Overview
- The National Weather Service has issued Beach Hazards Statements for Bay Area beaches from Sonoma County through the Big Sur coast from Saturday morning through Tuesday afternoon and extended warnings for much of Southern California through Sunday evening.
- Forecasters say long‑period swells will raise the risk of sneaker waves and strong rip currents, with south‑ and southwest‑facing Bay Area beaches seeing breakers up to 10 feet and Southern California surf generally 3 to 7 feet with possible minor coastal flooding at evening high tides.
- The swell was generated by eastern Pacific storms including Hurricane Fausto, the season’s first hurricane with sustained winds near 80 mph, and Tropical Storm Elida, which together sent energy northward while remaining well offshore.
- Lifeguards have already reported heavy demand — Newport Beach crews made about 100 rescues in a single day and issued more than 3,000 warnings — and officials are urging people to stay out of the water and off jetties, piers and rocks.
- This event is part of an unusually active hazardous‑surf stretch for California — the NWS Bay Area office has issued multiple beach hazard statements since May — raising the risk of more rescues, temporary beach closures and strain on local emergency services.