Widespread Rain, Potentially Life-Threatening Surf: Bay Area Forecast

BAY AREA — Rain will be widespread around the Bay Area on Friday as the coastline is hit with pounding surf. The National Weather Service issued a Beach Hazards Statement, and further warns of "dangerous, potentially life-threatening surf."

The weather service advises residents and visitors that widespread light rain will start in the North Bay late tonight, then spread across much of the region on Friday.

The biggest threat in coming days will come from the Pacific Ocean, rather than from the sky. A Beach Hazards Statement warns of a moderate to high risk of sneaker waves between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Friday.

An advisory issued earlier Thursday was more dire, noting that "dangerous, potentially life-threatening surf" could be expected Friday into Saturday, and again Monday and Tuesday. Specifically, high surf with breaking waves of 20 to 30 feet, rip currents, sneaker waves, and minor coastal flooding may be experienced.

The risk includes all Pacific Ocean and Monterey Bay beaches, but not San Francisco Bay.

The weather service gave the following tips:

• Stay out of the water.
• Never turn your back on the ocean.
• Prepare for coastal flooding and beach erosion in vulnerable areas.

It was just last week when powerful waves broke off the end of the Santa Cruz wharf, sunk boats at the Santa Cruz Marina, and pulled multiple people out to sea who were on beaches. The Santa Cruz City Manager called it "one of the largest swell events that Santa Cruz has experienced in decades."

While beach hazards continue into next week, residents can put away their umbrellas after Friday, as the weather service does not see any more rain on the horizon for at least the next two weeks.

The North Bay could see a bit over a half-inch of rain in the valleys on Friday and up to 1 inch in the coastal ranges. San Francisco is expected to get a third of an inch, while Monterey will only see a tenth of an inch.

The highest wind gusts are predicted at 40 mph on mountaintops ahead of the front.

High pressure is expected to keep rain out of the forecast at least through next week, and possibly for 14 days, with above normal temperatures for this time of year.