Powerful storms brewing in the Gulf of Alaska are expected to bring heavy rain, strong winds, and some of the biggest waves in years to the Bay Area this weekend, with Ocean Beach potentially seeing waves topping 25 feet.
Breaking waves of 30 to 40 feet are possible along exposed stretches of the Northern California coast from late Friday through Saturday afternoon, as the Chronicle reports. On Saturday morning, significant wave heights are forecast to reach 20 to 30 feet between San Francisco and Crescent City, which is about 350 miles north of SF, and individual waves could be considerably larger.
West-facing beaches are expected to take the brunt of the swell, while some north- and south-facing beaches may be more sheltered. Waves this large can reportedly surge hundreds of feet up the beach, making even seemingly dry sand dangerous. Officials are urging people to stay out of the ocean and avoid beaches during the storms…