Weather news
Waves top SF Bay seawall; 35.8-foot swell recorded off Oregon, with another round Sunday
By Ryan Hall, Y'all Weather Desk ยท Published
Written by our automated news desk from National Weather Service data.
Key points
- Where: The Marina District waterfront inside San Francisco Bay, plus portions of the Oregon and California coasts.
- When: Saturday, Nov. 14, now. A second swell is expected along the Oregon coast Sunday afternoon, Nov. 15.
- What: Waves came over the seawall and put water across the lot. A buoy off Oregon read 35.8 feet Friday night.
- What it means: Stay off seawalls, jetties and low waterfront lots, on the Bay and on the open coast.
Waves topped the seawall beside the Yacht Club in San Francisco's Marina District on Saturday, Nov. 14, and sent water across the parking lot. A buoy off Oregon measured 35.8-foot waves at 10:20 PM PST Friday, and a second round is expected along the Oregon coast Sunday afternoon, Nov. 15. The Golden Gate Bridge stands in the background of the video.
Waves over the seawall inside the Bay
The San Francisco Fire Department posted the 14-second video Saturday. It shows Bay water coming over the seawall by the Yacht Club and spreading across the lot, with the Golden Gate Bridge behind it. (Video: San Francisco Fire Department.)
The offshore reading and coastal warnings
A buoy off Oregon recorded waves of 35.8 feet at 10:20 PM PST Friday.
The coast is still under a high surf warning for breaking waves of 25 to 35 feet. Occasional sets of 40 to 50 feet are possible at favored breakpoints. That warning runs until 4 AM PST Sunday. A coastal flood advisory for Pacific Coast beaches runs through 6 PM PST today. In that advisory, large waves are expected to run up beaches and crash over seawalls, flooding low-lying infrastructure.
Farther south, the surf is smaller but still dangerous. A coastal flood warning covers beaches in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, where breakers of 18 to 25 feet are expected with dangerous rip currents. Ventura County beaches see 8 to 14 feet, peaking Saturday. Malibu and Los Angeles County beaches see 8 to 12 feet Saturday, easing to 5 to 9 feet Sunday through Tuesday.
Round two arrives Sunday afternoon
A second swell is expected along the Oregon coast Sunday afternoon. Breakers of 25 to 30 feet are expected there from Sunday afternoon into Monday morning. A high wind warning is also up for the Curry County coast and south central Oregon coast, including exposed stretches of Highway 101. South winds of 25 to 35 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph, are expected until 1 AM PST Sunday.
The Sunday forecast is for the Oregon coast. We don't have a Bay-specific number for Sunday.
What to do
- Stay off seawalls, jetties, piers and rocks at the water's edge. The warnings say large waves can run up beaches and crash over seawalls.
- Don't park low along the waterfront, including lots right at the water. This week's video shows how quickly a lot can flood.
- Keep out of the water at beaches under a high surf warning.
- If you plan a coastal drive Sunday or Monday, especially on Highway 101 in Oregon, check conditions first. Our live warnings page lists every active product.
- Want a text when this changes? Sign up for free Y'all Alerts.
Bottom line
Waves topped a seawall inside San Francisco Bay on Saturday as a buoy off Oregon recorded 35.8-foot waves. A second swell is expected along the Oregon coast Sunday afternoon, with 25- to 30-foot breakers through Monday morning.
| Area | Wave height | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific Coast beaches (high surf warning) | 25 to 35 ft | Occasional sets of 40 to 50 ft at favored breakpoints, until 4 AM PST Sunday |
| San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara County beaches | 18 to 25 feet | High surf warning, west-northwest facing beaches highest |
| Ventura County beaches | 8 to 14 feet | Peaking Saturday, locally 15 feet near Ventura Harbor |
| Malibu Coast and Los Angeles County beaches | 8 to 12 feet | Saturday, easing to 5 to 9 feet Sunday through Tuesday |
Explained: Flood Advisory, Watch, Warning and Flash Flood Warning explained
Places in this story: San Francisco, CA