Alert archive / California / Beach Hazards Statements in 2026
Beach Hazards Statement 8, NWS San Francisco Bay Area, CA
NWS San Francisco Bay Area, CA issued this beach hazards statement at Apr 30, 2026, 12:52 PM PDT for 6 counties in California. It took effect at May 2, 2026, 11:00 AM PDT. It was in force for 36 hr.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Apr 30, 2026, 12:52 PM PDT (19:52 UTC)
- In effect from
- May 2, 2026, 11:00 AM PDT
- Expired
- May 3, 2026, 11:00 PM PDT
- In force
- 36 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 19:55 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, 7.9 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1281 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 21 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 31 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- -22 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
974 WHUS46 KMTR 301952 CFWMTR Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service San Francisco CA 1252 PM PDT Thu Apr 30 2026 CAZ006-505-509-529-530-011200- /O.NEW.KMTR.BH.S.0008.260502T1800Z-260504T0600Z/ San Francisco- Coastal North Bay Including Point Reyes National Seashore- San Francisco Peninsula Coast-Northern Monterey Bay- Southern Monterey Bay and Big Sur Coast- 1252 PM PDT Thu Apr 30 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING... * WHAT...An incoming long-period northwesterly swell will increase the risk of sneaker waves and strong rip currents. * WHERE...Beaches along the Pacific Coast. * WHEN...From Saturday morning through Sunday evening. * IMPACTS...Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion can be expected. Sneaker waves can sweep across the shoreline without warning, pulling people into the sea from rocks, jetties and beaches. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Stay off of jetties, piers, rocks, and other waterside infrastructure. Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous surf and NEVER turn your back on the ocean. Monitor local weather, surf and tide forecasts at www.weather.gov/mtr. && $$
7 follow-up statements
197 WHUS46 KMTR 011137 CFWMTR Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service San Francisco CA 437 AM PDT Fri May 1 2026 CAZ006-505-509-529-530-012200- /O.CON.KMTR.BH.S.0008.260502T1800Z-260504T0600Z/ San Francisco- Coastal North Bay Including Point Reyes National Seashore- San Francisco Peninsula Coast-Northern Monterey Bay- Southern Monterey Bay and Big Sur Coast- 437 AM PDT Fri May 1 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING... * WHAT...An incoming long-period northwesterly swell will increase the risk of sneaker waves and strong rip currents. * WHERE...Beaches along the Pacific Coast. * WHEN...From Saturday morning through Sunday evening. * IMPACTS...Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion can be expected. Sneaker waves can sweep across the shoreline without warning, pulling people into the sea from rocks, jetties and beaches. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Stay off of jetties, piers, rocks, and other waterside infrastructure. Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous surf and NEVER turn your back on the ocean. Monitor local weather, surf and tide forecasts at www.weather.gov/mtr. && $$
497 WHUS46 KMTR 012045 CFWMTR Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service San Francisco CA 145 PM PDT Fri May 1 2026 CAZ006-505-509-529-530-021200- /O.CON.KMTR.BH.S.0008.260502T1800Z-260504T0600Z/ San Francisco- Coastal North Bay Including Point Reyes National Seashore- San Francisco Peninsula Coast-Northern Monterey Bay- Southern Monterey Bay and Big Sur Coast- 145 PM PDT Fri May 1 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING... * WHAT...An incoming long-period northwesterly swell will increase the risk of sneaker waves and strong rip currents. * WHERE...Beaches along the Pacific Coast. * WHEN...From Saturday morning through Sunday evening. * IMPACTS...Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion can be expected. Sneaker waves can sweep across the shoreline without warning, pulling people into the sea from rocks, jetties and beaches. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Stay off of jetties, piers, rocks, and other waterside infrastructure. Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous surf and NEVER turn your back on the ocean. Monitor local weather, surf and tide forecasts at www.weather.gov/mtr. && $$
340 WHUS46 KMTR 021145 CFWMTR Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service San Francisco CA 445 AM PDT Sat May 2 2026 CAZ006-505-509-529-530-022200- /O.CON.KMTR.BH.S.0008.260502T1800Z-260504T0600Z/ San Francisco- Coastal North Bay Including Point Reyes National Seashore- San Francisco Peninsula Coast-Northern Monterey Bay- Southern Monterey Bay and Big Sur Coast- 445 AM PDT Sat May 2 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM PDT THIS MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING... * WHAT...An incoming long-period northwesterly swell will increase the risk of sneaker waves and strong rip currents. * WHERE...Beaches along the Pacific Coast. * WHEN...From Saturday morning through Sunday evening. * IMPACTS...Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion can be expected. Sneaker waves can sweep across the shoreline without warning, pulling people into the sea from rocks, jetties and beaches. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Stay off of jetties, piers, rocks, and other waterside infrastructure. Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous surf and NEVER turn your back on the ocean. Monitor local weather, surf and tide forecasts at www.weather.gov/mtr. && $$
