Coastal Flood Warning in Effect Saturday on the Central Coast, With a High Surf Advisory on the South Coast
The National Weather Service message issued at 4:02 a.m. Saturday keeps a coastal flood warning and a high surf warning on the Santa Barbara County Central Coast beaches until Saturday evening and early Sunday, while the southwestern and southeastern coasts stay under a high surf advisory until 4 a.m. Sunday.
A coastal flood warning remains in effect until 6 p.m. Saturday for the Santa Barbara County Central Coast beaches, and a high surf warning for the same beaches remains in effect until 3 a.m. Sunday. The National Weather Service office in Los Angeles and Oxnard set out both warnings in its coastal hazard message issued at 4:02 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14.
For the Central Coast beaches, the weather service expects breaking waves reaching 18 to 25 feet, a height it describes as dangerously large, along with dangerous rip currents and coastal flooding rated moderate to significant. The surf will be highest on beaches facing west or northwest.
The message warns of a high risk of seawater flooding over vulnerable low lying coastal areas, especially around high tide, including significant flooding of coastal beaches, walkways and roads, and possible damage to some structures. Significant beach erosion is expected, and powerful waves and strong rip currents pose a risk of ocean drowning and damage to coastal structures such as piers and jetties.
The picture is less severe, but still hazardous, along the rest of the county coast. A high surf advisory remains in effect until 4 a.m. Sunday for the Santa Barbara County southwestern and southeastern coasts, with large breaking waves of 4 to 7 feet and dangerous rip currents. Minor tidal overflows are possible in areas with the largest surf, especially during high tide.
A beach hazards statement also remains in effect through Tuesday afternoon for Catalina and Santa Barbara Islands, covering dangerous rip currents and breaking waves from elevated surf, with minor tidal overflows possible during high tides.
The weather service attributes the conditions to a series of significant west to northwesterly swells expected to produce elevated surf into next week. For the south coast zones, the highest surf and greatest impacts are likely peaking today, Saturday, and potentially again on Monday. For the Central Coast beaches, the message also raises the possibility that surf could reach warning levels again between late Sunday night and Monday.
The preparedness guidance differs by zone. For the warning area on the Central Coast, the weather service advises staying off beaches and coastal walkways, roads and structures, staying out of the water, and staying off jetties, piers and other waterside infrastructure, and it warns drivers not to go around barricades or through water of unknown depth. For the advisory area on the south coast, it advises remaining out of the water due to dangerous surf conditions, or staying near occupied lifeguard towers, and staying off the rocks, because rock jetties can be deadly in such conditions.
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