation? Why not surfation?
It's the surf - vacation that
combines comfort with wild fun. Did
you know that up and down the
California coast larger resort
hotels offer surfing lessons? One
particular hotel gem is the Hyatt
Regency Resort and Spa in Huntington
Beach. Among its art galleries,
souvenir and clothing shops, there's
a place offering of all things,
surfing! You can check into a
room, get a spa treatment (his &
hers are nice), and begin your first
night with a bonfire on the
beachfront. Next morning, get up
early 'cause that's when the surfers
like to find the better waves. Toes
to the Nose is the on-site Hyatt
surf offering at this unique hotel
by the sea in "HB".
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