High Surf Advisory Issued for Southland Beaches

High surf will hammer the Southland coastline from Wednesday through early Friday as a result of a powerful storm over the central Pacific Ocean, National Weather Service forecasters said.

A high surf advisory issued by the NWS will be in effect in Los Angeles County from 7 a.m. Wednesday until 3 a.m. Friday, while in Orange County a less serious beach hazards statement will be in force from Thursday night through Saturday.

The storm has created a long period west-northwest swell that will move into California’s coastal waters this morning, according to an NWS statement. Then, “another, larger swell is expected to approach ... by Friday morning, bringing even higher surf,” and there could be an even larger set of waves Monday, it said.

In L.A. County, the surf will build to between 4 and 8 feet Wednesday, with local sets of 9 feet, according to the NWS. Higher surf was expected to the north, including surf of 10-14 feet along the Central Coast.

“Large waves and rip currents will increase the risk of ocean drowning,” warned an NWS statement. “Sneaker waves can suddenly wash people off of beaches and rock jetties.”

The weather service warned of the possibility of some coastal flooding. It also urged swimmers to use the water near a lifeguard station and, if caught in a rip current, to swim parallel to shore until able to break free.

In Los Angeles County, the highest surf will be at west- and northwest- facing beaches, forecasters said. In Orange County, surf of 4-8 feet with sets of 10 feet is expected starting Thursday, with the highest surf expected north of Newport Beach, they said.

Temperatures, meanwhile, will stay above normal.

The NWS forecast mostly cloudy skies Wednesday and highs of 60 in Palmdale; 61 on Mount Wilson and in Lancaster; 66 in Newport Beach; 67 in Laguna Beach and San Clemente; 68 in Saugus; 69 in Avalon: 70 at LAX; 71 in Burbank; 72 in Long Beach, San Gabriel and downtown L.A.; 73 in Pasadena and Woodland Hills; 74 in Anaheim, Fullerton and Irvine; 75 in Mission Viejo; and 77 in Yorba Linda.

Thursday’s temperatures will be about the same but under partly cloudy skies in Los Angeles County and sunshine in Orange County. Rain and the start of a cooling trend are expected Saturday.

--City News Service, photo credit: Alexander Nguyen