Climate and Weather

San Diego has numerous beaches for locals and visitors to enjoy, each with its own amenities and regulations. The city of San Diego highly encourages all visitors to consider the safety guidelines outlined on their website: https://www.sandiego.gov/lifeguards/safety 

Also, remember that in San Diego there is lots of marine life. You'll often encounter various animals at the beach, including sting rays, sharks, fish, seals, sea lions, jellyfish, and more. Keep a safe distance when encountering marine life. When entering the water, do the Sting Ray Shuffle to make sure you don't get stung by a sting ray!

Other Important water safety terms and concepts include:

• Rip current or Rip tide: a very strong, localized current that flows away from the shoreline toward the ocean, perpendicular or at an acute angle to the shoreline. If caught in a rip current, swim sideways until free. Do NOT swim against the current's pull.
• High Surf Advisory or Conditions: often the result of strong coastal storm systems, this means there will be high winds and and big, strong waves near coastal areas.  

California is vulnerable to earthquakes. Click on the following link for information on how to get real time earthquake alerts: https://earthquake.ca.gov/get-alerts/

Most people can survive an earthquake and minimize its damage simply by becoming aware of potential hazards and taking some basic earthquake preparedness measures. Prepare an earthquake kit with food and water, flashlight, radio, extra batteries, and a first aid kit.

Since earthquakes strike without warning, it’s important to practice earthquake safety now. The longer one waits, the greater the risk. Experts know that damaging earthquakes are coming but they don’t know when. Knowing that you know what to do (and what not to do) before, during, and after a quake, however strong, will assist in keeping you safe.

Here are a few points to remember during an earthquake:

• If there is an earthquake, get under something, such as a desk or table. Your back should be to the window.
• Protect your face, and try to make your body as small as possible.
• If you are outside, try to move to an open area away from trees, power lines, or objects, which could fall.
• If you are in an automobile, stop in an open area if possible.
• If you are home, check utility lines and appliances for damage that could cause a fire. Do not touch electrical wires.
• Turn on your radio for information.
• Be prepared for aftershocks. Although most of these are smaller than the main shock, some may be large enough to cause additional damage or injuries.

For more information about earthquake preparedness, visit: http://blink.ucsd.edu/safety/resources/training/earthquake.html.

Tsunamis are giant waves caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions under the sea. Although the likelihood of a tsunami is very low, there are parts of the San Diego coastline that could be affected. Visit the following page to learn more about which areas are most at risk: https://www.conservation.ca.gov/cgs/tsunami/maps/san-diego  

If there is a tsunami warning, take immediate steps to get to safety: https://www.weather.gov/media/owlie/TsunamiSafety-OnePager-02-28-2019.pdf