Rip Current, Sneaker Wave Warning At Marin County Beaches

MARIN COUNTY, CA – The National Weather Service is warning residents and visitors in the San Francisco Bay Area, including Marin County, of an increased risk of rip currents, longshore currents and sneaker waves at beaches in the region Monday through Wednesday.

The long-period southerly swell hitting the coast will mostly impact south-facing beaches along the Central Coast from Sonoma County through Monterey County, such as Stinson Beach in Marin, according to the National Weather Service.

The largest waves are expected to start Monday night when swell heights will reach 4 feet, weather officials said. Breaking waves could reach between 7 to 9 feet at some beaches.

The increased swell is expected to dissipate late Wednesday morning and continue to decrease later in the week, according to the National Weather Service.

Rip currents are fast, powerful wave patterns that move away from shore, while sneaker waves are very large waves that usually outsize other waves and longshore currents move parallel to the beach.

Beachgoers should never turn their back to the water, according to the National Weather Service. Weather officials urged swimmers to avoid swimming in areas with large shore breaks and always swim near a lifeguard. Beachgoers should also stay off rocks and coastal jetties, thin strips of land between the beach and open water.

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