Moonlight Beach

05/30/2026

Waves?

First tropical storm of 2026 could form next week

There is a 70 percent chance the Eastern Pacific Hurricane season will have an above-normal season, according to an outlook from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The season's forecast is:
15 to 22 named storms
9 to 14 hurricanes
5 to 9 major hurricanes

The first tropical storm of the Eastern Pacific hurricane season could form as soon as the middle of next week.

05/27/2026

Third World Problems...
Neighbors near Oak Crest Middle School are raising concerns about traffic, noise and parking as the popular Leucadia Farmers Market prepares to relocate there next month.
The market, which has operated for 21 years at Paul Ecke Central School, is moving because the current campus is set to undergo a rebuild. The Encinitas City Council approved a permit allowing the market to begin operating at Oak Crest Middle School starting the second Sunday in June.
Leucadia 101 Main Street Association Executive Director Stacy Redell said the market has grown significantly since it began with about 60 vendors. Some Sundays now feature as many as 130 vendors and attract thousands of visitors each year.
“We have beautiful beaches we have incredible parks but as far as community coming together and also having a benefit, an economic driver, it’s been incredible,” Redell said.
The new location offers more space and is closer to the Encinitas Community Center, where visitors can use about 260 parking spaces. Vendors are expected to set up on the school’s asphalt courts and upper field. https://cstu.io/b7f17fP

05/25/2026

Man "sustained injuries not compatible with life,"

Shark kills spearfisher in front of friends in Australia: "Terrifying thing to see"

The unidentified victim, a Cairns resident, was brought by boat around noon to the tourist town of Hull Heads where paramedics were waiting. He had "sustained injuries not compatible with life," an ambulance service statement said.
Kennedy Shoal is a shallow coral reef popular with recreational fishers. Divers are also attracted to the Lady Bowen, a 19th century shipwreck.

A spearfisher was killed on the Great Barrier Reef on Sunday in Australia's second fatal shark attack in just over a week, police said.

05/25/2026

In ocean news… New Zealand

‘Code Red’: WSL Finals Day at Raglan Halted After Mysterious Attack

A WSL water photographer was bitten by an unidentified sea creature mid-heat at Manu Bay. Italo Ferreira and Carissa Moore went on to win the inaugural event.

05/22/2026

Visiting Del Mar, CA | CBS 8 Zip Trip

CBS 8 is hitting the road to feature the vibrant areas of San Diego County. On this Zip Trip, we visit Del Mar and all that makes this community great.

05/22/2026

The Local’s Guide to Del Mar

The best things to do in Del Mar, San Diego's north county neighborhood offering upscale dining spots, boutique shops, and coastal scenery.

05/15/2026

Neighborhood Staples: More Than Just Candy and Food

Celebrating over 60 years of Leucadia Liquor

Over the years, Kamil has witnessed and adapted to changes in Leucadia, forming strong relationships with local families. These bonds are evident daily as customers greet him by name. He fondly recounts a story of a local boy who, upon turning 21, handed Kamil a $20 bill to repay him for candy he had stolen as a child, confessing that the guilt had weighed on him all those years.

As the neighborhood gentrified and beverage trends evolved, Leucadia Liquor’s offerings have adjusted to meet more discerning tastes. Tito’s still dominates the vodka category, and both vodka and tequila brands have exploded in variety. While IPAs remain popular, Mexican-style lagers are increasingly favored, especially given Leucadia’s beachside location, providing a more refreshing and drinkable option

https://cstu.io/e29e82

05/14/2026

Planners reluctantly approve Ocean Bluff project in Encinitas

Planning commissioners reluctantly yet unanimously approved a 27-unit development overlooking Encinitas Boulevard during a May 7 meeting, voicing frustration over state housing laws they said left them with little choice.
The Ocean Bluff residential project would sit atop the hill just south of Encinitas Boulevard, east of the intersection with Westlake Street and Quail Gardens Road.
Of the 27 for-sale units, three would be restricted to “very low-income qualifying households,” according to city documents. The plan calls for single-family detached homes on 4.5 acres of the site, while the remaining 2.7 acres would be preserved as open space because of an extreme slope. Retaining walls would provide support for the preserved area.

Encinitas planners unanimously approved a controversial 27-unit hillside housing project overlooking Encinitas Boulevard.

05/11/2026

Dozens of earthquakes rattle southern California in reported swarm

Dozens of earthquakes rattled parts of California on Saturday and into Sunday in what experts call an earthquake swarm, with many centered near Brawley in Imperial County, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
While many of the earthquakes remained below magnitude 4.0, the swarm peaked with a magnitude 4.7 tremor just after midnight on Sunday. Reports of light shaking were felt from north of the city in the Coachella Valley, south to Calexico, and reaching into San Diego and Mexicali.
The initial quake that ignited the swarm in Brawley hit at approximately 4:14 p.m. local time on Saturday, measuring a 3.5 magnitude. It was centered 2 miles west-southwest of Brawley at a depth of about 8.5 to 9 miles, according to the USGS

Dozens of earthquakes rattled parts of California on Saturday and into Sunday in what experts call an earthquake swarm, with many centered near Brawley, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

05/04/2026

Blue and Mysterious… Sounds like my father-in-law.

Velella velellas washing ashore in La Jolla
The Velella velella, also known as "by-the-wind sailors," have washed ashore in La Jolla, brought by changing coastal winds, weeks after they were first spotted in Northern California.
According to Anya Stajner, a graduate student at UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the creatures were first seen in La Jolla on a Monday evening, but it is uncertain whether more will arrive.
There have been reports of Velella velella washing up in other areas, including Carlsbad, and they have also been sighted on beaches in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Luis Obispo County, and along the coast of Ventura, Los Angeles, and Orange counties since late March.
The Velella velella are propelled by shifting currents and winds, which can be particularly intense and difficult to predict during the spring months, making it challenging to determine if they are nearby or if more will arrive.
These free-floating organisms are translucent, making them hard to see, and are most noticeable when they wash ashore, where their deep blue and purple coloring fades as they dry out and die, and although they are not jellyfish, they resemble them and can deliver a benign sting to humans.
Anya Stajner hopes that more Velella velella will show up in the San Diego area, as the last four Aprils have all had notable velella strandings, and she is interested in extending this interesting streak.

It’s unclear how long the ‘by-the-wind sailors’ will appear on local beaches.