Local
Bay Area Beaches Under 'Life-Threatening' Surf Warning as 30-Foot Waves Loom
The National Weather Service has issued a beach hazards statement and a high surf warning for the Bay Area coast, with breaking waves of 15 to 20 feet through Friday and up to 30 feet on Saturday, prompting urgent warnings to stay out of the water.
The National Weather Service has issued a beach hazards statement for the Bay Area coastline, warning of "life-threatening surf conditions" as powerful waves begin to pound Pacific beaches. The alert, issued Wednesday morning, comes as unseasonably warm weather drew crowds to the coast for Veterans Day.
Breaking waves of 15 to 20 feet are possible through Friday afternoon, along with an increased risk of sneaker waves and strong rip currents, the weather service said. Conditions are expected to deteriorate further over the weekend, when a high surf warning takes effect Friday evening and remains in place through Sunday morning. Forecasters predict massive waves of 25 to 30 feet, with even higher sets in some locations, potentially rivaling the largest swells seen in the region in decades.
"Everyone should remain out of the water due to life-threatening surf conditions," the weather service warned. "Stay off of jetties, piers, and other waterside infrastructure."
The timing is particularly perilous. The warning follows the Coast Guard's suspension of a search for a woman who was swept out to sea Sunday night at Panther State Beach in Santa Cruz County. Authorities have not released her identity.
Adding to the danger, tides are running higher than normal due to El Niño conditions and an anticipated storm surge from strengthening winds Thursday into the weekend. "Rising tides will bring water and waves farther up the beach than normal, restricting escape from beaches and coastal areas," the weather service said.
Forecasters are monitoring significant wave heightsâthe average height of the highest third of wavesâthat could reach up to 28 feet at a buoy near Point Reyes. Such heights have been exceeded at that buoy only once in the past decade, during a January 2023 storm that caused severe erosion along the coast. At a buoy six miles offshore San Francisco, wave heights are forecast to peak at 26 feet Saturday morning, potentially among the highest recorded there in the past two decades.
The dangerous surf is part of a broader pattern of extreme weather that scientists say is being intensified by climate change, which is contributing to higher sea levels and more frequent coastal flooding. For Bay Area residents, the immediate message is clear: stay away from the water's edge and heed all warnings.
The beach hazards statement remains in effect through Friday afternoon, when it will be replaced by the high surf warning. Another swell is expected to arrive Monday, keeping ocean conditions exceptionally rough into next week.