Offshore storms are thrusting colossal waves towards California's shores, delivering awe to beachgoers but also wreaking havoc with flooding, road closures, and perilous rip currents. In a recent incident along a Ventura beach, nearly 20 individuals were briefly swept away, resulting in eight hospitalizations.
This wave onslaught is not a fleeting occurrence; towering waves, some reaching up to 30 feet, are anticipated along various California coastal areas throughout the weekend. The surge brings not only high water levels but also rip currents, triggering coastal flood alerts and high-surf alerts spanning from the US-Mexico border to north of the Bay Area.
Waves, coupled with elevated tides, inundated Santa Cruz along the central coast, prompting the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office to issue evacuation warnings for certain areas near Seacliff State Beach and Rio Del Mar. Coastal flooding at the Rio Del Mar Esplanade led to road closures, urging caution and prioritizing safety.
Ventura, just northwest of Los Angeles, experienced a dramatic event where 15 to 20 onlookers were briefly swept away by a large wave that breached a beach barrier. Streets in the vicinity and access points to the Ventura Pier were closed to discourage beachgoers, emphasizing the risks posed by unpredictable waves.
Aerial footage from CNN affiliate KABC captured the aftermath, depicting residents grappling with the aftermath of foamy, sandy inundation. The Southern California coast faced large swells, with one reaching about 20 feet at Ventura Pier, heightening concerns about dangerous surf, life-threatening rip currents, and coastal flooding.
The central and Ventura County coasts, along with Hermosa, Manhattan, and Palos Verdes beaches, are expected to bear the brunt of the impacts, with 15 to 20-foot waves potentially causing damaging coastal flooding. The National Weather Service in Los Angeles issues a stark warning of extremely dangerous beach conditions, urging beachgoers to stay out of the water due to perilous surf conditions and possible life-threatening rip currents. Erosion of beaches is also anticipated.
Ocean Beach, near San Diego, witnessed crowds of curious onlookers and surfers gathering to witness the spectacle. However, the magnitude of the waves prompted caution, with not all surfers venturing into the tumultuous surf.
Northern California faces its own challenges, with the Bay Area under a coastal flood warning and a high-surf warning in effect until Friday morning. Waves of 28 to 33 feet, with the possibility of reaching 40 feet at favored locations, pose a significant threat to areas including San Francisco, Monterey Bay, Point Reyes, and Big Sur.
A coastal flood advisory remains in effect through Friday afternoon, covering the region from west of Cloverdale to Big Sur. Although an evacuation order was briefly issued for a portion of Marin County near San Francisco, it has since been lifted.
As California contends with the consequences of these powerful storm waves, memories of a deadly storm that battered the coast in January 2023 linger, emphasizing the ongoing battle between the state's coastal communities and the forces of nature.
Yorumlar