California, 2023Rip Current in California, November 25 to 26, 2023
November 25 to 26, 2023 · NWS MTR · 1 event in 1 county or zone
A rip current at Martin's Beach in Half Moon Bay swept four people out to sea on Saturday November 25. The four had gotten too close to the water, lost their footing, and went into the water.
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- Deaths
- 1
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
A rip current at Martin's Beach in Half Moon Bay swept four people out to sea on Saturday November 25. The four had gotten too close to the water, lost their footing, and went into the water. Two of the people self-rescued, the other two, a 5-year-old girl and her grandfather (a 54-year-old man), were swept out to sea. The timing of the event is unclear, but the Coast Guard search started at 1:20 PM. The girl was recovered and taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The man remains missing, and the search was called off the next day. At the time of the incident, the SF Bar buoy (46237) reported wave heights of 7 to 8 feet at 18 to 20 seconds. Winds were offshore (out of the E/NE) generally around 10 mph near the Half Moon Bay coastline.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Nov 25, 1:15 PM PST, 5 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Nov 25, 1:15 PM PST, 5 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
115 PM PST Sat Nov 25 2023
...New SYNOPSIS, SHORT TERM, LONG TERM...
.SYNOPSIS...
Issued at 111 PM PST Sat Nov 25 2023
Dry and seasonably cool throughout the weekend. Chances for rain
return by the middle part of next week.
&&
.SHORT TERM...
(This evening through Sunday)
Issued at 111 PM PST Sat Nov 25 2023
Weak northerly flow persists across the region and as a result
temperatures will range from the range from the upper 40s in the
regions highest peaks, to upper 50s along the immediate coast, to
mid 60s across the interior. Overnight temperatures will cool
rapidly across the interior and less so near the coast. Thus, a
Freeze Warning is in effect for tonight into Sunday morning for
the Southern Salinas Valley and portions of San Benito County, and
a Frost Advisory for the North Bay Valleys.
On Sunday, expecting another day of pleasant weather with a few
passing high clouds.
&&
.LONG TERM...
(Sunday night through next Friday)
Issued at 111 PM PST Sat Nov 25 2023
Monday will feature mostly dry conditions before turning more
unsettled for the latter part of the week. Rain chances increase
Tuesday night into Wednesday and the linger throughout the
remainder of the week as a couple of weak disturbances move
through. However, not currently anticipating any major flooding
concerns.
&&
.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 925 AM PST Sat Nov 25 2023
VFR continues to prevail with continued offshore winds an dry air
aloft. Winds is expected to remain offshore but some terminals (KSTS
and KOAK) will shift a bit northerly this tonight and tomorrow
afternoon, respectively, but winds will remain light to moderate
through the TAF period.
Vicinity of SFO...VFR will prevail through the TAF period with
offshore NE/E light to moderate winds.
SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to SFO.
Monterey Bay Terminals...VFR through TAF period with light east to
southeast cold air drainage winds for KMRY with KSNS experiencing 10
to 15 knots in the Salinas Valley. Winds will shift a bit northerly
this afternoon temporarily but will remain light to moderate.
&&
.MARINE...
(Today through Thursday)
Issued at 925 AM PST Sat Nov 25 2023
Hazardous seas continuing for small craft vessels between 10-14
feet through the weekend with long swell periods. Winds will be
relatively light over the waters through most of the first half of
the work week.
&&
.BEACHES...
Issued at 4:00 AM PST Sat Nov 25 2023
Long period waves will be energetic in the surf zone leading to
an increased risk of sneaker waves especially for northwest-facing
beaches. The Beach Hazards Statement remains in effect for the
coastline from Sonoma County down to Monterey County through 8 AM
Sunday. Sneaker wave risk diminishes by Sunday afternoon as swell
period decreases, but the waters may still be turbulent with larger
breaking waves, so caution is still advised. In addition to the
increased sneaker wave risk, high astronomical tides are expected
this weekend, which may bring runup farther along the beach.
Beachgoers and tide poolers should use caution and watch out for
unexpected waves that can sweep you off your feet.
&&
.CLIMATE...
Issued at 111 PM PST Sat Nov 25 2023
Record low temperatures at the long term climatological sites
Nov 26th and Nov 27th.
Location Nov 26th Nov 27th
Santa Rosa 26 in 1952 25 in 1907
Kentfield 30 in 1948,1936 29 in 1948
Napa 29 in 1952,1896 25 in 1928
Livermore 28 in 2010,1952 27 in 1948
San Francisco 41 in 1919 38 in 1919
SFO Airport 36 in 1952 37 in 1952
Redwood City 31 in 2010 32 in 2015
Half Moon Bay 30 in 2002 31 in 2005
Oakland downtown 39 in 2010 40 in 2015
San Jose 25 in 1896 26 in 1896
Salinas Airport 32 in 1940 30 in 1948
King City 25 in 1952 25 in 1952
&&
.MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...Beach Hazards Statement through Sunday morning for CAZ006-505-
509-529-530.
Frost Advisory from 10 PM this evening to 9 AM PST Sunday for
CAZ506.
Freeze Warning from 10 PM this evening to 9 AM PST Sunday for
CAZ516-518.
PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PST Sunday for Pt Arena to Pt
Reyes 10-60 NM.
Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PST Sunday for Pigeon Pt to Pt
Pinos 10-60 NM.
&&
SHORT TERM...RGass
LONG TERM....RGass
AVIATION...SO
MARINE...SO
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www.youtube.com/nwsbayareaRip Current, San Francisco Peninsula Coast
- When
- November 25, 1:20 PM PST to November 26, 3:00 PM PST
- Where
- San Francisco Peninsula Coast forecast zone
- Deaths
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Reported by
- Newspaper
- Coordinates
- 37.229, -122.183 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A rip current at Martin's Beach in Half Moon Bay swept two people, a 5-year-old girl and a 54-year-old man, out to sea on Saturday November 25. The two had gotten too close to the water, lost their footing, and were swept out by the current. The timing of the event is unclear, but the Coast Guard search started at 1:20 PM. The girl was recovered and taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The man remains missing, and the search was called off the next day.
- Rip Current
- A narrow, fast current flowing away from the beach that caused a drowning or rescue.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Winter Weather in North Dakota, November 25, 20231 death · $15,000 · 10 events
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Kansas, November 25 to 26, 202310 injured · 18 events
- Freezing Fog in Washington, November 25 to 26, 20235 injured · $5,000 · 1 event
- Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Kansas, November 25 to 26, 202340 events
- Heavy Snow in Kansas, November 25, 202330 events
- Winter Weather in Wisconsin, November 25 to 26, 2023$20,000 · 12 events
- Frost and Freeze in California, November 25 to 28, 202311 events
- Avalanche in Colorado, November 25, 20231 injured · 1 event
- Winter Weather in Minnesota, November 25 to 26, 20237 events
- Winter Weather in Texas, November 25, 20236 events
- Heavy Snow in Oklahoma, November 25, 20236 events
- Heavy Rain in Florida, November 25 to 26, 20236 events
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1141938.