Massive Waves Slammed Into CA Coast, Flooding Streets As More Surf Looms

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Massive waves, some possibly reaching as high as 60 feet in some locations, slammed into parts of California's coastline on Saturday, flooding streets, bringing life-threatening conditions to areas and prompting officials to warn people to stay out of the water.

The National Weather Service issued a high surf warning for the San Francisco Bay Area and Central Coast on Saturday, forecasting breaking waves of 25 to 35 feet, with occasional sets reaching 40 to 60 feet in some areas, such as Mavericks Beach.

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The warning covers the North Bay, San Francisco Peninsula, Monterey Bay and Big Sur and remains in effect until Sunday at 4 a.m. PST, the NWS said.

A coastal flood advisory is also in effect until 6 p.m. PST.

The agency offered a dire warning to those tempted by the water.

"These waves bring tremendous power that will overpower anyone in the water and cause coastal erosion. The risk of drowning is very high this weekend. Do not go in the water, avoid climbing on the rocks or leaning over seawalls, and never turn your back on the ocean," NWS forecasters said.

While the waves might "abate somewhat on Sunday," a new round of high swell is expected to bring rough surf to the area again on Monday, the agency said.

The powerful northwest swell is being generated by a series of storm systems moving through the region, forecasters said.

The enormous waves are some of the biggest in the Bay area in more than a decade, and have already caused problems along the coast, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

In Pacifica, waves repeatedly crashed over a seawall on Saturday, sending water, rocks and debris into nearby streets and threatening coastal homes, the report said. Flooding also affected access near Highway 1.

A buoy off Point Reyes recorded wave heights of 31 feet Saturday, the second-highest reading in the buoy's nearly three decades of records, the Weather Channel said. The surf flooded streets, pushing water hundreds of feet inland.

Individual waves may have exceeded 50 feet at further offshore buoys, but there are few official measurements, reports said.

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie also addressed the coastal conditions in a social media post on Saturday.

"Large waves are hitting San Francisco today, with the National Weather Service forecasting waves reaching up to 35 feet. For your safety, please stay out of the water and never turn your back on the ocean—strong currents and sneaker waves are a serious risk," Lurie wrote. "Stay safe everyone and enjoy our coastline from a safe distance."

The impacts have also extended beyond the Bay Area. In Santa Cruz, city beaches and the Municipal Wharf were closed as a precaution, while Santa Cruz County officials issued evacuation warnings for several low-lying coastal areas, including portions of Capitola Village and Rio Del Mar.

In Monterey County, large waves washed rocks and sand onto streets in Carmel Point, prompting road closures, including portions of Scenic Road, Local News Matters reported.