Beach Hazard For Santa Cruz Ahead Of Storm

SANTA CRUZ, CA — A Beach Hazard has been issued for Santa Cruz and the entire Bay Area coast, from northern Sonoma County to Big Sur. The hazard is in effect from Thursday at 3 a.m. until Saturday at 3 a.m.

A storm that could bring up to an inch of rain to the Bay Area starting Wednesday could also bring dangerous rip currents, and sneaker waves of up to 12 feet, the National Weather Service said. On Friday, waves might reach up to 18 feet in surf zones, NWS said.

In Santa Cruz, rain is expected to start late Wednesday night, according to the National Weather Service. Winds are expected to increase to 15 to 25 miles an hour after midnight, with gusts of up to 25 miles per hour possible. On Thursday, anywhere from a quarter and a half of an inch of rain is expected, along with gusts of up to 23 miles per hour.

Thunderstorms are possible Friday night that could produce hail, the National Weather Service said. There is a 50 percent chance of rain Friday before noon prior to a partly sunny afternoon.

Anyone near the coast is advised to stay out of the water, far from the shoreline, stay off coastal rocks and jetties, keep children close, pet on leashes, and never turn their back to the ocean. See here for more information.