Stormy waters off the California coast calmed down a bit over the Christmas holidays, but strong waves are expected to return to the Bay Area for the rest of this week.
Waves up to 30 feet high are expected to crash on beaches in northern California from Thursday morning through Sunday afternoon. The National Weather Service issued a high surf advisory, warning swimmers and boaters to be aware of dangerous conditions.
Meteorologists say high temperatures in the Bay Area will likely be in the low 60s and rain with patchy fog is likely throughout the weekend. Rain may cause flooding of local streams and paved areas.
Earlier in the week, as the sea raged toward the coast, the outer portion of the historic Santa Cruz Pier collapsed, sending three people into the turbulent waters. All were subsequently rescued. A man was killed in Monterey Bay by debris blown away by the storm.
National Weather Service meteorologist Braden Murdock said waves of this magnitude are rare, but the deadly conditions are consistent at this time of year, when waves are typically at their highest along the California coast. It is said that there is
“The last time we saw a swell like this was probably early January 2023,” Murdoch said. “So it’s not that common for it to be this extreme. But it’s not out of the question at this time of year.”
“Fortunately, it’s one of the coldest times of the year, so there aren’t too many people roaming the coastline,” he added. “But there are some things people should be aware of.”
The winter storm also caused flooding on highways and major roads in Berkeley and Oakland, and caused mudslides in rural Sonoma County.
In Southern California, conditions were more benign. Christmas morning started off foggy and cloudy, but the clouds disappeared and the sun started shining through.
National Weather Service meteorologists predicted wave heights of 5 to 10 feet in Los Angeles and Orange counties on Christmas Day. Further north, peak waves of up to 15 feet are expected to continue throughout the week in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
High temperatures are expected to remain in the low 60s for the remainder of this week and no rain is expected.
Meteorologists warned motorists that strong wind gusts could occur in the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys, making driving difficult for large vehicles.
Wild weather is causing problems as Southern California continues to experience unusually dry weather. Downtown Los Angeles typically receives about 4 inches of rain by this point in the rainy season, which begins in October and runs through March. So far this year, it has grown about 0.16 inches.
With wind gusts of up to 90 mph, Santa Ana winds could funnel dry, hot air into Southern California’s mountain trails, especially next week, raising the risk of wildfires, said Ariel Cohen, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office. It is said to increase. Oxnard.
Cohen said the greatest threat is expected from Monday to Thursday next week, when “the air will be drier and temperatures will be a little warmer, increasing the risk of fires.”
Earlier this month, the Franklin Fire burned more than 4,000 acres in Malibu. The fire, driven primarily by strong Santa Ana winds, damaged or destroyed dozens of buildings and invaded Pepperdine University’s campus.
