20-foot waves could slam SLO County beaches, damage piers during storm. Here’s when
A storm approaching the Central Coast could bring massive waves of 20 feet or more on Thursday, according to a high surf advisory issued by the National Weather Service.
The storm is expected to make landfall in San Luis Obispo County beginning Wednesday, carrying rainfall and blowing in massive waves, according to the Weather Service.
On Wednesday, breaking waves of 7 to 10 feet along the county’s coastline are possible. The waves could grow to 14 to 18 feet on Thursday and Friday, and decrease to 8 to 12 feet on Saturday, according to the Weather Service.
On Thursday, there’s a 30% chance the waves could reach 20 feet or more. Waves those size could cause pier damage, the Weather Service advised.
The high surf conditions during this week’s storm are not expected to be nearly as damaging as those experienced in San Luis Obispo County coastal cities in late December. That’s because the tides are predicted to be a few feet lower — at about 3 to 4.5 feet at high tide — than in late December, when high tides reached between 6 to 7 feet.
Therefore, the chance of pier damage and coastal erosion this week is expected to be low, said Rose Schoenfeld, a meteorologist with the Weather Service.
Still, the Weather Service advised people to be aware of dangerous conditions caused by the high surf this week.
“Rip currents can pull swimmers and surfers out to sea,” the Weather Service wrote in its advisory Monday. “Large breaking waves can cause injury, wash people off beaches and rocks and capsize small boats near shore. Extensive flooding of sandy beach areas is possible Thursday morning, including Oceano Dunes and Pismo Beach.”
This story was originally published January 31, 2024 at 9:00 AM.
