High surf advisories and, what are king tides anyway?
Surf’s up, San Diego. Some county beaches saw sets 15 feet or higher this past weekend with the possibility of coastal flooding, according to National Weather Service and NBC 7 meteorologists.
A high surf warning is in effect Friday through Monday at 2 a.m. due to the elevated surf. Combined with extremely high tides, commonly known as king tides, minor flooding and even beach erosion is possible along the beaches, NBC 7’s Sheena Parveen said. A coastal flood advisory is also in effect through Monday.
Photos from NBC 7 viewers: High surf, a battered pier and a courageous surfer
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When is high tide?
By Sunday, wave heights will taper to 12 ft. High tide will be at 10:51 a.m. on New Year's Eve (Sunday).
Some coastal flooding will occur in vulnerable low-lying coastal areas during the morning high tides (5-6 feet through Sunday), where a coastal flood advisory is in effect. Beach erosion is likely.
Damage to piers and other beach structures is possible when the surf is the highest, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
NBC 7’s latest San Diego weather updates with doppler radar
Big waves, when and where, for Sunday
High tide for Sunday: 10:51 a.m.
Tide overviews for Sunday:
- Wave heights Sunday morning are between 8-12 ft.
- By the afternoon, they will taper to about 8-10 ft.
- By night, they will be closer to 6-8 ft.
Low tide for Sunday: 6:13 p.m.
The high surf continues to draw crowds, too.
Roy Barksdale was born in Pacific Beach and used to surf off Mission Beach, so he knows the water well, enough that he likes to watch the waves from the shore.
“You can see the channel over there — it hardly ever breaks over the channel,” Barksdale said.
“Well, I think it’s very nice to watch,” Barksdale said. “I wouldn’t want to be out in it right now.”
As more spectators arrived, safety cones were placed near the sand berm by a lifeguard with San Diego Fire-Rescue, a reminder for onlookers to be aware of the high tide and big waves crashing over the rocks.
“The surf is higher, a lot stronger, more powerful,” Barksdale said.
Taking the temperature in Ocean Beach
Dozens also showed up in Ocean Beach on Saturday morning to watch the swells, some of which came up over the boardwalk.
San Diego lifeguards are warning people to stay out of the water through the weekend — and if you want to watch the waves, do so from a safe distance.
Even seasoned surfers are sitting this one out like OB resident Ben Wolfe.
"I've been surfing for like 8 years now, but even this is a little bit scary because you think you know your abilities and you just get out there and you don't," Wolfe said.
Earlier in the week, San Diego Lifeguard Lt. Jacob Magness urged that only the most experienced surfers should be in the water during the event. For those who are planning to take in the waves from the coast, he suggested this: "You’ll get a strong surge that will take up the entire beach, and you don’t want to be between that wall and the surf, so, your best bet is to stay up on the parking lot, stay up on the boardwalk and stay off the beach.”
And not to mention, residents await news of further damage to what's left of the Ocean Beach Pier after getting pummeled by wave after wave.
"They keep having to close it down because pieces of the pier just keep breaking," Wolfe said.
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