As we brace for a wet weekend followed by a damp workweek, the National Weather Service San Francisco is cautioning residents about hazardous beach conditions and advising everyone to stay vigilant. According to NWS San Francisco, from Friday night through Monday, we're expecting long period swells along the coast that could cause breaking waves up to a nerve-wracking 20 feet along west-facing beaches. This sets up an ominous stage for potential sneaker waves and stronger-than-normal rip currents, not to mention it's a recipe for life-threatening situations for unwary beachgoers.
In addition, those relying on the NOAA Weather Radio station at Big Rock Ridge for updates may need to look elsewhere. The station KDX54 (Mt. Tam) is offline due to the site's power issues. The estimated restoration time remains in the air, though hopes are pinned on the next 24 hours. To stay informed, residents can tune in to alternate programming from Sonoma County and San Francisco to get their updates, as per NWS San Francisco.
Thunderstorms may play a cameo role this Sunday, with NWS forecasting a 10-15% chance across the Bay Area and Central Coast. Short bursts of heavy rainfall are also on the table, adding another layer of intricacy to this climatic collage. The message from NWS is as clear as the impending storms: "when thunder roars, go indoors! See a flash, dash inside!"
Travelers should note that NWS also projects light rainfall this weekend that could paint our commutes with brushes of minor flooding in low-lying areas. The second act of this watery spectacle is due Tuesday morning, likely continuing its run through Thursday evening. Rainfall totals are modest by expectations, ranging from 0.10" to 0.50", though higher elevations could see up to 0.75" – as detailed in the Area Forecast Discussion by NWS San Francisco.
Boaters and beachgoers should particularly heed warnings for this weekend and the start of the week: The marine conditions are billed to be rough, with significant wave heights that make it advisable to steer clear of the water. Likewise, keep a respectful distance from jetties, piers, and other waterside locations that could become hazardous. "Everyone should remain out of the water due to life-threatening surf conditions," the NWS advises, underlining the seriousness of the situation.
For up-to-date aviation and marine information, those skies and seas won't be friendly for some time, with a mix of LIFR-VFR conditions due to fog and stratus and rain showers that could disrupt visibility, according to NWS's aviation and marine forecasts.
