The National Weather Service in San Francisco said early Wednesday that a Beach Hazards Statement is in effect from 9 p.m. Wednesday through 6 p.m. Friday, then a High Surf Warning from 6 p.m. Friday to 4 a.m. Sunday, with breaking waves reaching up to 30 feet on Saturday, according to the 4 a.m. area forecast discussion. Meteorologist Joe Merchant told the Sonoma Index-Tribune / Bay Area News Group on Tuesday, “It’s going to be no joke.”
Why it matters: The weather service said the risk of drowning is very high this weekend and advised people not to go in the water, climb on rocks or lean over seawalls. Merchant said people who want to watch the waves should stay in elevated spots, “as close to the parking lot as you can be.”
Forecasters said forerunner swell will bring strong rip currents and sneaker waves Thursday and Friday, with breaking wave heights of 15 to 20 feet before the Saturday peak. A Coastal Flood Advisory remains in effect until 4 p.m. Friday; the San Francisco tide gauge is expected to reach 7.2 feet MLLW at 11:35 a.m. Wednesday. Rain is also expected Friday, with a break Saturday and more rain Sunday, the Bay Area News Group reported.
The warning follows last weekend’s high surf, when the Coast Guard on Tuesday suspended its search for a woman swept to sea Sunday near a Santa Cruz County beach. “Those conditions (over the previous weekend) were nothing compared to what’s going to be going on this time,” Merchant said. Related: the search at Panther State Beach and last weekend’s surf warning.