TEAGAN SANDVIG

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

While her big brother, Tanner Sandvig, made a trip up north to Canada to get some serious cold-water experience, Teagan Sandvig has been taking care of business at home.

Competing in the most recent Western Surfing Association event in Huntington Beach, the 9-year-old goofy-footer won the Under 10 division, and she has been surfing well beyond her age, as she also landed in

Administration (NOAA) announced that El Niño conditions will likely develop in the Pacific Ocean this summer.

“A watch is issued when conditions are favorable for the development of El Niño within the next six months,” reads NOAA’s announcement. “While we are still in an ENSO-neutral phase—when no El Niño or La Niña are present—there is a 62% chance El Niño will develop sometime between May and July. This comes after nearly two continuous years of a La Niña.”

“El Niño chances increase even more a couple of months later, as the threemonth period centered on August now has 80% odds versus 56% last month,” according to a Reuters article.

El Niño conditions occur when bands of warm ocean water develop in the central and east-central equatorial

Pacific. The warmer sea surface temps typically result in above-average precipitation, as well as other weather events, including large west swells.

Meanwhile, La Niña conditions feature water temperatures that are sufficiently cooler than normal. As NOAA notes, La Niña conditions have persisted for the past two years, which would explain why this spring has been so cold—and flat.

The last El Niño we saw was back in 2015-2016. Before that, 1997-1998 and 1982-1983 stand out as historic El Niño winters. NOAA estimates mild El Niño conditions appear an average of every four years, while “super” El Niños occur every 15 to 20 years.

“We’re due one. However, the magnitude of the predicted El Niños shows a very large spread, everything from blockbuster to wimp,” NOAA research scientist Dr. Mike McPhaden told The Guardian.

“The really big ones reverberate all over the planet with extreme droughts, floods, heat waves, and storms. If it happens, we’ll need to buckle up. It could also fizzle out. We should be watchful and prepared either way,” continued McPhaden.

Based on current water temperature readings off the coast of Peru and in other strategic regions in the Pacific, “a few forecasters see a possible Super El Niño in 2023,” reports Reuters. “It is among the most aggressive outlooks.”

That being said, an El Niño in 2023 is not a foregone conclusion. Aboveaverage water temps need to hold for a few months before it can be officially confirmed that we’re in an El Niño.

“It’s a tricky time of year to forecast, but we do see consistency amongst international climate models of warming towards El Niño levels,” NOAA climatologist Catherine Ganter told The Guardian.

Coming off a year that saw historic rain and snowfall throughout California, the potential of a looming El Niño means we could see a lot more wet weather, along with all the subsequent disasters that follow.

As surfers, we’re born storm chasers, and with the heartache often comes some amazing moments in the ocean. Fingers crossed that we see more west swells and less flooding next winter. DP

Jake Howard is a local surfer and freelance writer who lives in San Clemente. A former editor at Surfer magazine, The Surfer’s Journal and ESPN, today he writes for a number of publications, including Picket Fence Media, Surfline and the World Surf League. He also works with philanthropic organizations such as the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center and the Positive Vibe Warriors Foundation.

Surf Forecast

fifth in the Under 12 division.

Like her brother, Teagan’s stoke for surfing is infectious. Whether it’s cold and rainy or sunny and pumping, she’s always in the water. Her competitive success is a direct result of how hard she works and how dedicated to her sport she is.

Besides all the time in the ocean, Teagan’s also putting in the hard yards in the pool, developing strength, lung capacity and exceptional comfort underwater.

Not only are the results coming among the WSA ranks, but Teagan recently garnered the support of Surface Sunscreen, and before that, Famous Wax got on board. Thanks to brands including Surface and Famous, she’s taking her game to the next level.

With summer knocking on the door and south swell season on the way, we can’t wait to see what Teagan does when the water warms up a little. DP

Water Temperature: 57-59 Degrees F

Water Visibility and Conditions: 8-10’

Outlook: Beautiful weather is on tap for Friday through the weekend as high pressure moves over the western US. Surf will be small but rideable off a mix of south-southwest and northwest swell. Friday will still see 2-3’ waves (around waist high) at many breaks, with best spots pushing 4’. Smaller surf is expected over the weekend. Light morning wind and clean conditions are expected all three days.