Californians are bracing for third day of monster surf that has already damaged countless ocean-side properties.
During the first round of severe surf Thursday, nearly 20 beachgoers were swept away by a particularly powerful wave that slammed into a barrier in Ventura County.
First responders also rescued about 10 people there Friday after the group ‘thought they were able to navigate that high surf,’ officials said.
Two beachgoers then had to pull a lifeguard out of the water as he struggled to make it back ashore, a firefighter told CNN.
Though hazards are expected lessen Saturday, waves slamming into California’s Bay Area may still peak at 40 feet, officials warned. And as the weather moves south to Central and SoCal, residents can expect more widespread waves of 25 feet.
Despite the warnings, locals and surfers continue to flock to the piers to engage in ill-advised exploits.
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Californians are bracing for third day of unusually large surf that’s already damaged countless properties. Mammoth waves towering over 20 feet are seen hitting one of the plagued piers Friday, when first responders rescued about 10 people
Two beachgoers (not pictured) then had to pull a lifeguard out of the water, as he struggled to make it back ashore. Hazards are expected to continue Saturday, but locals continue to flock to the piers to take in the waves. The two kids pictured were one of several struck by a massive wave seen in Santa Cruz Friday, almost leading to another water rescue
‘Super stoked to be out here,’ said Lilly Baker, one of several surfers and spectators who descended on Northern California’s Mavericks Beach Thursday, where waves 25 miles south of San Francisco reached as high as 40 feet.
‘It’s just awesome to have everyone else out here appreciating like what the California coast has to offer,’ the 23-year-old student said, as jet skis navigated the choppy waters behind her.
Andre Assadi, a 22-year-old Oakland software engineer, marveled about the vantage the region’s cliffs offered over the legendary break.
‘This perspective is kind of weird because you can’t really see how big the waves are from the cliffs over here, but we saw a jet ski kind of flip over so that was wild,’ she recalled.
Eli Eccles, a 23-year-old student from Berkeley, explained how it had always been ‘a bucket list item’ of hers to ‘go and see Mavericks firsthand’ to see ‘the beauty’ the beach has to offer.
‘It’s always been a dream,’ she said, oblivious to the danger of the waves she and other spectators were witnessing through the drizzle and heavy fog below them.
‘It’s awesome to be here today,’ she said on the first day of the weather disaster, when a high surf warning remained in effect until Friday for counties along the Central and Northern California coast.
Such alerts remain in effect Saturday – though are unlikely to deter the countless onlookers who have found themselves captivated by the spectacular surf.
A seawall is seen getting pounded in La Jolla, one of several seaside villages under high surf alerts as the unusual weather continues
The waves have led to an array of ill-advised water sports – leading to rescues, washed-away citizens and injuries
A surfer is seen being thrust into the air by a 15-footer brought by the dangerous swell in Torrey Pines State Beach on Thursday
A heavy machinery clears mud and fallen trees off the beach, as massive waves hit the California coastline, in Santa Cruz county Thursday, when the waves began
Ahigh surf warning remained in effect until Friday, for counties along the Central and Northern California coast. A stricken beach in Santa Cruz county is seen here
Warnings remain in effect Saturday – though they unlikely to deter the curious onlookers who have found themselves captivated by the spectacular surf
Though hazards are expected lessen Saturday, waves slamming into California ’s Bay Area may still peak at 40 feet, officials said
Throughout the day, waves will hit 28 to 33 feet. Still, locals continue to flock to the plagued piers
Waves, meanwhile, continue to surge over strategically installed seawalls. They are strong enough to carry parked cars – and people – down streets and into significant intersections.
Such displays, in many cases, have blocked first responders’ paths – leading to an array of water rescues, washed-away cars, and warnings Friday from the National Weather Service that ‘these conditions are deadly!’
But Californians are notoriously defiant – especially when it comes to catching, or even witnessing, the perfect wave.
Footage shows them riding, swimming, and even whale-watching as recently as Friday, when Ventura first responders pulled about 10 people out of the surf.
