Bay Area residents were warned about flooding concerns and hazardous beach conditions as stormy weather was expected to impact the region during Christmas week.
The National Weather Service said a high surf warning was in effect through noon Tuesday for San Francisco, the North Bay coast Including Point Reyes National Seashore, the Peninsula coast, the Monterey Bay, and Big Sur Coast. Breaking waves of 30 to 35 feet are expected along the coast, with some favored spots such as Mavericks just north of Half Moon Bay potentially experiencing up to 40-foot breaking waves.
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In addition, a coastal flood warning was also in effect until noon Tuesday because of the high surf's potential impact to coastal locations such as piers, wharves, and other structures along the coastline, the Weather Service said. Residents can anticipate flooding of low-lying roads, parking lots and coastal trails.
The Weather Service warned the conditions could result in dangerous and life-threatening situations at the bay, ocean and beach through Tuesday. Ocean swells will begin to diminish beyond Tuesday, but the hazardous surf conditions are expected to remain into next week.
Meanwhile, coastal drizzle and North Bay showers were forecast Monday with more widespread significant rainfall spreading across the region late Monday into Tuesday morning. Rain was expected to be intense, according to the Weather Service, with the main threats being the rapid rise in creeks, streams and small rivers and at least a 5% chance that rainfall totals exceed flash flood guidance.
Rainfall totals are expected to reach 0.5 to one inch across the North Bay valleys and coastal ranges south of the Golden Gate, up to two inches in the North Bay mountains, 0.3-0.6 inch in the Bay Area valleys and Monterey Bay region, and up to 0.25 inch across the interior Central Coast.
The forecast for Christmas Day is expected to be dry and partially sunny, although hazardous marine and beach conditions will persist, the Weather Service said. Another storm system returns to Bay Area on Thursday and the Weather Service said there are marginal risks for excessive rainfall across Sonoma County for Thursday and Friday.