Big waves pounded NorCal coast Saturday: Record breakers in Monterey Bay

As a swell moved in from the west, big waves pounded the Northern California coast on Saturday.

The National Weather Service (NOAA) buoys recorded waves from 20 to 30-plus feet between Cape San Martin to the south and Point Arena to the north.

Monterey Bay recorded the largest waves it has seen in 30 years with the swell reaching 34.12 feet at one point. The previous record was 32.8 feet in 2008.

Big waves pounded the coast at McClures Beach in Point Reyes National Seashore on Jan. 21, 2017. Big waves pounded the coast at McClures Beach in Point Reyes National Seashore on Jan. 21, 2017. Photo: Don Dianda Photo: Don Dianda Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Big waves pounded NorCal coast Saturday: Record breakers in Monterey Bay 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

Bay Area resident Don Dianda took photos of the surf at McClures Beach in Point Reyes National Seashore at 11 a.m. on Saturday (see pics above).

"I like to shoot the surf at this particular beach whenever the raw swell pushes beyond 10 feet at 15-plus seconds," Dianda said. "This was easily the biggest day I've ever seen -- the beach was completely gone & the ocean surge generated by large sets forced me to retreat 100 yards up the trail."

"The big storm out over Pacific and all the wind way out there turned into big waves that worked their way to the coast," said Suzanne Sims, a meteorologist in the NOAA's Monterey office. "There was a lot of water that washed up in places like Capitola and Aptos. Water got up on the roads."

The surf is going down today with waves expected to range from 13 feet to 18 feet.