‘We know the waves look impressive and we understand the drive to want to come here,’ Ventura fire captain Brian McGrath McGrath told TNLA Friday after the rescue operations, which led to one of his men being in need of help himself.
The National Weather Service in Los Angeles similarly said that for the weekend, when coastal areas of central and Southern California will continue to be battered: ‘Beaches, piers, vulnerable harbors should NOT be considered safe.’
McGrath, meanwhile, told the CNN affiliate Friday that onlookers are adding to roadblocks obstructing first responders’ paths, as waves clocking at 28 to 33 feet traverse seawalls.
Several surfers and spectators are seen on Northern California’s Mavericks Beach Thursday to watch surfers, despite waves reaching as high as 40 feet
‘It’s just awesome to have everyone else out here appreciating like what the California coast has to offer,’ 23-year-old student said as jet skis navigated the choppy waters behind her
‘This perspective is kind of weird because you can’t really see how big the waves are from the cliffs over here, but we saw a jet ski kind of flip over so that was wild,’ another spectator said
Another attendee explained how it had always been ‘a bucket list item’ of hers to ‘go and see Mavericks firsthand’ to see ‘the beauty’ the beach has to offer – despite officials warning locals to stay away from the shore. ‘So it’s awesome to be here today’
‘Beaches, piers, vulnerable harbors should NOT be considered safe,’ the National Weather Service in Los Angeles said Friday of the forecast for the weekend, when coastal areas of central and Southern California will keep being battered by the abnormally large surf
Fire officials in hard-hit Ventura County – seen here Thursday – said onlookers are adding to the roadblocks obstructing first responders’ paths, as waves clocking at 28 to 33 feet continue to traverse strategically placed seawalls
Huge waves pounded Ventura Thursday, and footage captured the moment several beachgoers were slammed into by a rogue wave that easily swept away at least 20 of them
The rogue wave submerged bystanders at Pierpont Beach on Seaward Avenue around 11 a.m. That area has been hit the hardest with what the National Weather Service called ‘tremendous wave energy’
A whale-watching boat is seen nearly tipping over from strong surf over Mission Beach during San Diego Thursday, when officials warned against entering or even nearing the Pacific
Flooding in a local hotel also caused damage to all of its rooms on the building’s first floor, he said – in just one instance of the potentially millions of dollars-worth of damage wrought by the late-year surge.
Beachside homes and businesses in places like Hermosa, Manhattan and Palos Verdes have also been hit by deluges of water, which have damaged city infrastructure on the water-lined streets.
So far, Ventura County – which is part of the Greater Los Angeles area – has been hit the hardest, with a phenomenon the National Weather Service has billed as ‘tremendous wave energy.’
The county, along with the beaches in Hermosa, Manhattan and Palos Verdes, will again face the most extreme surf on Saturday, official said, warning how the waves are poised to top out in the triple-overhead neighborhood once more.
The waves – stretching as far south as San Diego and far north as the Bay Area – will still be near double-digit heights on Sunday.
Northern Californians, however, are set to be spared from such huge waves – while residents of central and SoCal will continue to be battered by extreme surf.
So far, Ventura County – which is part of the Greater Los Angeles area – has been hit the hardest, with a phenomenon the National Weather Service has billed as ‘tremendous wave energy’
The county, along with the beaches in Hermosa, Manhattan and Palos Verdes, will again face the most extreme surf on Saturday, official said, warning how the waves are poised to top out in the triple-overhead neighborhood once more
Flooding in a local hotel also caused damage to all of its rooms on the building’s first floor, Ventura fire officials said – in just one instance of the potentially millions of dollars-worth of damage wrought by the late-year surge
Citing the timing of high tide, officials Saturday said coastal flooding is most likely to occur around 10:15am PT. Wave heights, however, happen later in the day, they said – closer to 3 pm
Citing the timing of high tide, officials Saturday said coastal flooding is most likely to occur around 10:15am PT.
Wave heights, however, happen later in the day, they said – closer to 3 p.m.
Residents in affected areas can expect waves to reach about 25 feet.
A surf warning and a coastal flood advisory will remain in effect throughout the weekend, officials said.