The Central Coast to see very large swells ahead of the holidays

CENTRAL COAST, Calif. (KION-TV) -- The California Department of Parks and Recreation is letting people know of large surf that is supposed to "slam" Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties over the holiday week.

They said that people can expect a series of large westerly swells that will arrive this weekend and continue through early next week.

The first of the large swells will build throughout the day and transition from Saturday into Sunday, according to the Department of Parks and Recreation.

They said that west-facing beaches can expect surf to be 10- to-20 feet high with areas of exposed coastline seeing double that size at times.

The second and largest swell will start building through Monday with waves reaching 15- to-20 feet in height for parts of the coastline, with much larger waves breaking at west-facing beaches, according to the Department of Parks and Recreation.

They are warning people to be aware of the ocean as these swells have the potential to create dangerous rip currents, large set waves and tidal.

They also said that as a result of the large incoming swells, some California State Beaches in both Monterey County and Santa Cruz County might temporarily closure to ensure public safety.

The Department of Parks and Recreation is asking people to follow these guidelines when near the ocean during large surf:

• Never turn your back on the ocean
• Stay off of rocks and low-lying areas
• Be aware of sneaker waves.
• Do not walk in areas with wet sand
• Know your limits when entering and exiting the water to surf.
• During large swell events, please watch from a distance. 

More safety tips can be read by visiting parks.ca.gov/SafetyTips.