National Weather Service officials are warning of strong rip currents and large waves through Labor Day Weekend for Santa Barbara County beaches.
A beach hazards statement with moderate severity will be in effect Saturday through Tuesday evening due to “dangerous rip currents and breaking waves due to elevated surf.”
The rip currents and high surf are coming from a large south swell from tropical activity in the south, according to meteorologist Ryan Kittell.
The conditions bring an increased risk of ocean drowning, officials said.
Tides are forecast to reach heights of 7 feet by Monday evening and 7.1 feet on Tuesday evening, according to Kittell.
“It’s a steady climb,” Kittell said. “Once we get across above 7 feet, that’s usually the highest high tides that we have for a month.”
Anything higher brings risks of water spilling into areas that are normally dry at “normal tidal swings,” he said.
High tides are expected to occur on Friday and Saturday at 5 p.m., Sunday at 6:30 p.m., Monday at 7:30 p.m., and Tuesday at 8:15 p.m.
Meteorologists warned earlier this week that a hurricane or tropical storm could hit Southern California, but it is now forecasted to move northwest and “well away from California,” they confirmed online.
“There’s a lot of storms that are contributing to this ocean swell, but (Hurricane) Marie is the main factor,” Kittell said.
The NWS issued warnings of strong rip currents, large surf, coastal flooding, rain and hot temperatures, with the higher risks forecasted in Los Angeles County, he added.
“In Santa Barbara County, it’s less, as far as everything (forecasted),” Kittell said. “It’s a kind of step below your neighbor to the south.”
But the county could still see some impacts, according to Kittell.
Kittell warned residents hoping to spend the Labor Day weekend at the beach to be cautious of the water.
“Even if things look flat and nice in the morning when you get there, things can increase throughout the day, and it’s good to stay near a lifeguard,” he said.
There is also a “limited possibility” of rain across the county, with a general 20% chance of rain on Sunday and a small chance on Tuesday too, according to Kittell.
“But at this point it looks unlikely for rain over the county,” he said.
If it does rain, there are also no “real flooding concerns,” he added.
Even with the chance of light rain, temperatures are still forecasted to be warm throughout Labor Day weekend and into the beginning of the following week.
North County communities, including Santa Maria and Lompoc, could see temperatures hit the mid-70s over the weekend while Solvang and the Santa Ynez Valley could see temperatures in the 80s.
In South County, temperatures are forecast to hit the high-70s for the holiday weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
