The National Weather Service Jan. 5 extended a high surf warning for Orange County through the evening of Jan. 6. Forecasters for the service said they are expecting 8-to-13-foot waves along the region’s beaches.
“These large waves can be erratic and unpredictable,” the weather service said. “Use extra caution as these large waves will be capable of sweeping people into the turbulent ocean water.”
The public is urged to avoid jetties—small piers made of rocks and concrete—and tidepools which can become hazardous due to the high waves, intense riptides, and flooding, authorities said.
There are also risks with coming into contact with ocean water since it may have bacteria, chemicals, and trash from stream runoffs and excess flooding which can possibly cause illness to those who come into contact.
Meteorologist Brian Adams, of the weather service, said a lot of shoreline areas, including parking lots and roadways, could become flooded.
“Since we have this high surf combined with the higher tides, we certainly could be looking at some nasty coastal flooding issues,” Adams said. “There’s going to be very high-water levels on the beach.”
Southern California’s recent storm–which has now mostly passed—posed a threat of coastal erosion and landslides which have been seen along the coast. One location in Dana Point saw a landslide Jan. 2 which closed the Pacific Coast Highway for two days.
Flooding additionally closed the roadway in Huntington Beach and in Pacific Palisades on the morning of Jan. 5.
Additionally, a portion of the 710 Freeway in Long Beach was temporarily closed Thursday morning due to flooding of up to 4 feet of water.
Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, Six Flags Magic Mountain in Los Angeles, and Legoland in San Diego each closed at various times since Jan. 4 due to the storm.
But overall, Southern California received less rain than anticipated—only 1 to 3 inches—according to the weather service and the storm moved quicker than they had anticipated.
However, rain is expected to continue until Friday with the possibility of thunderstorms, and isolated downpours in some areas.
