…Increased Risk of Sneaker Waves, Rip Currents, and Large Shore Break Through Friday Morning…
.A long-period northwest swell will begin to move into the waters early Thursday morning and impact the coast through Friday morning. The greatest risk for sneaker waves and rip currents along the coastline will occur on Thursday. Additionally, breaking wave heights of 17 to 22 feet will be possible at favored locations along the shore on Thursday. The swell will begin to decrease on Thursday night, but breaking waves heights up to 15 to 20 feet will remain possible through Friday morning.
* WHAT…Increased risk of sneaker waves, rip currents, and large shore break are expected.
* WHERE…San Francisco, Coastal North Bay Including Point Reyes National Seashore, San Francisco Peninsula Coast, Northern
Monterey Bay and Southern Monterey Bay and Big Sur Coast Counties.
* WHEN…From Thursday morning through Friday morning.
* IMPACTS…Rip currents can pull swimmers and surfers out to sea. Sneaker waves can knock unsuspecting beachgoers over and into the sea. Remain out of the water due to dangerous surf conditions, or stay near occupied lifeguard towers. Swimmers should avoid swimming in areas of large shore break. Rock jetties can be deadly in such conditions, stay off the rocks.
If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Don’t swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
