With sunny weekend on tap, officials warn of dangers in the water

Coastal oceanographer Francis Smith points out a rip current at Ocean Beach. Coastal oceanographer Francis Smith points out a rip current at Ocean Beach. Photo: Amy Osborne, Special To The Chronicle Photo: Amy Osborne, Special To The Chronicle Image 1 of / 35 Caption Close With sunny weekend on tap, officials warn of dangers in the water 1 / 35 Back to Gallery

As Bay Area residents get out their swim gear and head for area beaches this weekend to bask under sunny skies and warm temperatures, officials warn of hazards lurking in the water.

San Francisco’s Ocean Beach has a particularly dangerous reputation because of its strong waves and cold water, said Paul Newman, a recreational boating safety specialist with the U.S. Coast Guard.

When it comes to handling threatening waters, Newman said people can take a few steps to ensure safety.

“Calmness is huge,” Newman said. “Any situation on the water, if you stay calm, you can save your life. Panic robs us of our ability to breathe.”

Temperatures this weekend will reach 70 degrees Saturday in San Francisco and a few degrees higher Sunday, said Anna Schneider, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

The forecast at Ocean Beach will probably be slightly cooler, Schneider said, with highs expected in the upper 50s. Waves will reach a height of 6 feet throughout Saturday and Sunday.

Most critical to note at Ocean Beach, in particular, are the “enormous amount of rip currents,” said Francis Smith, a coastal oceanographer at UC Berkeley.

Smith put on a wetsuit and held a demonstration for news reporters Friday at Ocean Beach on what swimmers should do if caught in a riptide. Keeping a cool head is crucial, he said, and the best response is to ride the rip current out, then swim parallel to the shore before making it back to the sand.

“Get your bearings. Wait it out,” Smith said. “Let the current take you out. It will take you out.”

Anyone who doesn’t know how to swim should not go near the water, Smith said.

Newman added that one of the most important safety precautions beachgoers should take is to always keep an eye on the ocean. Waves come in sets, he said, adding that even though it may look like there’s a lull in wave activity, there isn’t.

“This is how you can typically get in trouble,” Newman said. “People will get knocked off their feet and taken into the water and panic and then drown. Be ready for a set to come.”

In April 2016, two 17-year-old boys from Vallejo drowned at Ocean Beach when they were hit by a large wave while wading in the surf and dragged out into the deep water.

The boys were among five people who drowned at San Francisco beaches in 2016, according to the San Francisco Fire Department.

Newman also advised that people heading to a beach this weekend with their dogs should never run after the canines into the water because dogs are natural swimmers and will be fine. And in most drowning cases where a victim ran after their dog, the animal survived whereas the pet owner did not, Newman added.

The National Weather Service has issued a small craft advisory that will stay in effect until 4 a.m. Sunday for boaters whose vessels are not equipped to handle larger waves or strong winds.

“The best life jacket is the one you’ll wear,” Newman said, adding that most drownings from boating accidents occur because victims weren’t wearing life jackets.

Bay Area beachgoers also should be cognizant of water temperatures, Newman said.

Water temperatures along the coastline in the Bay Area this weekend will be in the low to mid 50s, according to weather forecasters. Such water temperatures can prompt a “cold shock response,” causing people to gasp and shudder as soon as they’re submerged — especially if it’s by surprise, Newman said.

“This is not to scare you,” Newman said. “Millions of people go to Ocean Beach and have no problems, but sometimes people do.”

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani