SAN DIEGO — The Coast Guard advises the public to begin making preparations and exercise caution when on and around the water, as high seas and strong winds are predicted to impact Southern California starting late Thursday.
The National Weather Service is forecasting a strong storm that is expected to bring rain, thunderstorms, high surf, wind and associated hazards beginning Thursday night and lasting into Saturday night. The storm is expected to produce strong southerly winds as high as 45 mph and up to 12-foot seas along the coast through Saturday evening.
The Coast Guard encourages all marinas, vessel owners and operators and the public who live along the water to prepare for the storm. Boat owners are advised to check the status of mooring and anchoring arrangements. Vessels not properly secured during a storm can break free from their moorings, become possible safety hazards and can also pose environmental risks as any fluids or chemicals aboard spill or leak into the water.
“The Coast Guard treats every report of an adrift vessel as a possible distress case and launches crews to investigate,” said Lt. William Houde, the Joint Harbor Operations Center chief at Coast Guard Sector San Diego. “By simply taking the time to secure or stow their boats before the storm, mariners can potentially mitigate loss of property, prevent marine pollution and keep rescue crews focused on people truly in distress who need assistance."
The Coast Guard recommends the public keep advised of the storm system through the National Weather Service http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/sgx/, and monitor channel 16 VHF-FM for the most current safety advisories.