Waves as high as 20 feet are possible at some San Diego County beaches while a high surf and coastal flood advisory is in effect through early Monday morning, San Diego Fire-Rescue officials said Thursday.
Many beaches will see large breaking waves of up to 12 feet and sets to 15 feet. Some minor flooding is also possible, forecasters said.
Under these conditions, San Diego Fire-Rescue Lt. Lonnie Stephens said without training and experience in high surf, people should stay out of the water. Conditions, he said, will be life-threatening.
"For surfers who want to get in the water, make that self-inventory — have you been training?" Stephens said. "Have you been going on surf trips around the world and participating in very large surf events?"
Stephens said if people want to see the high surf they should do so from high ground — not from low-lying areas such as tide pools where rogue waves can sweep people out to sea.
"We want people to enjoy the wonders of Mother Nature because it does not happen very often but we want them to enjoy it from a distance," Stephens said. "Make sure you're in a safe spot when your watching the waves."
The highest surf conditions are expected Thursday and Saturday, he said.
A pair of arctic storm fronts are the source of the high surf. Rain is forecast for Saturday.
Surfer Aaron Pietsch went into the water Thursday morning at the Ocean Beach Dog Beach. As he watched the swells grow from the beach later, he said he would not be going back in.
"That right there is probably like ... a 10-foot (wave) face right there," Pietsch said, pointing toward a wave at the end of the jetty. "It's starting to get big."
Locations most susceptible to flooding include Cardiff and Seaside State Beaches, portions of Del Mar, La Jolla Shores, Mission Beach and Imperial Beach. Potential flooding of lots, parks and roads with only isolated road closures can be expected, according to the National Weather Service .
Officials advised that breaking waves can sweep people off jetties and docks and into dangerous seas. Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to dangerous surf conditions.
Friday's San Diego surf forecast includes a high-risk rip current, with surf height from 6 to 10 feet, sets to 12 feet and an easing west swell from 280 degrees and south swell from 200 degrees.
Along the coast, partly cloudy conditions are expected through Friday, with daytime temperatures hitting the mid-70s. Inland valley areas are expected to be partly cloudy through Friday, with highs reaching the upper 60s to low 70s.
The desert areas are expected to see highs in the lower 70s throughout the week, with daytime temperatures ranging from the upper 50s to mid-60s in the mountains.
Friday's conditions for downtown San Diego are expected to be partly sunny, with a high near 66 degrees. Saturday's downtown conditions will expect showers before 10 a.m., a possible thunderstorm from 10 a.m to 4 p.m, with a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4 p.m. and a high near 62 degrees.
