November 25, 2005

High Surf Expected over Thanksgiving Weekend

Powerful surf could surprise and endanger those enjoying
unseasonably warm fall

California State Parks' lifeguards are warning that a powerful storm system located thousands of miles away could put Thanksgiving holiday visitors along California's coastline at risk.

In recent days, the weather has been unseasonably warm, with the coastal surf being unseasonably calm, attracting thousands of late season beach visitors. However, a storm system from the Northwestern Pacific area is forecast to produce a large surf along the California coastline beginning Friday, Nov. 25, peaking on Saturday, before slowly declining on Sunday. The largest surf is forecast for the Central and Northern California coastal areas.

Surf conditions at beaches that receive northwesterly swells will be prone to strong rip currents from the large surf. The public is warned that these hazardous conditions will affect swimming, wading and other ocean sports and recreation. Please check your local state park office, lifeguard headquarters or NOAA Weather radio for the updated local information and conditions.

There will be periods of long lulls between sets of waves and many areas may seem safe from large surf. The waves will arrive in sets with the strongest rip currents being generated at the conclusion of these sets. Beaches and rocky areas that appear safe may suddenly be washed over by strong, roiling whitewater after a large set of waves.

"Every year, tragic drownings occur along our coast when people unfamiliar with the ocean, place themselves in dangerous areas where they are overwhelmed by large surf," said Alex Peabody, Aquatic Specialist for California State Parks. "We want visitors to know that the calm they are seeing and enjoying now is going to drastically change during this holiday season and all who go to the coastline to enjoy this unseasonably warm weather need to be warned."

Peabody recommends that the public, "Be preventative when visiting the beach. Enjoy the Thanksgiving weekend, but watch out for this potentially dangerous surf. Watch from a distance, not up close and always swim near a lifeguard.

For more information about rip currents and ocean safety visit: www.parks.ca.gov/aquaticsafety.