Alert archive / California / Beach Hazards Statements in 2020

Beach Hazards Statement 9, NWS San Francisco Bay Area, CA

September 24, 20206 counties in California

NWS San Francisco Bay Area, CA issued this beach hazards statement at Sep 24, 2020, 7:40 AM PDT for 6 counties in California. It took effect at Sep 24, 2020, 5:00 PM PDT. It was in force for 27 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Sep 24, 2020, 7:40 AM PDT (14:40 UTC)
In effect from
Sep 24, 2020, 5:00 PM PDT
Expired
Sep 25, 2020, 8:00 PM PDT
In force
27 hr
Issued by
NWS San Francisco Bay Area, CA

Counties City and County of San Francisco, CA, Marin County, CA, Monterey County, CA, San Mateo County, CA, Santa Cruz County, CA, Sonoma County, CA

The radar

The San Francisco radar (KMUX), 53 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 14:46 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Oakland, CA (KOAK), launched 12:00Z, 2.7 hours before the alert went out and 26 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Oakland, CA at 12:00Z on 2020-09-24Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Oakland, CA at 12:00Z on 2020-09-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -47 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
543 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
23 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-47 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
20 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

509 
WHUS46 KMTR 241440
CFWMTR

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
740 AM PDT Thu Sep 24 2020

...Large breaking waves and increased risk of dangerous rip 
currents for west to northwest facing beaches from Coastal Sonoma
County to Coastal Monterey County...

.The first true northwest swell of the season will arrive this
afternoon and impact the coastline through Friday afternoon 
before subsiding. Swell heights of 10 to 12 feet at periods of 15 
to 16 seconds are expected.

CAZ006-505-509-530-250400-
/O.NEW.KMTR.BH.S.0009.200925T0000Z-200925T2100Z/
San Francisco-
Coastal North Bay Including Point Reyes National Seashore-
San Francisco Peninsula Coast-
Southern Monterey Bay and Big Sur Coast-
740 AM PDT Thu Sep 24 2020

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM PDT THIS AFTERNOON
THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON...

* WHAT...Large breaking waves of 15 to 20 feet with dangerous rip
  currents expected. Steep beaches may experience breaking waves
  in excess of 20 feet. 

* WHERE...Coastline from Sonoma County southward through Monterey
  County. In particular west to northwest facing beaches...
  including but not limited to...Ocean Beach, Montara State Beach,
  and Marina State Beach.

* WHEN...From 5 PM PDT this afternoon through 2 PM PDT Friday 
  afternoon.

* IMPACTS...Increased risk of ocean drowning. Rip currents can 
  pull swimmers and surfers out to sea. Large breaking waves can 
  cause injury, wash people off beaches and rocks, and capsize 
  small boats near shore.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Please check with your local authorities on
  potential beach closures. Steep beaches will have a higher risk
  of rip current activity.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous swimming and surf 
conditions.

Rip currents are typically more frequent and stronger in the
vicinity of jetties...inlets...and piers. Swimmers caught in a rip
current should swim parallel to the coast to escape the rip
current before trying to swim for shore. Large breaking waves can
lead to back and neck injuries. Swimmers should avoid swimming in
areas of large shore break and always swim near a lifeguard. Never
turn your back on the ocean!

&&

$$
4 follow-up statements
299 
WHUS46 KMTR 250306
CFWMTR

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
806 PM PDT Thu Sep 24 2020

...Large breaking waves and increased risk of dangerous rip
currents for west to northwest facing beaches from Coastal Sonoma
County to Coastal Monterey County...

.Increased northwest swell will affect the coastline through 2 pm 
Friday afternoon before subsiding. Swell heights of 10 to 12 feet
at periods of 15 to 16 seconds are expected.

CAZ006-505-509-530-251600-
/O.CON.KMTR.BH.S.0009.000000T0000Z-200925T2100Z/
San Francisco-
Coastal North Bay Including Point Reyes National Seashore-
San Francisco Peninsula Coast-
Southern Monterey Bay and Big Sur Coast-
806 PM PDT Thu Sep 24 2020

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH 2 PM PDT FRIDAY
AFTERNOON...

* WHAT...Large breaking waves of 15 to 20 feet with dangerous 
  rip currents expected. Steep beaches may experience breaking 
  waves in excess of 20 feet. 

* WHERE...Coastline from Sonoma County southward through 
  Monterey County. In particular west to northwest facing 
  beaches... including but not limited to...Ocean Beach, Montara 
  State Beach, and Marina State Beach. 

* WHEN...Through 2 PM PDT Friday afternoon. 

* IMPACTS...Increased risk of ocean drowning. Rip currents can 
  pull swimmers and surfers out to sea. Large breaking waves can 
  cause injury, wash people off beaches and rocks, and capsize 
  small boats near shore. 

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Please check with your local authorities 
  on potential beach closures. Steep beaches will have a higher 
  risk of rip current activity. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous swimming and surf
conditions.

Rip currents are typically more frequent and stronger in the
vicinity of jetties...inlets...and piers. Swimmers caught in a
rip current should swim parallel to the coast to escape the rip
current before trying to swim for shore. Large breaking waves can
lead to back and neck injuries. Swimmers should avoid swimming in
areas of large shore break and always swim near a lifeguard.
Never turn your back on the ocean!

