Big waves headed to Central Coast beaches as rain storm hits region
Central Coast beaches will see big waves as a rain storm rolls through the region, according to the National Weather Service.
The agency issued a high surf advisory for west- and northwest-facing beaches in San Luis Obispo County and Santa Barbara County, warning of ocean waves of 8 to 12 feet with dangerous rip currents.
The advisory lasts from 10 a.m. Monday through 10 a.m. Wednesday.
According to the weather service, there is an increased risk for ocean drowning during that time period.
“Rip currents can pull swimmers and surfers out to sea,” the agency said. “Large breaking waves can cause injury, wash people off beaches and rocks and capsize small boats near shore.”
People should stay out of the water and off rock jetties due to dangerous surf conditions, the weather service said.
According to meteorologist John Lindsey, an intense cold front is forecast to move through the Central Coast on Tuesday, producing gale-force southerly winds and moderate to heavy rain on Tuesday morning and afternoon.
“The winds will decrease, and the rain will turn to showers on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning,” Lindsey wrote in his weather forecast Sunday, followed by “widely scattered” rain showers Thursday into Friday.
Lindsey said SLO County should see between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of rain, with higher rainfall amounts in the Santa Lucia mountains.
That’s not the only precipitation predicted for the Central Coast.
According to Lindsey, extended range models indicate another storm will arrive along the Central Coast New Year’s Eve through New Year’s Day with gale-force winds and more moderate to heavy rain.
This story was originally published December 26, 2022 at 11:26 AM.
