Brace yourself for a wild weekend in San Francisco, as the National Weather Service warns of powerful surf, potential flooding, and severe winds—residents are urged to prepare for what's coming. According to an NWS forecast, starting Saturday, beachgoers should stay away from the water with "large breaking waves of 18 to 22 feet" expected, some waves could even tower to 28 feet, under the High Surf Advisory in effect through Sunday.
The calm after the storm is just a brief respite for San Franciscans, as skies clear today, with mild temperatures and light winds after the morning's leftover showers. The reprieve is deceptive, with a series of systems queued up to unleash more rain and high surf this weekend. "High pressure is building following the recent passage of a cold front," the NWS stated, forecasting dry weather that "will prevail through Friday night." yet stating that the next cold front will bring "rain beginning late Friday night for the North Bay, Saturday morning for the Bay Area, and mid-day Saturday for the Central Coast."
Friday will also gradually increase southerly winds while high clouds blanket the blue skies. But by Sunday evening, the region will confront a "mature, gale force low pressure system" located roughly 500 miles out at sea, widening the envelope for severe weather through the midweek. "When the motion is slow, the predictability of the storm track goes out the window," NWS's Area Forecast Discussion noted, suggesting that the second system might drench the region with "2-4" inches of rain and increased risk of flooding persists for several rivers in the region.
For those planning to take to the seas, heed the NWS's maritime alert: "Shower activity will continue to diminish across the waters through the morning," and expect "gentle to moderate breezes today before southerly winds begin to increase Friday." Sailors and fishermen be warned that gale force gusts are possible by Saturday, coupled with "a building westerly swell this weekend that will result in elevated and hazardous seas." Multiple Small Craft Advisories are already in place, indicating choppy conditions well ahead of the approaching tempest.
