Coastal flood and high surf advisory issued for Friday
Beachgoers and boaters on the Northern and Central California coast should exercise caution this weekend as hazardous weather conditions set in Friday morning, U.S. Coast Guard officials said.
The Coast Guard has issued a Coastal Flood Advisory and High Surf Advisory for Friday from 3 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Increasing southerly winds will blow in late Thursday night, followed on Friday morning by northwest swells as large as 14 to 16 feet, Coast Guard officials said.
"Boaters and beachgoers should be especially cautious on and near the water over the next several days," Danielle Couture, a search and rescue specialist at the Coast Guard Sector San Francisco Command Center, said in a statement.
"We're ready to respond if boaters and beachgoers find themselves in distress," Couture said.
Even larger swells are anticipated for Sunday, Coast Guard officials said.
Strong rip currents and large shore breaks are expected to affect all west- and northwest-facing beaches from Sonoma County to Monterey County.
Rip currents can exhaust swimmers and are usually more frequent and stronger near piers, inlets and jetties, Coast Guard officials said.
Large shore breaks can result in injury, and large wave run-ups can unexpectedly pull people into cold, turbulent waters.
Coast Guard officials recommend that all boaters and beachgoers stay informed about weather conditions, keep a working VHF-FM radio when on the water, wear a lifejacket, file a float plan with friends, family or local marinas, and educate children about water safety.
Divers should evaluate their physical condition as well as that of their equipment, never dive alone and cancel their diving plans if surf conditions are unsafe.
Boaters should not consume alcohol or drugs, and dog owners should protect their pets from rough waves, but not to attempt to rescue their dogs from a surf zone.
Meanwhile, back on land in Marin County's Mill Valley, they're restocking the shelves at Goodman Building Supply Company. They aren't expecting the rain to hit until the middle of the night, probably sometime between 2 and 4 a.m.
Resident Patty Burkard said she's buying supplies to get ready. "One of everything," she says about what she's getting. "Sampler platter a thick heavy one for a lot of things that are going to be outside and two in case I didn't get the right thing and my husband is mad at me."
The store has something called the 'Rain Room' full of everything you'd need to prepare for a hard rain, from roof patching, flashlights and batteries to one of the top things flying off the shelves: tarps.
With wet roadways, California Highway Patrol plans on a busy morning, so they recommend planning accordingly, giving yourself plenty of time and having patience.
"The major rain is going to be during the [Friday] morning commute," said Ofc. Andrew Barclay with Marin CHP. "Then anticipated a slower commute than normal. Allow yourself more time to get to work, leave earlier if you can."