Unprecedented Waves Strike San Francisco Shoreline
San Francisco experienced an unusual and powerful wave event linked to a strong El Niño, with measurements reaching levels not seen in decades.
Towering waves crashed into San Francisco’s shoreline on Saturday, with measurements from a buoy off Point Reyes recording waves up to 31 feet — the second-highest reading in three decades of records (Source ID: 1). These waves, driven by this year’s stronger-than-usual El Niño, marked an unusual timing as the biggest swells typically arrive in December through January. Scientists use 'significant wave height' to describe the average of the tallest third of waves, meaning individual waves can crest much higher (Source ID: 1). [1]
The National Weather Service issued a high-surf warning, effective from San Francisco to Big Sur, predicting up to 35-foot breakers and occasional 40-to-60-foot waves through Sunday morning (Source ID: 1). This was the first such warning since December 2024, according to the NWS. The Scripps Institution of Oceanography noted that wave heights measured this week have only been recorded once in the Point Reyes buoy’s 27-year history (Source ID: 1). [1]
The timing of this swell is unusual, and the energy from these waves has the potential to reshape the shoreline. During the last super El Niño about a decade ago, Ocean Beach lost 180 feet of sand. Officials are urging people to enjoy the show from a safe distance, with the San Francisco Fire Department advising a minimum of 200 yards from the water to avoid dangerous sneaker waves (Source ID: 1). [1]
Towering waves crashed into San Francisco’s shoreline on Saturday, with measurements from a buoy off Point Reyes recording waves up to 31 feet — the second-highest reading in three decades of records (Source ID: 1). The National Weather Service issued a high-surf warning, effective from San Francisco to Big Sur, predicting up to 35-foot breakers and occasional 40-to-60-foot waves through Sunday morning (Source ID: 1). The timing of this swell is unusual, and the energy from these waves has the potential to reshape the shoreline. [1]
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The swell was powered by this year’s stronger-than-usual El Niño, according to The San Francisco Standard. Scientists use the term 'significant wave height' to describe the average of the tallest third of waves, meaning individual waves can crest much higher than the measured average (Source ID: 1). The Scripps Institution of Oceanography noted that the wave heights measured this week have only occurred once in the Point Reyes buoy’s 27-year history (Source ID: 1). [1]
The coastline just south of the city took some of the worst of it, with waves in Pacifica topping the seawall and inundating streets. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that flooding damaged homes and belongings, with close to a foot of water on Highway 1 cutting off a parking lot at the famous oceanfront Taco Bell Cantina (Source ID: 1). Officials are urging people to stay at least 200 yards away from the water to avoid dangerous sneaker waves (Source ID: 1). [1]
Towering walls of white water crashed into San Francisco’s shoreline Saturday — from the sands of Ocean Beach to the rocks below Lands End — in a swell powered by this year’s stronger-than-usual El Niño (Source ID: 1). The National Weather Service issued a high-surf warning, effective from San Francisco to Big Sur, predicting up to 35-foot breakers and occasional 40-to-60-foot waves through Sunday morning (Source ID: 1). The timing of this swell is unusual, as the biggest waves typically arrive in December through January. The Scripps Institution of Oceanography said heights measured this week have shown up only once in the Point Reyes buoy’s 27-year history. [1]
The coastline just south of the city took some of the worst of it, with waves in Pacifica topping the seawall and inundating streets (Source ID: 1). The flooding damaged homes and belongings. Close to a foot of water on Highway 1 cut off a parking lot at the famous oceanfront Taco Bell Cantina (Source ID: 1). Despite closures on waterfront streets, crowds gathered near the municipal pier, where a sneaker wave reportedly knocked down onlookers, including a mom holding a toddler. [1]
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Officials are urging people to enjoy the show from a safe distance. The San Francisco Fire Department advised keeping at least 200 yards away from the water to avoid deadly sneaker waves (Source ID: 1). The high-surf warning runs through 4 a.m. Sunday. After that, meteorologists expect another storm to start this weekend and last into early Tuesday, bringing up to 1.5 inches of rain and another few days of roiling seas (Source ID: 1). [1]
Towering walls of white water crashed into San Francisco’s shoreline Saturday — from the sands of Ocean Beach to the rocks below Lands End — in a swell powered by this year’s stronger-than-usual El Niño (Source ID: 1). The numbers behind the spectacle are rare. A buoy off Point Reyes measured waves of up to 31 feet on Saturday, marking the second-highest reading in three decades of records. A San Francisco buoy measured waves of up to 20 feet before dawn, with waters ebbing every 19 seconds (Source ID: 1). Scientists use what they call 'significant wave height' to mean the average of the tallest third of waves, so individual waves can crest much higher. [1]
The timing of this swell is unusual. The biggest waves tend to arrive in December through January. The Scripps Institution of Oceanography said heights measured this week have shown up only once in the Point Reyes buoy’s 27-year history. That kind of energy literally reshapes the shoreline. During the last super El Niño about a decade ago, Ocean Beach lost 180 feet of sand (Source ID: 1). Giant swells surged onto the shore all around the city (Source ID: 1). [1]
The coastline just south of the city took some of the worst of it. In Pacifica, waves kept topping the seawall. And about every half hour a much bigger set pushed water hundreds of feet inland, inundating streets, the San Francisco Chronicle reported (Source ID: 1). The flooding damaged homes and belongings. Close to a foot of water on Highway 1 cut off a parking lot at the famous oceanfront Taco Bell Cantina (Source ID: 1). [1]
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