High Surf — San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California

2020-12-08 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California

Event narrative

A man and women were swept into the ocean in Pacifica during dangerous high surf. The woman was rescued but crews were unable to save the man https://fox40.com/news/california-connection/dangerous-surf-sweeps-3-people-out-to-ocean-woman-rescued/.

Wider weather episode

A very large long period northwest swell train arrived in early December to the coastline with buoys reporting swells in excess of 20 feet. Mavericks saw breaking waves in the surf zone of approximately 40 feet. Large powerful waves knocked boats loose and damaged docks near Santa Cruz. Multiple water rescues were reported up and down the coast with one assumed fatality.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 927849. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.