The biggest swell in years pounded California's coast over the weekend of Nov. 14–15, closing Santa Cruz beaches, flooding Pacifica streets and drawing thousands of spectators to overlooks from Sonoma County to Half Moon Bay. The National Weather Service has a high surf advisory in effect for the Bay Area coastline through 4 a.m. Tuesday, with dangerous beach conditions expected along the entire Pacific Coast.
Waves by the numbers
A buoy off Point Reyes recorded a significant wave height of 31 feet on Saturday morning, according to data from the Coastal Data Information Program at UC San Diego, the Press Democrat reported. A separate buoy off Monterey recorded waves reaching 32 feet, with swells arriving at intervals of about 21 seconds, the National Weather Service said. Significant wave height is the average of the highest third of waves, so individual waves ran considerably taller. Forecasters warned the swell could push waves past 40 feet at fully exposed beaches, with occasional sets surpassing 60 feet.
Sonoma Coast draws the crowds
Thousands of spectators lined headland overlooks from Bodega Head to Duncan's Landing on Saturday to watch some of the largest waves seen in years crash against the shoreline, while beaches below stayed largely empty, the Press Democrat reported. The waves battered the Sonoma, Mendocino and Humboldt county coastlines as the storm-driven swell moved through.
Pacifica and the Bay Area
In Pacifica, waves crashed over the seawall at Rockaway Beach and onto the street, sent a sneaker wave through a parking lot near the Taco Bell Cantina and battered the Pacifica Pier, CBS News Bay Area reported. At Mavericks Beach in Half Moon Bay, waves were estimated as high as 50 feet at some breaking points, and one sneaker wave caught spectators on a hillside; a San Jose couple described being hit by the water, without injury.
In San Francisco, residents picked up sandbags and multiple beaches closed as heavy rain and pounding surf moved through, while Public Works crews cleared storm drains, ABC7 Bay Area reported. Friday's storm also flooded parts of Marin County, including a stretch of Highway 101 in Larkspur and neighborhoods along Corte Madera Creek.
Santa Cruz and Monterey
All Santa Cruz city beaches and the Municipal Wharf closed from 10 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Sunday, with forecasts of 25- to 35-foot breaking waves and occasional 50-foot sets, ABC7 reported. In Capitola, crews built sand berms to protect waterfront businesses, and the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office issued evacuation warnings for parts of Capitola Village, Pot Belly Beach Road and Las Olas Drive and Beach Drive in Rio Del Mar. Monterey County deputies urged residents and visitors to stay away from beaches, jetties and rocks through the weekend.
King tides on the horizon
Beyond the surf, Caltrans is watching for king tides — exceptionally high tides that can flood low-lying coastal areas — that could affect roads in Alameda and Oakland from late November through February, including Doolittle Drive (state Route 61) and the Webster and Posey tubes (state Route 260). The upcoming king-tide periods are Nov. 22–28, Dec. 20–27, Jan. 18–24 and Feb. 16–22; no closures are currently scheduled, the agency said.
Staying safe near the water
Officials urge people to stay off jetties, piers, rocks and other waterside structures, and never turn their backs on the ocean. Sneaker waves can sweep across the shoreline without warning and pull people into the sea, according to the National Weather Service Bay Area office. The U.S. Coast Guard issued a similar warning Friday, and forecasters suggest watching the surf from webcams rather than the shoreline.
