SAN FRANCISCO, CA — The National Weather Service issued a beach hazard alert for this weekend in the greater Bay Area, warning of 15-20 feet waves and an increased risk of sneaker waves and rip currents.
The NWS said the alert is in effect from 3 a.m. Friday to 3 a.m. Monday on Pacific Coast beaches in the Bay Area.
People should refrain from swimming at coastal beaches in the North Bay, including Point Reyes National Seashore, the San Francisco Peninsula, Monterey Bay and Big Sur during this period, the NWS stated.
The National Weather Service issued the beach hazard alert for October 24 to October 27, 2025.(National Weather Service)
“A long-period northwest swell will bring breaking waves of 15–20 ft, increasing the risk of sneaker waves and rip currents along the coast,” the NWS said. “Stay well back from the surf and never turn your back on the ocean.”
Sneaker waves are dangerous, unpredicted coastal waves that appear suddenly after a period of calm. These powerful, fast-moving waves surge far up the beach without warning, posing a deadly threat. They can sweep people into the ocean where strong currents and cold water immersion become extremely dangerous. Sneaker waves occur in approximately one out of every 10 waves, Rachel Kennedy, a NWS meteorologist told Patch.
The NWS also reported an atmospheric river will hit the Bay Area over the weekend.
“Rain returns late Friday night, with the heaviest totals on Saturday,” the NWS reported. “The North Bay could see up to an inch, with lighter amounts farther south.”