Late-Season Santa Ana Waves Hit Avalon
Last Tuesday and Wednesday weren’t the best days to sunbathe on the beach at Avalon, reports Kate Olsen, Administrative Assistant for the Avalon Harbor Patrol. "We had a late-season Santa Ana, which resulted in big waves on the beach. We knew there were going to be waves from the northeast, so we were prepared and moved boats accordingly. We either got everybody tucked in near the casino, or in the case of one owner who didn’t want to leave his mooring, doubled up on his lines. He was fine. Some boat owners took the lee on the back side of the island."
Olsen also reported that it’s been "incredibly hot," again thanks to Santa Ana conditions bringing wind from the desert. "It’s been in the 80s, and last night at 7 p.m. it was 83 degrees."
All in all, everything is fine at Avalon, and the friendly folks in the Harbor Department are looking forward to a busy season of helping boat owners have fun and be safe.
Since the prevailing wind at the Channel Islands is from the northwest, many of the best anchorages are open to waves from the northeasterly winds of Santa Anas. How do you know if a Santa Ana is coming? It’s easy, even if you’re not listening to the weatherman. Your boat decks will be dry in the morning and the air will be unusually clear.
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