More High Surf Expected This Weekend in Cardiff

As the big waves that pounded San Diego County's southernmost beaches this week eased up today, forecasters said more high surf was in store for those areas this weekend.

A high surf advisory issued late Tuesday expired at 10 a.m., but the National Weather Service issued another advisory for beaches from Cardiff-by- the-Sea south to the U.S.-Mexico border set to go into effect at 2 p.m. Saturday and extend to 2 p.m. Sunday.

"A new long period west-northwest swell will build to around 7 feet at 17 second intervals by late Saturday afternoon," according to an NWS advisory. "This is likely to generate high surf along the exposed west-facing beaches from Cardiff southward."

The waves and surf were expected to build Saturday afternoon to between 5 and 8 feet, with occasional sets that could reach 10 feet, according to NWS forecasters. Those waves could break over jetties, against the bottom of the Ocean Beach Pier and could slam into the base of the cliffs Sunday morning.

Minor beach erosion and coastal flooding could also be possible, along with very strong rip currents, which forecasters said would be possible each afternoon.     The swell is expected to lessen Sunday afternoon, but another that should arrive on New Year's Day could churn up high surf along the coast again through Thursday, according to the NWS.

—City News Service