012 WHUS46 KMTR 021945 CFWMTR Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service San Francisco CA 1245 PM PDT Sat May 2 2026 CAZ006-505-509-529-530-031200- /O.CON.KMTR.BH.S.0008.000000T0000Z-260504T0600Z/ San Francisco- Coastal North Bay Including Point Reyes National Seashore- San Francisco Peninsula Coast-Northern Monterey Bay- Southern Monterey Bay and Big Sur Coast- 1245 PM PDT Sat May 2 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING... * WHAT...An incoming long-period northwesterly swell will increase the risk of sneaker waves and strong rip currents. * WHERE...Beaches along the Pacific Coast. * WHEN...Through Sunday evening. * IMPACTS...Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion can be expected. Sneaker waves can sweep across the shoreline without warning, pulling people into the sea from rocks, jetties and beaches. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Don't be fooled by an ocean that looks calm. There can be 20 to 30 minutes of small waves before a sneaker wave strikes. Avoid steep beaches and stay off of jetties, piers, rocks, and other waterside infrastructure. Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous surf and NEVER turn your back on the ocean. Monitor local weather, surf and tide forecasts at www.weather.gov/mtr. && $$
619 WHUS46 KMTR 031141 CFWMTR Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service San Francisco CA 441 AM PDT Sun May 3 2026 CAZ006-505-509-529-530-032200- /O.CON.KMTR.BH.S.0008.000000T0000Z-260504T0600Z/ San Francisco- Coastal North Bay Including Point Reyes National Seashore- San Francisco Peninsula Coast-Northern Monterey Bay- Southern Monterey Bay and Big Sur Coast- 441 AM PDT Sun May 3 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING... * WHAT...An incoming long-period northwesterly swell will increase the risk of sneaker waves and strong rip currents. * WHERE...Beaches along the Pacific Coast. * WHEN...Now through Sunday evening. * IMPACTS...Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion can be expected. Sneaker waves can sweep across the shoreline without warning, pulling people into the sea from rocks, jetties and beaches. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Don't be fooled by an ocean that looks calm. There can be 20 to 30 minutes of small waves before a sneaker wave strikes. Avoid steep beaches and stay off of jetties, piers, rocks, and other waterside infrastructure. Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous surf and NEVER turn your back on the ocean. Monitor local weather, surf and tide forecasts at www.weather.gov/mtr. && $$
549 WHUS46 KMTR 032012 CFWMTR Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service San Francisco CA 112 PM PDT Sun May 3 2026 CAZ006-505-509-529-530-040600- /O.CON.KMTR.BH.S.0008.000000T0000Z-260504T0600Z/ San Francisco- Coastal North Bay Including Point Reyes National Seashore- San Francisco Peninsula Coast-Northern Monterey Bay- Southern Monterey Bay and Big Sur Coast- 112 PM PDT Sun May 3 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...A long-period northwesterly swell will increase the risk of sneaker waves and strong rip currents. * WHERE...Beaches along the Pacific Coast. * WHEN...Now through Sunday evening. * IMPACTS...Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion can be expected. Sneaker waves can sweep across the shoreline without warning, pulling people into the sea from rocks, jetties and beaches. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Stay off of jetties, piers, rocks, and other waterside infrastructure. Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous surf and NEVER turn your back on the ocean. Monitor local weather, surf and tide forecasts at www.weather.gov/mtr. && $$
860 WHUS46 KMTR 040547 CFWMTR Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service San Francisco CA 1047 PM PDT Sun May 3 2026 CAZ006-505-509-529-530-040700- /O.EXP.KMTR.BH.S.0008.000000T0000Z-260504T0600Z/ San Francisco- Coastal North Bay Including Point Reyes National Seashore- San Francisco Peninsula Coast-Northern Monterey Bay- Southern Monterey Bay and Big Sur Coast- 1047 PM PDT Sun May 3 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT WILL EXPIRE AT 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING... The Beach Hazards Statement will be allowed to expire at 11 pm this evening. $$
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this beach hazards statement went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS San Francisco Bay Area, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this beach hazards statement went out at Apr 30, 11:21 AM PDT, 1 hour 31 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Updated at 1149 PM PDT Wed Apr 29 2026
- Warming and drying trend continues into Friday for areas away from the coast
- Overnight and early morning stratus remains in the forecast as the marine layer deepens this weekend
- Cooler conditions return this weekend with a chance of drizzle and/or light rain into early next week
Area forecast discussion, Apr 30, 11:21 AM PDT, 1 hour 31 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
1121 AM PDT Thu Apr 30 2026
...New AVIATION, MARINE...
.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 1149 PM PDT Wed Apr 29 2026
- Warming and drying trend continues into Friday for areas away
from the coast
- Overnight and early morning stratus remains in the forecast as
the marine layer deepens this weekend
- Cooler conditions return this weekend with a chance of drizzle
and/or light rain into early next week
&&
.SHORT TERM...
Issued at 1149 PM PDT Wed Apr 29 2026
(Tonight through Friday)
Very similar conditions to last night at this time, and very
similar night ahead. Coastal Stratus is building along the SF
Peninsula and around Point Reyes. This cloud cover will begin to
push inland over the next few hours filling around the bays as
pockets of fog form in the valleys across the region.
