This summer has been a forgetful one – as they often are – for our surfing friends on the east coast. Meager offerings after meager offerings have been the norm for weeks. And while the official start to the hurricane season is typically around early June, the Atlantic has remained relatively dormant, with few momentary upticks in wave height, but nothing of consequence.
That is, until now. Tropical Storm Gaston formed Monday in the east Atlantic, and is forecast to become a hurricane by the end of the day on Wednesday.
Models suggest TS Gaston will pose no threat to land – it’s on track to curve in the North Atlantic, which is all good news. It is worth noting, though, that a disturbance the NOAA is now describing as Invest 99L that may pose a threat to the Caribbean and Florida over the weekend, and threaten surf conditions in the Southeast and Florida.
Back to Gaston, though, it’s unclear this far out just how much juice east coasters can expect from this pulse of energy – and obviously local conditions will vary depending on wind direction, etc. – but for now conditions are right for a moderate bump if not better.
Models aren’t calling for XXL, far from it, but TS (soon to be hurricane) Gaston willbe the first wave-producing storm of consequence the east coast has seen for months. And the water’s still trunkable for most. Time to get after it!
