SAN DIEGO — A stunning blue sky may greet San Diego this week, but beneath it, powerful Pacific swells and rip currents are turning local beaches dangerous through Friday morning, the National Weather Service in San Diego warned.
A Beach Hazard Statement remains in effect until 10 a.m. Friday, citing an ongoing surge of strong surf and rip currents driven by northwest swells. Waves between 4 and 7 feet are expected along north- and west-facing beaches, including La Jolla, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, and Encinitas. Forecasters caution that “sneaker waves”—larger waves that strike unexpectedly—could catch beachgoers and anglers off guard, sweeping them into rough surf.
Officials urge visitors to stay off jetties and rocks, keep a safe distance from the waterline, and swim only near lifeguards. Even strong swimmers may struggle in rip currents that can pull hundreds of feet offshore within seconds.
Beyond the beach, pleasant December weather dominates the county with daytime highs in the mid to upper 60s°F through Wednesday, warming toward 70°F by Thursday under calm, sunny skies. Coastal fog and morning clouds may return briefly before clearing, but no rain is expected through the weekend.
Five-Day Local Outlook:
- Today: Increasing clouds, high near 66°F.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, high 65°F.
- Thursday: Sunny, high 70°F.
- Friday: Mostly clear, high 68°F.
- Saturday: Sunny, high near 69°F.
