Tag Archives: big swells

Last week as a huge storm approached the Coast, the sunset was very dramatic. As I stood on our deck, camera in hand, it looked like a purple tornado cloud as the sun was setting.

Tornado storm cloud by Jeanne Jackson

And this photo I took a few moments earlier shows the big swells on the Pacific Ocean.

Big swells with tornado storm cloud by Jeanne Jackson

Mother Nature has been acting like a drama queen. But we continue to appreciate the rain. So what if the ground squishes when we walk on it! We have received over 28 inches of rain season-to-date at our home in Anchor Bay. A normal rainy season for us is about 50 inches, so we are more than halfway there and December isn't even over yet. Hooray!

We have received a lot of blessed rain here on the Mendonoma Coast. Every drop is welcome. On Tuesday a wild and windy storm hit the Coast.

It is fun to watch showers over the ocean. Several of these showers reached us as they headed east.

Thunderstorms sweeping over the coast.

The next day, yesterday, the swells were big, creating big waves. Rick and I went to the Point Arena Lighthouse to watch for Gray Whales with friends and I photographed some of the beautiful wave action. You will have to imagine the sound of the crashing waves. And, yes, we did see some Grays!

 Swell after swell rolled in. It can be mesmerizing to watch the Pacific Ocean!


Today we await a smaller storm. The weekend is to be clear and warm. I'm wondering if abalone divers will be able to go on their first hunt for red treasure this year!

The Pacific Ocean is roaring again today. This morning the ocean looked like corduroy, with big swells spaced evenly apart. Tom Eckles recently photographed the dramatic scene.

You can almost hear the ocean and feel the salt spray by looking at Tom's photo.

Thanks to Tom for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Tom's photography, here is his website: www.tomeckles.com

It was no joke! On April 1st huge swells hit the Mendonoma Coast and Robert Scarola was out with his camera to photograph them. He captured these twenty foot waves just south of Gualala Point. Thanks to Robert for allowing me to share the power of the Pacific Ocean with you here.

We have a vigorous storm headed our way, due to hit late tonight. The tall ships, the Hawaiian Chieftan and the Lady Washington, will be sailing from Bodega Bay past our coast tomorrow, perhaps in the afternoon. I sure hope the clouds will part and allow us a sighting of these elegant replicas of ships from the past.