Dangerous Surf and Coastal Flooding Keep Advisories in Effect Through Tuesday Noon
The Central Coast faces breaking waves of 10 to 16 feet under a high surf advisory, while the South Coast stays under a beach hazards statement with dangerous rip currents and surf up to 6 feet.
A west swell is keeping the Santa Barbara County shoreline hazardous through Tuesday, with two different advisories covering two different stretches of the county coast. The National Weather Service office in Los Angeles and Oxnard extended a coastal flood advisory and a high surf advisory for the Santa Barbara County Central Coast beaches until noon PST on Tuesday, and kept a beach hazards statement in effect for the county's southwestern and southeastern coasts, through Tuesday morning in its coastal hazard message issued Sunday afternoon and through noon on Tuesday in its surf zone forecast issued early Monday.
The strongest surf is on the Central Coast, the county shoreline that faces the open Pacific. The weather service expects large breaking waves of 10 to 16 feet there, with dangerous rip currents, and moderate coastal flooding around the morning high tides. Its Monday surf forecast puts surf on northwest-facing Central Coast beaches at 8 to 12 feet today and 5 to 8 feet on Tuesday, with 4 to 7 feet on south-facing beaches today. The message warns that flooding is likely over vulnerable low-lying areas, including beach parking lots, bike paths and harbor walkways, and that moderate beach erosion is likely. It also says the advisories may need to be extended through the week.
Conditions are smaller but still dangerous on the South Coast, which includes the city beaches. The beach hazards statement covers dangerous rip currents and breaking waves from elevated surf of up to 4 to 6 feet, with minor tidal overflow possible during morning high tides, especially on west-facing beaches. The Monday surf forecast rates the rip current risk as high for the southwestern and southeastern coasts, with surf of 3 to 6 feet today and 3 to 5 feet on Tuesday, on a west swell.
The hazards are the same on both stretches of coast. Rip currents are strong enough to carry swimmers and surfers away from shore, and the breakers can knock people off beaches and rocks or overturn small boats working close in. The weather service notes a higher risk of ocean drowning in these conditions. Pooling seawater is possible around high tide at beach and harbor areas, and beach erosion is possible on the South Coast as well.
The guidance in both products is direct. Stay out of the water, or stay near an occupied lifeguard tower. Stay off rock jetties and rocks, which the weather service calls deadly in these conditions. Protect flood-prone property, and do not drive around barricades or through water of unknown depth.
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