Summer weather warms the region, swell brings ocean thrills

Beachgoers flocked to the sand on Wednesday, March 31, as a shot of hot weather hit Southern California, bringing temperatures about 20 degrees higher than normal for this time of year.

People didn’t waste the weather, laying out towels on the sand or getting into the chilly water, where a new south swell was filling in through the day.

Beach goers lay on the sand just north of the Huntington Beach Pier in Huntington Beach, as summer-like temperatures reached nearly 90 degrees inland on Wednesday, March 31, 2021.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
As summer-like temperatures reached nearly 90 degrees inland, a group of friends play beach volley ball just north of the Huntington Beach Pier in Huntington Beach as people flocked to the beach on Wednesday, March 31, 2021. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Body boarders make their way into the water just south of the Huntington Beach Pier in Huntington Beach as summer-like temperatures reached nearly 90 degrees inland on Wednesday, March 31, 2021. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Beach goers take to the water and lay on the sand just south of the Huntington Beach Pier in Huntington Beach, as summer-like temperatures reached nearly 90 degrees inland on Wednesday, March 31, 2021.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A beach goer reads a book on the beach just south of the Huntington Beach Pier in Huntington Beach as summer-like temperatures reached nearly 90 degrees inland on Wednesday, March 31, 2021. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A Huntington Beach lifeguard speaks to swimmers in the water just south of the Huntington Beach Pier in Huntington Beach as summer-like temperatures reached nearly 90 degrees inland as people flocked to the beach on Wednesday, March 31, 2021. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Beach goers take to the water and lay on the sand just north of the Huntington Beach Pier in Huntington Beach, as summer-like temperatures reached nearly 90 degrees inland on Wednesday, March 31, 2021.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Beach goers drag and push their belongings across the sand just north of the Huntington Beach Pier in Huntington Beach as summer-like temperatures reached nearly 90 degrees inland as people flocked to the beach on Wednesday, March 31, 2021. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A skim boarder makes his way into the water just south of the Huntington Beach Pier in Huntington Beach as summer-like temperatures reached nearly 90 degrees inland on Wednesday, March 31, 2021. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A group of friends lay on the sand beneath the Huntington Beach Pier in Huntington Beach as summer-like temperatures reached nearly 90 degrees inland as people flocked to the beach on Wednesday, March 31, 2021. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Beach goers lay on the sand just south of the Huntington Beach Pier in Huntington Beach, as summer-like temperatures reached nearly 90 degrees inland on Wednesday, March 31, 2021.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Two boys make their way across the sand with their body boards just north of the Huntington Beach Pier in Huntington Beach as summer-like temperatures reached nearly 90 degrees inland as people flocked to the beach on Wednesday, March 31, 2021. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Beach goers lay on the sand just north of the Huntington Beach Pier in Huntington Beach, as summer-like temperatures reached nearly 90 degrees inland on Wednesday, March 31, 2021.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A surfer reaches up for his board while surfing just south of the Huntington Beach Pier in Huntington Beach as summer-like temperatures reached nearly 90 degrees inland on Wednesday, March 31, 2021. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A dog rides shotgun in a jeep on Main Street in Huntington Beach as summer-like temperatures reached nearly 90 degrees inland as people flocked to the beach on Wednesday, March 31, 2021. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
With the buildings of downtown Long Beach as a backdrop, beach goers lay on the sand just north of the Huntington Beach Pier in Huntington Beach, as summer-like temperatures reached nearly 90 degrees inland on Wednesday, March 31, 2021.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

At Bolsa Chica State Beach, staffers considered closing the parking lot because of the shortage of spots, State Parks Superintendent Kevin Pearsall said. “I don’t think we’ve ever filled up on a Wednesday.”

The popularity of the sands could be because of spring break or the overall interest in the wide-open beaches since COVID-19 hit, combined with people still working from home, he said.

Lifeguards were added to towers for the first time on a weekday this year.

“It’s warmer in the coastal zones than in the desert area,” Mark Moede, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in San Diego, said.

Long Beach at 1 p.m. was 87 degrees, making it warmer than Palm Springs, which was 83 degrees. The San Diego Airport tied a record when it reached 84 degrees, set in 1910 and again in 1945.

John Wayne Airport showed a high of 88 degrees, while Huntington Beach reached 86 degrees. Santa Ana reached 90 and Fullerton was recorded at 91.

None were record-breaking, but temps were about 15 degrees to 20 degrees higher than normal for this time of year, said meteorologist Adam Roser.

Roser said the region will see slight cooling Friday and into the weekend, when temps should dip to the low 70s for much of Orange County, and into the 60s in some areas.

This week is also marking the first big south swell of the season, with waves already beefing up by Wednesday afternoon. Surfline.com is calling for waves to reach the 4-foot to 6-foot range Thursday and through the weekend, into next week.

Los Angeles County Fire Department Lifeguards put out a warning, noting that spring-time ocean conditions continue to exist.

“This means deep inshore holes and rip currents will likely exist at all county of Los Angeles beaches,” the warning reads, with a reminder to swim, surf or bodyboard in front of an open lifeguard tower.

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