Winter is officially upon us, and Mother Nature is showing her stripes by dumping buckets upon buckets of rain upon us. The water temperature has dropped, but is holding steady at 55-57 degrees, which to me screams full wetsuit and booties.

The air and water temperatures are not the only changes upon us. As the swell size increases the ocean becomes more dynamic and appealing to surfers.

Safety is the most important thing when surfing. The weather and ocean can sometimes be unpredictable despite official reports.

I've put together some winter surf safety tips and although some may seem obvious, they are still necessary.

1. Do not attempt surfing unless you can swim. This should go without saying, but oh, the things I have seen. Relying on your surfboard to be your safety is both unwise and very dangerous.

2. Do not surf while intoxicated. Seems obvious, but don't surf drunk.

3. Stay out of the water for three days (72 hours) after a significant rainfall. The bacteria levels in the water will be much higher and could make you sick.

3. Always use a leash so your board doesn't get away from you. A wayward board can be very dangerous and you could injure yourself or another surfer. A leash should be used year round despite the season or conditions.

4. Use the correct wetsuit for the temperature. We may live in beautiful Southern California, but that doesn't mean you can't get hypothermia. And I hear it isn't fun.

5. Know your experience and comfort level. You may be tempted to show off your surfing prowess, but if your experience level is in waist-high surf, skip going out when the surf is double overhead. Putting yourself in conditions beyond your skill level is dangerous for everyone around you.

6. Check the conditions before getting into the water. There are websites that provide local real-time surf information.

7. Know your location. If you are a beginner surfer, then do not go to a surf spot that is for an advanced surfer. Reef breaks differ from surf breaks and you may not be aware of the terrain at the location.

8. If you get caught in a rip current (aka rip tide), do not paddle against it, paddle across it. Note that rip currents tend to be stronger when the ocean is rough.

9. Go surfing with a friend. If you go alone, surf where others are in the water. Also, be sure to let someone know where you are going and when to expect you back.

10. Be aware of others in the water around you. You may think you can let your board go safely, but you could wind up causing damage to someone else.

11. Follow established surf etiquette. Don't drop in on someone else's wave; you can go for the next one. These rules are enforced by the honor system, but depending on where you are surfing, the locals there may be handing the enforcing.