1 in 100 waves could reach 55 feet during high-surf warning at Bay Area beaches

Whipped up by powerful storms in the east Pacific Ocean, big waves are rolling toward Northern California beaches, and a high-surf warning remains in effect through Friday at 4 p.m.

Sets of 22-to-24-foot waves were observed at the Bodega Bay and Point Reyes buoys in the North Bay on Thursday morning at about 8 a.m., and the National Weather Service says breakers up to 32 feet high were possible on the beaches Thursday morning.

West- and northwest-facing beaches between Monterey and Sonoma counties could see some isolated waves with faces up to 40 feet high later in the afternoon. Ocean Beach in San Francisco is among those places where exceptionally large waves could break.

MORE: Monster Mavericks waves top 60 feet: 'You could die just trying to get out'

At some off-shore locations, such as Mavericks in Half Moon Bay and Pigeon Point near Pescadero, one in 100 breakers could approach 55 feet, according to the NWS.

The NWS warning advises the public to watch out for strong rip currents, beach erosion and large waves that unexpectedly run higher up the beach than is usual.

Beachgoers should keep an eye on kids and pets and never turn their backs to the ocean.

"This will probably be our biggest swell of the season so far," said Brian Garcia with the National Weather Service in Monterey. "It could be the biggest swell of our season."

Forecasters for the Mavericks Challenge surf contest are watching the swell closely as they try to decide on the ideal day for the big-wave event.

The window for the conest runs until March 31 and surfers are notified up to 72 hours in advance to give them time to travel.

"It's a trifecta for them," said Brian Garcia, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Monterey. "They have to have the large swell, the right winds and good visibility."

Jamie Williams tries to get out to Mavericks on a 40 to 50 foot day at Pillar Point in Princeton-by-the-Sea, Calif. Thursday, January 18, 2018. The huge white water in the channel where surfers normally paddle out made it difficult for surfers to get to Mavericks. Brian Feulner, Special to the Chronicle less Jamie Williams tries to get out to Mavericks on a 40 to 50 foot day at Pillar Point in Princeton-by-the-Sea, Calif. Thursday, January 18, 2018. The huge white water in the channel where surfers normally paddle ... more Photo: Brian Feulner, Special To The Chronicle Photo: Brian Feulner, Special To The Chronicle Image 1 of / 92 Caption Close 1 in 100 waves could reach 55 feet during high-surf warning at Bay Area beaches 1 / 92 Back to Gallery

Odd Persson, 21 years old from Capetown, came out to the Bay Area four days ago trying to get onto 40-to-50-foot waves at Mavericks. He said conditions are less than ideal.

"Terrible," Persson said. "Too much whitewater. No channel and the rip is so strong. I couldn't get out."

Big-wave surfer Jamie Williams was checking out the surf from the shore at Mavericks on Thursday morning.

"It's almost one of those days where you could die just trying to get out," Williams says.

After not being able to get through the whitewater to get out, Williams was picked up by a Jet Ski to get brought out to the lineup but after getting bucked off twice he turned back.