San Diego woke up mostly cloudy and sitting at about 72°F at San Diego International Airport this morning, but the real action is along the shoreline. A High Surf Advisory kicks in at 5 PM today, and runs through 11 PM next Tuesday, putting local beaches on notice for a rough couple of days.
Forecasters are calling for 4 to 7-foot breaking waves, with occasional sets up to 8 feet on south- and southwest-facing beaches. That combination means dangerous rip currents and pockets of beach erosion are on the table. Beachgoers are urged to stay out of the surf and steer clear of jetties and piers whenever warning flags are up or lifeguards are issuing directions.
High Surf Advisory Details
According to the National Weather Service San Diego, the advisory is being driven by a southerly swell that will peak tonight and stay elevated through next Tuesday. The NWS is warning of dangerous swimming and surfing conditions, along with strong longshore currents that can yank even seasoned swimmers offshore.
Surf is expected to back off by Wednesday, but forecasters note that another southerly swell could bump wave heights back up later in the week. In other words, this might not be a one-and-done event for surf and rip-current risk.
Beach Safety
San Diego Lifeguard Services is keeping the advice straightforward: swim only in front of attended towers, follow posted flag warnings, and stay off rocks and jetties. Anyone without strong ocean experience is better off staying on the sand until conditions calm down. For local safety tips and lifeguard tower locations, check San Diego Lifeguard Services.
Small boats and paddlecraft should also give the surf zone a wide berth while the advisory is in effect. Those big sets may look tempting from the parking lot, but they can turn ugly fast.
Rest Of The Week
Away from the breakers, inland neighborhoods are in for mostly sunny weather with highs near 79–81°F through midweek and evening lows in the upper 60s. Closer to the coast, expect cooler afternoons, with low clouds lingering in the mornings before clearing by midday.
There is a slight chance of afternoon showers, but that is limited to the higher mountain peaks. Winds will run light to moderate, generally out of the northwest. If you are plotting a beach day later in the week, keep one eye on the forecast. Surf and rip-current risk may tick back up as the weekend approaches.
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