Coast Guard urges SoCal to prepare for heavy weather from Tropical Storm Sergio

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 11th District PA Detachment San Diego Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment San Diego Office: (619) 278-7025 After Hours: (619) 252-1304 PA Detachment San Diego online newsroom

Coast Guard urges SoCal to prepare for heavy weather from Tropical Storm Sergio

SAN DIEGO — The Coast Guard strongly encourages mariners and boaters in the Southern California region to heed the warnings of Tropical Storm Sergio, which is expected to impact the region Thursday morning through Saturday morning.

Tropical Storm Sergio is expected to cause dangerous surf and rip current conditions throughout the San Diego and Los Angeles regions.

San Diego is expected to experience 3-to-6 foot surf Wednesday and 5-to-8 foot surf Thursday with potential to reach 10-foot surf Thursday afternoon.

Los Angeles-Long Beach is expected to experience 5-to-8 foot surf with potential for 10-foot surf Thursday night into Friday morning.

“We strongly urge mariners to take these warnings seriously,” said Capt. Donald Montoro, the Coast Guard Sector San Diego deputy commander. "Maritime weather can be unpredictable and the storm increases the risks to boaters. Please do not place yourself, your family or friends in a dangerous and avoidable situation."

Mariners and beachgoers are encouraged to take the following precautions to protect themselves and their vessels:

• Monitor the weather and heed all marine warnings
• Double-check mooring lines when securing boats and take precautions for items stored loosely aboard
• Secure all paddle craft so they do not end up in the water and cause a false distress
• Recreational boaters, personal watercraft and paddle craft users are advised to stay off the water due to extremely hazardous sea conditions
• Swimmers, surfers and wind surfers are strongly urged to stay out of the water during this period of heavy weather due to increased risk of drowning from rip currents and sneaker waves
• If mariners must get underway, they should create a float plan and send it to friends and families before getting underway, which consists of a description of the vessel, the number of people aboard, the destination and the expected return time
• Always wear a proper life jacket when on the water and use VHF-FM channel 16 to notify rescuers in the event of an emergency
• For additional information on the storm, visit the National Weather Service or National Hurricane Center

-USCG-