A quick-hitting series of Pacific storms will bring potentially damaging waves and rounds of rain and snow to the West Coast lasting into next week.

Waves increasing already; more storms ahead

There are at least three rounds of increased wave activity through Wednesday of the upcoming week:

• Through early Sunday: Perhaps the most potent of these storm systems could bring waves as high as 30 feet in nearshore waters, potentially breaking to 50 feet at favored spots. These highest waves are most likely from Northern California to the Oregon coast.
• Saturday night into Monday: Slightly less potent, but widespread heightened wave activity across much of the West Coast.
• Middle of next week: A smaller storm system could bring in another chance of heightened waves.

The risk for rip currents and sneaker waves will be higher than average through early in the week ahead. The risk of drowning in coastal waters is very high this weekend.

(MORE: When do larger winter storms usually start in the US?)

Boating is also ill-advised this weekend. "Mariners are urged to remain in port during this period of extremely dangerous weather, secure vessels and continue to monitor forecasts for updates," said the National Weather Service in Medford, Oregon, on Thursday morning.

High tides combined with the elevated water levels from El Niño could create multiple feet of coastal flooding during each of these storms.

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Coastal debris, including logs from evergreen trees, could become projectiles in cresting waves during these storms. This debris has killed and seriously injured people on the beaches in the past, according to the National Weather Service in Portland, Oregon.

(MORE: Super El Niño nears record strength)

Wind, rain also expected

These systems will also bring in widespread rain, high elevation snow and gusty conditions.

The first of these storms is moving through the West and Southwest through early Saturday.

Rainfall totals are expected to range from 3-6 inches in southern Oregon, far Northern California, in the northern Sierra Nevada foothills and on Washington's Olympic Peninsula. Lower rainfall totals over an inch are likely from the Bay Area to western Washington and Oregon.

Given that this is the first stronger storm system of the season, flooding is not expected and the rainfall will largely be beneficial. Later storm systems may bring an increasing chance of flooding.

This won't be the craziest snowmaker for the Sierra Nevada, but 1-2 feet of heavy, wet snow is expected with this first storm on the peaks. Snow levels will drop to around 6,000 feet by Saturday morning.

Travel through the Sierra will be very difficult with high snowfall rates and low visibility. Strong winds will further complicate plans. Skies will clear there during the day Saturday.

The next storm will arrive late Saturday across the Pacific Northwest, then sweep southward through much of the West Coast on Sunday.

(MORE: Why snow differs on the slopes in the Rockies, Sierra and Northeast)

The next storm:

Jonathan Belles has been a digital meteorologist for weather.com for 10 years. His favorite weather is tropical weather, but also enjoys covering high-impact weather and news stories and winter storms. He's a two-time graduate of Florida State University and a proud graduate of St. Petersburg College.