Weather service issues high surf advisory as storm pushes large waves toward Bay

Starting Thursday at noon, Bay Area beachgoers should be wary of dangerous surf conditions caused by a large storm in the Gulf of Alaska, according to the National Weather Service.

The storm brought high winds to Alaska Tuesday and Wednesday, which created large waves that are moving south into the Bay Area, according to Spencer Tangen, an NWS meteorologist.

Tangen said:

“There is a high surf advisory from Sonoma County all the way down to Santa Cruz (and) down to Monterey County and down to the San Luis Obispo coastline.” 

“We haven’t seen waves like this since at least last spring.”

The advisory is in effect until 9 p.m. Friday.

Tangen said:

“People should use extra caution when they’re at the beach.” 

Coastal seas are expected to run from 8 feet to 12 feet during the day Thursday, building from 10 feet to 13 feet Friday. Breaking waves at beaches are expected to crest from between 15 feet to 20 feet, according to NWS officials.

The largest waves are expected Thursday night through late Friday morning.

In addition to the storm effect, Tangen said:

“(Beaches) are transitioning from summer to winter mode, which means that waves can travel pretty high up the beach and crash close to the shore.” 

The high surf brings with it an increased risk of rip currents, which can carry swimmers and surfers out to sea.

With water temperatures ranging from the mid- to upper-50s, people dragged into the ocean can quickly suffer hypothermia and are at risk of shock, Tangen said.

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