North Coast will feel spring-like, but be careful at the beach

Sunny skies and warm temperatures are expected to grace the North Bay this weekend, ?just in time for pickup games ?of football prior to Sunday’s big Super Bowl extravaganza at Levi’s Stadium.

“It’s going to be a great weekend to be outside,” National Weather Service forecaster Steve Anderson said.

Temperatures are expected to climb into the mid-60s in Santa Rosa starting today and by ?Monday top out at around 70. That’s above-average for this time of year and for some, a welcome break from the wet and clammy conditions that kicked off 2016.

As of Friday, 19.5 inches of rain had been recorded in Santa Rosa since Oct. 1, the official start of the season. That’s below the normal season-to-date average of 21.6 inches. Anderson said rain is not forecast until late next week.

Anderson said the warmer weather is due to a ridge of ?high pressure stationed off ?the coast. Such was the case in January in 2014 and 2015, when a negligible amount of precipitation was recorded in Sonoma County.

By contrast, the first month of 2016 was the wettest January in the county in six years.

This weekend’s springlike conditions are expected to ?draw visitors to the Sonoma Coast, prompting the weather service to issue warnings about beach hazards, including sneaker waves, strong rip currents and shore break, which is when large waves break on or close to the beach.

A person who is caught unaware could be swept out into the ocean and quickly find him or herself in several feet of water, said Joe Stoffers, a California State Parks peace officer and lifeguard assigned to Salt Point State Park.

He said Goat Rock Beach, Wrights Beach and Portuguese Beach are particularity susceptible to shore break. To play it safe, he said beachgoers should avoid walking on wet sand.

“Especially this time of year, if you’re not in tune with the swell forecast, it’s better to stay on dry sand above the berm and away from the wave slope,” he said.

Swells are expected to top out at 10 feet this weekend, five feet below what is officially considered high surf. But Stoffers said strong rip currents could pose problems for surfers at Salmon Creek Beach and other popular riding spots.

And for football fans, the ?forecast for Sunday’s Super Bowl ?in Santa Clara calls for sunny skies and high temperatures in the low 70s.

You can reach Staff Writer Derek Moore at 521-5336 or derek.moore@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @deadlinederek.