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Surfers converge on Mavericks as 50-foot waves hit the California coast

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Summary

  • Big-wave surfers from around the world converged on Mavericks near Half Moon Bay to ride a Pacific swell expected to bring waves near 50 feet.
  • The swell was expected to arrive between two storms, with dangerous surf of 10 to 40 feet hitting California beaches all weekend.
  • The National Weather Service forecast dangerously large breaking waves and warned the public to stay away from beaches and exposed coastal areas.
  • Santa Cruz and several state beaches closed through the weekend as the high surf arrived.
  • Back-to-back storms brought California its first widespread rain of the season, and El Niño-warmed waters have pushed tides more than a foot higher.

Reactions

  • The National Weather Service warned on X, "Any wrong move or stumble could turn deadly. No selfie is worth your life."
  • Meteorologist Brian Garcia advised people to watch beach webcams from home instead of going anywhere near the water.
  • The city of Santa Cruz closed all its beaches and the Santa Cruz Wharf through Sunday morning as a precaution.
  • The Monterey County Sheriff's Office urged extreme caution, citing past tragedies in which people died under similar ocean conditions.
  • Big-wave surfer Bianca Valenti said every serious big-wave surfer or filmer was trying to rent a Jet Ski to reach Mavericks.
  • Surfer Clément Roseyro, flying in from France, said getting to Mavericks on time with all the gear is a big mission.

Timeline newest first

  1. Surf driven by hurricane-force winds was expected to slam California's battered beaches on the weekend after November 14, with Mavericks seeing waves up to 50 feet.
  2. Expert surfers from around the world scrambled to reach Mavericks near Half Moon Bay by Saturday morning for a swell expected to bring waves nearing 50 feet between two storms.
  3. Forecasters warned the swell would send dangerous surf of 10 to 40 feet to California beaches all weekend, and Santa Cruz said it would close its beaches through Sunday morning.
  4. Santa Cruz closed all city beaches and the Santa Cruz Wharf from Friday, November 13 at 10 p.m. through Sunday, November 15 at 5 a.m. as dangerously large waves arrived.
  5. California State Parks closed Carmel River, Garrapata, and Asilomar State Beaches for the same period, and Point Lobos State Natural Reserve closed for high winds.
  6. A 24-year-old woman was swept out to sea at Panther State Beach on Sunday, November 8, as dangerous tides reached a narrow rock arch.
  7. Forecasters said storms beginning around November 12 could bring waves of 60 feet or higher at Mavericks and more than 40 feet at San Francisco's Ocean Beach.
  8. The storms were forecast to bring California's first statewide soaking of the season, with rain focused in Northern California and snow in the Sierra Nevada.
  9. Meteorologists forecast the biggest waves in years on the Northern California coast, with breaking waves of 30 to 40 feet late on November 13 through November 14.
  10. The National Weather Service said El Niño-warmed seas running 10 degrees above normal were pushing tides more than a foot higher, making the waves more destructive.

Sources newest first

  • California’s battered beaches are getting giant waveswashingtonpost.com· 2h

    The Washington Post reports that hurricane-driven surf is expected to slam California's already battered beaches the weekend after publication, with big-wave spots like Mavericks seeing waves up to 50 feet.

  • Surfers Scramble to Mavericks in California to Catch Building-Size Wavesnytimes.com· 23h

    Surfers scrambled from around the world to reach Mavericks near Half Moon Bay, expecting a Pacific swell to bring waves nearing 50 feet between two storms. Officials and forecasters warned everyone else to stay well away from the dangerous surf hitting California beaches all weekend.

  • Santa Cruz to close all city beaches, wharf as 'dangerously large' waves arrivesfgate.com· 25h

    SFGATE reports that Santa Cruz will close all city beaches and the wharf from Friday night through Sunday as the National Weather Service forecasts dangerously large breaking waves of 25 to 35 feet, with occasional 50-foot waves, along the California coast. Closures extend to other state beaches, and officials urge the public to stay away from high surf, after a woman was swept out to sea at Panther State Beach and a fin whale washed ashore at Cowell Beach.

  • California Could Face 50-Foot Waves as Storms Slam Its Coastnytimes.com· 47h

    Amy Graff reports for the New York Times that storms beginning around Nov. 12 are expected to bring California its first statewide soaking of the season — rain concentrated in the north, Sierra snow, and waves reaching 60 feet or higher at Mavericks — as El Niño strengthens over unusually warm coastal waters. Experts including National Weather Service meteorologist Brian Garcia warned of slippery roads, beach dangers, and urged people to watch beach webcams rather than approach the water.

  • Biggest waves in years to slam California coast — including San Franciscosfchronicle.com· 4d

    A San Francisco Chronicle article by newsroom meteorologist Anthony Edwards forecasts the biggest waves in years slamming the Northern California coast the weekend after 10 November 2026, as Gulf of Alaska storms push breakers of 30 to 40 feet onto west-facing beaches, with some at Ocean Beach possibly exceeding 25 feet. El Niño-warmed seas running 10 degrees above normal are pushing tides more than a foot higher, and officials urge people to stay away from the ocean and beaches.

Background newest first

  • Rare November tornadoes hit Delaware and New Jerseywashingtonpost.com· 24h

    The Washington Post's live blog The 7 rounds up developing stories: rare November tornadoes struck Delaware and New Jersey, with radar suggesting the Newark twister was an EF1; two more measles deaths were reported, bringing the 2026 U.S. toll to at least 10 amid the worst outbreak in decades; and a car bombing in Moscow seriously injured pro-Kremlin commentator Sergei Zavorotny. It also covers Ben Noll's report of a record California marine heat wave with 50-foot waves forecast, Jensen Huang's resignation from Nvidia and Elon Musk's call for his return, Pope Leo XIV's Mass in Chiclayo, Peru, and Rear Adm. Brian Monahan's departure as Congress's attending physician.

  • Storms Slam British Columbia and California Is Nextnytimes.com· 3d

    A New York Times weather article reports that a storm drenched British Columbia on Tuesday, setting off flood watches after weekend gusts up to 80 mph downed power lines and trees, killing one person when a tree fell on a vehicle. Forecasters expect the stormy pattern to reach California by Friday, potentially bringing the state's first statewide soaking, with over five inches possible on the North Coast and a wetter-than-normal winter ahead because of a strong El Niño.