Powerful waves pounded Northern California’s shoreline Saturday, prompting forecasters to issue urgent warnings for anyone considering a trip to the beach.
The dangerous surf was fueled in part by an approaching “storm train” moving toward the California coast.
“DO NOT GO TO THE BEACH/COAST TODAY,” the National Weather Service office serving the Bay Area warned on X.
“Buoy 46042 this morning hit 32 ft @ 21 seconds. At this height fully exposed beaches could see 40+ft waves with sets in excess of 60 feet. Not a safe day to be in or even near the water. Watch from webcams and local news.”
Officials later repeated their advice, urging residents and visitors to “skip the beach.”
“Skip the beach today—the waves are impressive, but they’re also deadly. No selfie is worth risking your life,” the weather service wrote while responding to video of sneaker waves striking Pacifica in San Mateo County.
One enormous wave surged over a seawall, sending startled spectators running from the turbulent water. The conditions grew so intense that the surf appeared to threaten a Taco Bell near the Pacifica coast.
“can we please get the national guard dispatched to the pacifica taco bell?” SFGate Editor-in-Chief Grant Marek quipped.
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Online meteorologist Max Velocity called the developing system a “giant train of storms” in a video posted Thursday.
“A giant train of storms is about to slam the West Coast of the United States in places like California, Oregon, and Washington, [which] are about to pick up a ton of snow and also several inches of rain in addition to very high winds,” he said.
The National Weather Service also issued a high surf advisory for Los Angeles County. The alert began at 2 p.m. Friday and remains in effect until 3 p.m. Tuesday, with Saturday’s waves forecast to reach 7 to 12 feet.
Southern California is expected to feel the storm’s effects as well, Sebastian Westerink, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in San Diego, previously told The California Post.
“We’re getting some showers left over from the NorCal storm systems,” he said, noting that Southern California would still see “a good soaking rain each time.”
Officials warned that hazardous surf and other coastal conditions can quickly become fatal.
A 24-year-old woman vanished last week after a wave swept into her and her friends during a beach bonfire. The group had been spending time by the shore when powerful surf knocked them into the water. Everyone else reached safety, but the woman remained missing.
The latest storms are arriving as forecasters anticipate what could become a historic El Niño event. According to the newest outlook from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, released Thursday, the climate pattern is expected to strengthen through the end of the year, SFGate reported.
