By admin 
A high surf warning has been issued for much of the Northern California coast, with waves up to 35 feet expected from Friday through early Sunday, meteorologists said.
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National Weather Service offices have issued warnings from Del Norte County at the Oregon border south to Monterey and Big Sur.
While the precise timing of each warning varied, all were scheduled to take effect Friday afternoon or evening and end early Sunday morning.
“Dangerously large” breaking waves of 30 to 35 feet were expected, according to the warnings. Waves of 40 to 50 feet were possible at favored breakpoints, where underwater features cause waves to break.
Erratic and unpredictable large waves “can overpower swimmers, pulling people into the sea from beaches, jetties, and rocks resulting in significant physical injury and increasing the risk of drowning,” the agency warned. “Waves can sweep across the shoreline without warning, pulling people into the sea from beaches, jetties and rocks.”
Some coastal areas also face increased risks from sneaker waves and rip currents, the weather service said.
The first atmospheric river of a super El Niño event was expected to hit California over the weekend, Sacramento Bee meteorologist Sean Macaday said.
What are sneaker waves?
Sneaker waves are sudden waves that can travel much farther up a beach than expected, potentially sweeping beachgoers into the ocean, the National Weather Service said.
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People swept into the ocean by sneaker waves faced the risk of drowning in extremely cold water, the agency said.
A sneaker wave could be preceded by 20 to 30 minutes of smaller, normal-looking waves.
Sneaker waves also could roll heavy, waterlogged logs across beaches, the agency said. The logs could knock people down or pin them underneath.
“Stay off of jetties, piers, rocks, and other waterside infrastructure. Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous surf, and never turn your back on the ocean,” the agency advised.
What are rip currents?
Rip currents are “powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water” that happen on the coasts of the U.S. and in the Great Lakes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
About 100 people die in rip currents each year in the United States, NOAA said. Lifeguards also rescue thousands of people caught in rip currents each year.
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Experts say people can take steps to stay safe from rip currents, including:
- Check the local water conditions before getting in.
- Talk to a lifeguard at the beach about the conditions.
- Only swim at beaches where lifeguards are present.
- Don’t assume great weather means good swimming conditions.
This story was originally published November 12, 2026 at 9:03 AM.