Wave energy from former Hurricane Odalys will coincide with very high tides along the San Diego County coastline through late Wednesday, possibly causing more coastal erosion in the Carlsbad area and at spots farther north, according to the National Weather Service.
Forecasters had originally thought that much of the big surf would come from Hurricane Polo, which will blow ashore this week in the lower half of Baja California. But most of Polo’s wave power will bypass San Diego.
Odalys, which is further out to sea, will fill in by producing 3- to 5-foot waves, with sets to 6 feet, on Monday and Tuesday mornings, when the high tides will reach the 6-foot 7-inch to 7- to 7.1-foot range in North County, forecasters say.
The waves will cause treacherous rip currents.
Sea surface temperatures will be in the 71- to 74-degree range, which is unusually warm for this time of year and is tied to the approach of El Niño.
The outer bands of Odalys generated light rain throughout much of San Diego County on Sunday night, and drove the humidity level to 91%.
“That’s what it’s like in Florida,” said Miguel Miller, a weather service forecaster.
He added that the winds will briefly turn offshore on Tuesday, but they won’t be strong enough to constitute a significant Santa Ana wind event.