San Diego lifeguards were warning the public Wednesday of poor surfing, diving and navigation conditions, while a high surf warning remained in effect at county beaches through Thursday.
"The weather was drizzly all day on Tuesday and then the winds kicked up overnight, which has made ocean conditions really choppy today," Lifeguard Lt. Jacob Magness said Wednesday morning. "So not many surfers are out today because of that. We're calling it junky surf conditions."
Here's a look at your Christmas Day forecast🎅 Expect party cloudy skies with with slightly below average temperatures and light winds. pic.twitter.com/McuvXb7Tvs
— NWS San Diego (@NWSSanDiego) December 24, 2024
Magness said the surf came in earlier than expected Wednesday, and diminished quicker than expected. He added there were still some sizable sets around the 8-foot range.
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"But conditions are very poor, so we don't recommend anybody trying to go out in the water today," he said.
The National Weather Service extended the high surf advisory until 4 p.m. Thursday for large waves and dangerous rip currents.
"We're cautioning everyone to stay out of the water at this point," National Weather Service meteorologist Sebastian Westerink said Tuesday. "We're seeing high surf in San Diego County of 6- to 12-feet with sets up to 13 feet."
Weather
Those numbers dropped to 6 to 8 feet with sets to 11 feet as of Wednesday morning, according to the NWS.
On Thursday we can expect breaking waves ranging from 5 to 9ft. Minor coastal flooding is still a possibility, NBC 7's Meteorologist Brooke Martell said.
Magness said lifeguards scheduled a lot of extra staff on duty over the Christmas holiday in anticipation of high surf and nice weather drawing larger crowds.
The lifeguard media line said diving would be hazardous at both La Jolla Cove and La Jolla Shores. Mission Bay Channel navigation, which had been reported early Wednesday morning as hazardous, "remains rough," according to Magness.
He warned beachgoers to "distance themselves from the ocean," noting that "rogue waves can come in and the surge can catch you off guard, especially if you have small children. So you should keep them back."
On Tuesday morning, big waves broke off a piling on the Ocean Beach Pier.
NBC 7 meteorologist Francella Perez said another swell is expected next week.
Saturday was the first day of winter. What will winter be like in San Diego this time? Learn more about San Diego's winter outlook and the return of La Niña here.
