Massive waves up to 60 feet threaten Northern California coast as NWS issues urgent warning

Ferocious waves crashed into the Northern California coast Saturday as forecasters issued dire warnings about the dangers facing beachgoers.

An incoming “storm train” contributed to the monster waves as it barreled toward California.

“DO NOT GO TO THE BEACH/COAST TODAY,” the National Weather Service’s Bay Area office wrote on X.

“Buoy 46042 this morning hit 32 ft @ 21 seconds. At this height fully exposed beaches could see 40+ft waves with sets in excess of 60 feet. Not a safe day to be in or even near the water. Watch from webcams and local news.”

Forecasters later reiterated their call to “skip the beach.”

“Skip the beach today—the waves are impressive, but they’re also deadly. No selfie is worth risking your life,” they wrote in response to a video showing sneaker waves in Pacifica, a coastal city in San Mateo County.

The massive wave is seen surging over a sea wall, sending shocked onlookers sprinting away from the churning water. Waves were so severe that they appeared to be threatening a coastal Taco Bell in Pacifica.

“can we please get the national guard dispatched to the pacifica taco bell?” SFGate Editor-in-Chief Grant Marek joked.

Internet meteorologist Max Velocity described the weather in a video published Thursday as a “giant train of storms.”

“A giant train of storms is about to slam the West Coast of the United States in places like California, Oregon, and Washington, [which] are about to pick up a ton of snow and also several inches of rain in addition to very high winds,” he said.

The National Weather Service issued a high surf advisory for Los Angeles County that went into effect at 2 p.m. Friday and continues through 3 p.m. Tuesday, with surf expected to reach 7 to 12 feet on Saturday.

The stormy weather is also headed for Southern California, Sebastian Westerink, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s San Diego office, previously told The California Post.

“We’re getting some showers left over from the NorCal storm systems,” he said, adding that SoCal will still receive “a good soaking rain each time.”

Dangerous coastal conditions can turn deadly.

A 24-year-old woman disappeared after a wave hit her and her friends following a bonfire party on the beach last week. The group had been relaxing on the beach when powerful waves crashed into them, dragging them underwater. All but the 24-year-old made it to safety.

The storms are part of what’s expected to be a historic El Niño. The latest outlook, released Thursday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, says El Niño is expected to intensify through the end of the year, SFGate reports.

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