Again this is a good indicator of the marine layer staying intact
despite the ridging pattern to the north. This ridge has been
responsible for the warming trend for the more inland areas, while a
cutoff low to the south has allowed for the marine layer stick
around and keep the coast on the cool side. The pressure gradient
between the ridge and low has been a big factor in the breeziness
in the marine environment and the immediate coast.
Thursday sees the marine influence keeping coastal and slightly
inland temperatures similar to previous days, with a few spots being
slightly cooler as coastals stratus lingers into the afternoon in a
few spot. The more inland areas not affected by the marine layer
will continue the warming trend. Highs in the far interior look to
peak in the low to mid 80s, and the coast will stay around 60
degrees, and all the areas in between will stick to the 70s.
&&
.LONG TERM...
Issued at 1149 PM PDT Wed Apr 29 2026
(Friday night through next Wednesday)
Coastal cloud cover will linger into the afternoon again on Friday,
and the marine layer stays strong, so the coast will stay on the
cool side. The beginning of a shift in the upper level pattern will
prevent the North Bay from continued warming, with most areas seeing
similar highs to Thursday, if not slightly cooler. Other more inland
areas will see the warming trend peak expect more areas to break
into the 80s and the mid to upper 80s in the far interior with maybe
a few spots breaking 90 degrees in southern Monterey Co.
The pattern change really goes in effect Friday night as the ridge
pushes east and another low pressure and trough builds along the
Pacific coast. Higher clouds will build that night, and the
reduction in pressure will allow for the marine layer to expand and
push farther inland. These factors, along with increasing onshore
flow, will allow for a strong cooling trend through the weekend.
Along with cooling temperatures, the low pressure looks to move
inland over the Bay Area Sunday night. This will start with drizzly
conditions early Sunday with chances for scattered light rain
possible later that night as the low centers over the region. Light
rain and widespread drizzle chances look to last through most of
Monday with some potential for the low to slow its momentum and
offer precip chance into Tuesday before exiting.
While rain chances are good, overall rainfall amounts will be light.
Most areas will only see trace amounts to a few hundredths of an
inch of rain from this system.
Behind it, most models hint at another ridge building quickly in the
midweek. Cloud cover will erode, the marine layer will compress, and
temperatures will warm again.
&&
.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1117 AM PDT Thu Apr 30 2026
Coastal locations are holding on to MVFR CIGs with VFR returning
to the remainder of the region. Onshore winds will increase this
afternoon and persist through about sunset before diminishing
slightly. The marine layer is forecast to deepen overnight to
around 1,500 ft allowing for a deeper inland penetration of
stratus. Thus, IFR/MVFR conditions are most likely late this
evening and into Friday morning. The greatest potential for LIFR
conditions are in the North Bay, San Francisco Peninsula, and
around the Monterey Bay Terminals late tonight and into Friday
morning. Fairly high confidence in sub-MVFR with medium confidence
in LIFR overnight. Onshore winds increase once again Friday
afternoon with inland conditions returning to VFR between 17Z-20Z.
Vicinity of SFO...Westerly winds dominate this TAF period with
breezy conditions expected Thursday afternoon into the evening.
The winds should decrease over night and sky cover will begin to
transition from VFR into MVFR around 03Z Friday. Moderate
confidence that MVFR CIGs will persist around 09Z Friday and
remain before mixing out by late morning Friday with the help of
increased winds and daytime heating. There may be a few lower
cloud decks in the mix around 14Z, but confidence is too low to
claim as a prevailing condition.
SFO Bridge Approach...VFR conditions will prevail until the
evening when MVFR CIGs begin to impact the Bay. Winds will have a
NW to W component through the TAF period with the wind speed trend
to match that of SFO's. MVFR CIGs are expected around 04Z though
will be slightly higher at times than those found directly over
SFO. The stratus deck should clear by late Friday morning.
Monterey Bay Terminals...MVFR at KMRY, while KSNS has returned to
VFR. There is medium to high confidence for several hours of VFR
conditions at both terminals before MVFR CIGs return early
evening. CIGs lower to IFR (40%-80%) and potentially as low as
LIFR (20%-40%) late tonight or early Friday morning and persist
through much of the morning. CIGs are then forecast to gradually
lift and scatter out between 16Z-18Z Friday.
&&
.MARINE...
(Today through Tuesday)
Issued at 1117 AM PDT Thu Apr 30 2026
A fresh to strong northwest breeze continues over the coastal
waters into this weekend. Winds will be strongest over the
northern outer waters where winds will result in moderate seas
building to between 10 to 12 feet. Winds decrease and seas subside
by late Saturday with conditions improving through the weekend.
&&
.MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...None.
PZ...Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to 9 PM PDT this
evening for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm-Pt Arena to Pt
Reyes 0-10 nm.
Small Craft Advisory until 9 PM PDT this evening for Pigeon Pt
to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM-Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.
Small Craft Advisory until 3 PM PDT Friday for Pt Arena to Pt
Reyes 10-60 NM.
&&
SHORT TERM...Murdock
LONG TERM....Murdock
AVIATION...RGass/AN
MARINE...RGass
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Beach Hazards Statements in California, 2026Every beach hazards statement in 2026
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.