After the Christmas cooldown, high tides will once again hit the California coast

The stormy seas off the California coast calmed a bit over the Christmas holiday, but high tides were expected to return to the Bay Area throughout the week.

Waves up to 30 feet high were expected to crash onto the coast of Northern California between Thursday morning and Sunday afternoon. The National Weather Service has issued an advanced diving advisory, warning swimmers and boaters to be aware of dangerous conditions.

The Bay Area will see high temperatures in the low 60s and a strong chance of scattered showers throughout the weekend, according to forecasters. Rain can cause flooding in local streams and paved areas.

Earlier in the week, as the sea hit the coast, the outer part of the historic Santa Cruz Wharf collapsed, trapping three people in the turbulent waters, all of whom later survived. Storm-tossed debris kills man in Monterey Bay.

Although waves of this size are rare, the dangerous conditions are consistent with this time of year, when surf is often high along the California coast, according to weather service meteorologist Brayden Murdock.

“The last time we'll see a swell like this could be as early as January 2023,” Murdock said. “Therefore, it is not uncommon to go to extremes in this way. But at this time of year, it's out of the question.”

“Fortunately, it's one of the coldest times of the year, so there aren't too many people on the beach,” added Murdock. “But there are some things people should be aware of.”

Winter storms also caused flooding on highways and freeways in Berkeley and Oakland. A rock slide has been reported in rural Sonoma County.

In Southern California, the weather conditions were not strong. After the misty and overcast start of Christmas morning, the clouds parted, allowing the sun to shine through.

Weather service meteorologists are predicting waves of between 5 and 10 feet in Los Angeles and Orange counties on Christmas Day. The highest tides, up to 15 feet, were expected to continue for the rest of the week in northern San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

High temperatures were expected to remain in the upper 60s throughout the week, with no rain in the forecast.

Meteorologists have warned motorists of strong winds that could make driving difficult for large vehicles in the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys.

The severe weather is creating a problem amid the unusually dry weather in Southern California. Downtown Los Angeles typically receives about 4 inches of rain by this point in the rainy season, which begins in October and ends in March. So far this year, it has received about 0.16 inches.

Gusts of up to 60 miles per hour will create a high wildfire risk, especially next week, when Santa Ana winds may carry hot air to parts of southern California, according to Ariel Cohen, meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service's Oxnard office. .

The greatest danger will be “when we look at the period from Monday to next Thursday, when dry air and warm temperatures will bring a high risk of fire weather,” said Cohen.

Earlier this month, the Franklin fire burned more than 4,000 acres in Malibu. The raging fire, driven largely by strong Santa Ana winds, damaged or destroyed dozens of buildings and entered the Pepperdine University campus.