&&

$$
334 
WHUS46 KMTR 250926
CFWMTR

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
226 AM PDT Fri Sep 25 2020

...Large breaking waves and increased risk of dangerous rip
currents for west to northwest facing beaches from Coastal Sonoma
County to Coastal Monterey County...

.Large northwest swell will affect the coastline through Friday.
Swell heights of 10 to 12 feet at periods of 15 to 16 seconds are expected.
Swell will subside by Friday evening.

CAZ006-505-509-530-260300-
/O.EXT.KMTR.BH.S.0009.000000T0000Z-200926T0300Z/
San Francisco-
Coastal North Bay Including Point Reyes National Seashore-
San Francisco Peninsula Coast-
Southern Monterey Bay and Big Sur Coast-
226 AM PDT Fri Sep 25 2020

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Large breaking waves of 15 to 20 feet with dangerous 
  rip currents expected. Steep beaches may experience breaking 
  waves in excess of 20 feet. 

* WHERE...Coastal North Bay Including Point Reyes National 
  Seashore, Southern Monterey Bay and Big Sur Coast, San 
  Francisco Peninsula Coast and San Francisco Counties.

* WHEN...Through this evening.

* IMPACTS...Increased risk of ocean drowning. Rip currents can 
  pull swimmers and surfers out to sea. Large breaking waves can 
  cause injury, wash people off beaches and rocks, and capsize 
  small boats near shore. 

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Please check with your local authorities 
  on potential beach closures. Steep beaches will have a higher 
  risk of rip current activity.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous swimming conditions.

&&

$$
046 
WHUS46 KMTR 251152
CFWMTR

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
452 AM PDT Fri Sep 25 2020

...Large breaking waves and increased risk of dangerous rip
currents for west to northwest facing beaches from Coastal Sonoma
County to Coastal Monterey County...

At 4 AM PDT Pt Piedras Blancas Buoy 28 reported a swell of 16 
feet at 14 to 16 second periods. Other buoys along the central 
California coast were reporting 11 to 13 foot swell. Large 
northwest swell will affect the coastline through Friday before
subsiding by Friday evening.

CAZ530-260300-
/O.CAN.KMTR.BH.S.0009.000000T0000Z-200926T0300Z/
/O.NEW.KMTR.SU.Y.0002.200925T1152Z-200926T0300Z/
Southern Monterey Bay and Big Sur Coast-
452 AM PDT Fri Sep 25 2020

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Large swells of 13 to 16 feet with a 15 second period.
  Large breaking waves of 15 to 20 feet with dangerous rip 
  currents expected.

* WHERE...Southern Monterey Bay and Big Sur Coast County.

* WHEN...Until 8 PM PDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and 
  localized beach erosion.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Please check with your local authorities 
  on potential beach closures. Steep beaches will have a higher 
  risk of rip current activity.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to
dangerous surf conditions.

&&

$$

CAZ006-505-509-260300-
/O.CON.KMTR.BH.S.0009.000000T0000Z-200926T0300Z/
San Francisco-
Coastal North Bay Including Point Reyes National Seashore-
San Francisco Peninsula Coast-
452 AM PDT Fri Sep 25 2020

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS
EVENING...

* WHAT...Large breaking waves of 15 to 20 feet with dangerous 
  rip currents expected. Steep beaches may experience breaking 
  waves in excess of 20 feet.

* WHERE...Coastal North Bay Including Point Reyes National 
  Seashore, Southern Monterey Bay and Big Sur Coast, San 
  Francisco Peninsula Coast and San Francisco Counties.

* WHEN...Through this evening.

* IMPACTS...Increased risk of ocean drowning. Rip currents can 
  pull swimmers and surfers out to sea. Large breaking waves can 
  cause injury, wash people off beaches and rocks, and capsize 
  small boats near shore.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Please check with your local authorities 
  on potential beach closures. Steep beaches will have a higher 
  risk of rip current activity.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous swimming conditions.

&&

$$
280 
WHUS46 KMTR 260247
CFWMTR

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
747 PM PDT Fri Sep 25 2020

CAZ530-260400-
/O.EXP.KMTR.SU.Y.0002.000000T0000Z-200926T0300Z/
Southern Monterey Bay and Big Sur Coast-
747 PM PDT Fri Sep 25 2020

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM PDT THIS EVENING...

Decreasing waves have been measured at the Monterey buoy which
currently is at 11 feet 14 seconds. These waves are expected to
continue to decrease through the evening justifying allowing the
advisory to expire. However, caution is still advised while it is
decreasing through Saturday morning. Never turn your back to the
ocean.

$$

CAZ006-505-509-260400-
/O.EXP.KMTR.BH.S.0009.000000T0000Z-200926T0300Z/
San Francisco-
Coastal North Bay Including Point Reyes National Seashore-
San Francisco Peninsula Coast-
747 PM PDT Fri Sep 25 2020

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM PDT THIS EVENING...

Waves continue to decrease and are being measured by buoys between
10 to 11 feet from 12-14 seconds. The decreasing nature of the
wave heights is justifying allowing the statement to expire. 
However, caution is still advised through Saturday morning for
breaking waves and rip currents. Never turn your back to the ocean.

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS San Francisco Bay Area, CA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 24, 2:09 PM PDTSmall Craft AdvisoryMTR55 hr

Nearby

Beach Hazards Statements in California, 2020Every beach hazards statement in 2020

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.