Weather forecasters and safety officials had a single, non-negotiable message for anyone thinking about spending the final weekend before 2024 at the beach:
Don’t do it.
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“It would be smart to stay away,” National Weather Service meteorologist Dylan Flynn said early Thursday. “It’s something we’re going to deal with for a few days.”
The high surf is expected to pound coasts from Washington state down through Southern California all day Thursday, the result of a storm that occurred in the Eastern Pacific ocean about 1,000 miles from shore, Flynn said. That storm had hurricane-force winds and created ferocious waves that began crashing on shore Thursday morning.
The ocean is NOT your friend today!
High Surf Warning in effect until 3 AM Friday for very dangerous waves up to 28-33 feet, 40 feet possible in favored locations. Stay away from rocks, jetties, piers, and other waterside infrastructure. Never turn your back to the ocean! #CAwx pic.twitter.com/JsR7OmDEkx
— NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) December 28, 2023
The weather service issued a high surf warning that will be in effect until 3 a.m. Friday and advised people to stay away from beaches, piers, rocks, jetties and other waterside infrastructure. Waves were expected to be as high as 33 feet, according to the weather service. At Bodega Bay, the waves measured 28 feet early Thursday, the weather service said.
In Santa Cruz, authorities issued an evacuation warning just before 8 a.m. for coastal areas near Seacliff State Beach in Aptos. Residents were told to prepare themselves in case an evacuation order follows.
In Capitola, a road through the seaside Capitola Esplanade flooded Thursday morning, and water surged into the village. Surging ocean water pushed up the deck supporting The San Bar restaurant and bar near its front doors, and its entryway was flooded slightly. Seawater also flooded walkways between the popular and colorful Venetian Apartments.
The dangerous surf comes as the region receives a brief break from rain that coated the region on Wednesday. As much as an inch or rain fell in areas of Marin County, but it was considerably lighter in the East Bay and South Bay. About a quarter-inch fell in Oakland and at San Francisco Airport, while San Jose saw .05 inches, Concord about 0.3 inches, and downtown San Francisco about 0.1 inch.
Expected next is another storm that Flynn said is taking the same path as the previous one but with a bit more force. That storm is expected to keep the surf high, according to forecasters.
“It’s also going to mean another round of rain,” Flynn said. “It’ll probably be more rain than we had (Wednesday).”
Flynn said it’s likely that at least an inch of rain will fall in every area of the region. He added that the bulk of it is expected to fall midday Friday and dump consistently until Saturday afternoon.
That rain is not expected to create additional flooding hazards, according to the weather service.
“We expect the main flooding concerns to be restricted to the immediate coast because that’s where the waves are going to impact,” Flynn said. “Since the rain is spread out over a 24-hour period, we don’t see it happening more inland.”
Staff writer Ethan Baron contributed to this report. Please check back for updates.
