Bay Area residents and visitors should brace for a blustery weekend, as NWS San Francisco has issued a Beach Hazards Statement, effective from Friday morning through the evening, due to an increased risk of sneaker waves along Pacific Coast beaches. Adding to the turbulent seascape, a High Surf Advisory will kick in from Friday night until early Sunday, warning of large crashing waves that could reach heights of 18 to 25 feet, except Northern Monterey Bay, which will remain under the Beach Hazards Statement for sneaker waves during the same period.
As the cold front sweeps through the region, downpours are anticipated, “Rain chances increase throughout the day, starting in the North Bay counties and then working its way south,” as reported by NWS San Francisco. While San Francisco City is expected to see up to 0.30″ of rain, the North Bay could grapple with up to 1.00″ in elevated areas. However, the weather is set to clear out this evening with the possibility of some remnants post-frontal showers; the silver lining is that winds shouldn’t cause too much of a stir, other than coastal gusts hitting 20-30mph, and perhaps up to 40 mph at higher elevations.
The forecast suggests a drier pattern setting in post-precipitation, with the NWS looking for a warming and drying trend during this period and considering the possibility of some gusty offshore winds around midweek. For mariners, the conditions at sea will be rough through Saturday. Expect hazardous conditions, including a moderate period of westerly swell and rough seas that may impact small crafts, with the NWS San Francisco advising “significant wave heights between 12 to 13ft.”…