'Heavy Rainfall,' Dangerous Surf In Santa Cruz County As Storm Heads South

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — National Weather Service officials expected "heavy rainfall" to pass through Santa Cruz County Monday.

The Central Coast was expected to see the highest amount of rainfall in the hours to come as a "weak to potentially moderate" atmospheric river spread southward over the Bay Area. An atmospheric river is a long, narrow channel of water vapor akin to a river in the sky.

Officials continued to monitor the CZU fire burn scar for the possibility of debris flows. Debris flow is a risk in sloped areas following a large wildfire and can cause more injuries than the wildfire itself.

The weather service said early Monday that another 2 to 5 inches of rain were possible in the Santa Cruz Mountains. As much as 10 to 12 inches of rain was possible in some areas of the Big Sur coast.

Rain should shift toward the Big Sur coastline and Santa Lucia Mountains in the afternoon and evening.

Thunderstorms remained possible Monday and into Tuesday off the coast.

Flood advisories were extended through 10:30 a.m. Monday in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

A wind advisory in Santa Cruz County was slated to expire at 4 p.m. Monday. A high surf advisory remained in place until 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Breaking waves 20 to 25 feet high were possible, the weather service said.

Rip currents and cold water can be fatal. Cold shock may strike within a minute; a person could become incapacitated in 10 minutes, and hypothermia can set in after an hour, according to the weather service.

People should always stay off of rocks or coastal jetties, watch children and pets and never turn their backs to the ocean.

California's high waves, cold water and sudden drop-offs were a few of the things that make some beaches a hazard to people along the shoreline, according to California State Parks. Limited lifeguards were available, and rip currents — which sweep people away from the shore — and unpredictable and unusually tall "sleeper waves" posed a threat to unsuspecting beachgoers.

"Not all beaches along the California coastline are recommended for swimming or wading," state parks said on its website. "The very things that make these areas such spectacular places to look at and enjoy can be lethal to those caught unaware along the shoreline."

Eight Ocean Safety Tips

Here are some ocean safety tips, courtesy of California State Parks.

• Grab a lifeguard if possible, or call 911 if you see someone who needs help.
• Try to stay calm and keep eyes on the person in trouble. Be prepared to clearly articulate your location, and stay on the phone with the dispatcher if calling 911.
• Throw a floating object to a person caught in a rip current, and encourage them to swim horizontally along the shoreline, not toward it. Direct them to swim toward shore when they are out of the current.
• Leave rescues to professionally trained rescuers.
• Never swim alone or fight the current.
• Float or calmly tread water if you can't escape the current.
• Wave your arms and yell for help if you can't reach shore.
• If in doubt, don't go out. Be cautious, especially if no lifeguards are at the beach.

"Remember," state parks said. "Many people drown while trying to save someone else from a rip current."