A severe gale warning and hazardous seas declaration affected waters off Northern California on Thursday, with the National Weather Service (NWS) in Eureka urging all boats to seek safe harbor as waves forecast to reach 14 feet and wind gusts to top 40 knots.
The warnings applied to mariners from Cape Mendocino to Point Arena, covering a stretch 10 to 60 nautical miles offshore. These warnings meant boaters along the coast faced immediate risk of capsizing or damage due to extreme sea and wind conditions.
Interactive maps from Windy.com showed the affected areas…