High surf prompts hazard notice for San Diego County beaches: NWS

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — San Diego County’s coastal areas will be under a beach hazard notice beginning on Tuesday as higher-than-normal waves are expected to create dangerous water conditions.

The National Weather Service issued the advisory early Monday morning due to a long period south-southwest (SSW) swell expected to set in Tuesday morning and last through Thursday. The statement is slated to expire by Thursday night.

According to forecasters, the swell could create surf upwards of four to six feet in height, with sets up to seven feet on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Southwest-facing stretches of North County are likely to see the highest surf among San Diego’s beaches, while dangerous rip currents are possible for parts of the whole coast, NWS added.

Beachgoers are encouraged to remain out of the water to avoid hazardous water conditions while the advisory is in place.

The coastal advisory comes as a monsoonal weather pattern has set in over the county, bringing thunderstorm chances and scattered rainfall to inland mountain and desert areas after days of extreme heat.

Severe Thunderstorm and Flash Flood Warnings were issued Sunday amid these conditions, although NWS said morning Monday that no lightning nor “accumulating rainfall” has been seen so far — just “a few sprinkles.”

Forecasters said another round of scattered showers and thunderstorms is expected in the mountains, high deserts and locally in the lower deserts Monday afternoon. Chances will continue to diminish into Tuesday before dry conditions return Wednesday, according to NWS.

What to know about rip currents

As the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) explains , rip currents, which are narrow, localized currents, are caused by breaking waves piling up along the shoreline as the water retreats.

These currents are present on beaches nearly every day of the year, but under certain wave or tide conditions, the flow of water away through the channel can increase to dangerous speeds.

When getting caught in a rip current, lifeguards say people should remain calm and avoid fighting the current. The best escape is to turn sideways to the shore and wade or swim until getting out of the current before continuing to the shoreline at an angle.

For those stuck in a rip current, “going with the flow” could also be an option. As NOAA says , rip currents often do not go very far. As soon as it begins slowing down, lifeguards would then encourage a swimmer to make their way back to the shore heading towards the breaking waves.

What the rest of the week is going to look like

In the latter half of the week, NWS said San Diegans can expect a slow warming back to high temperatures above normal, as an upper level high shifts westward from the Four Corners area connecting Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico.

Inland desert communities could begin to feel this heat as early as Tuesday while parts of the county west of the mountains are likely to see the warming trend set in sometime Thursday or into Friday, according to forecasters.

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