A strong, one-day rainstorm brought flood warnings and dangerous conditions Saturday morning on roads and at beaches in Los Angeles and Orange counties.
A high surf warning is in effect until 10 p.m. Saturday for all Los Angeles County beaches. The highest surf is anticipated at west-facing beaches such as Hermosa, Manhattan and Palos Verdes, National Weather Service forecasters said. The Manhattan Beach Pier will be closed through Sunday because of safety concerns, city officials announced.
The LA area should continue to see waves of 10 to 15 feet, with some reaching as high as 20 feet, accompanied by dangerous rip currents.
In Orange County, a high surf warning and coastal flood advisory will be in effect until 2 a.m. Monday. Forecasters said Orange County beaches will see waves of 6 to 15 feet. According to the NWS, the Orange County locations most susceptible to flooding include Seal Beach, Sunset Beach and Newport Beach.
“Significant flooding of seawater is likely over vulnerable low-lying coastal areas around the time of high tide,” the NWS said. “Damage to coastal roadways and structures is possible. Powerful waves and strong rip currents will pose an exceptional risk of ocean drowning and damage to coastal structures like piers and jetties. Large breaking waves can cause injury, wash people off beaches and rocks, and capsize small boats near shore.”
Forecasters added: “Stay off of beaches and coastal walkways, roads, and structures. Do NOT drive around barricades or through water of unknown depth. Everyone should remain out of the water due to life-threatening surf conditions. Stay off of jetties, piers, and other waterside infrastructure.”
But the sight of the towering waves was a powerful draw in the South Bay.
Dozens of people lined the rocks near the Redondo Beach break wall off Yacht Club way during high tide on Saturday morning. Police had to keep pushing the lookie-loos back behind the barricades.
As they took cell phone videos, spectators had to scramble away from the break wall as water continued to surprise them and splash over short walls and rocks.
Veronica Blackey said the waves were much bigger on Saturday than Friday.
“Wow, this is so powerful,” the Torrance resident said, watching a dolphin jump out of a huge swell.
Mino Lampa, from Carson, has worked as a gatekeeper in the marina for 22 years. He wanted to see if any of the surfers he became friendly with were out on Saturday morning. They weren’t.
Lampa had been standing on the private beach area just west of the Chart House thinking it was a safe area. But he found himself in calf-high water. A bit later, safely behind a waist-high wall, he watched as dozens of wave watchers screeched and scrambled for dry ground as the tide surprised them and rushed over the rocks.
“See, I told you so,” Lampa said. “That’s exactly why I moved.”
The third day of big waves caused minor flooding that closed some Orange County beaches and parking lots Saturday, with the early morning rain storm adding to the wild weather.
Bolsa Chica State Beach sustained minor flooding in two parking lots; the entire beach closed until about noon to let the morning high tide back off, said State Parks Superintendent Kevin Pearsall. Big sand berms put in place the day before helped keep the ocean at bay.
At Doheny State Beach, the south parking lot is closed after seawater flooded the area, said State Parks South Sector Superintendent Scott Kibby. The area just received a new sand supply a few months ago, though officials haven’t yet assessed the area to see how much remains.
San Onofre State Beach was also closed to car traffic due to the muddy road and continued erosion at the entryway. Crystal Cove State Park, a popular hiking and biking area, was also closed due to wet conditions.
Los Angeles County health officials issued an ocean water quality rain advisory until at least 6 a.m. Tuesday, advising people to avoid all water contact, especially near discharging storm drains, creeks, and rivers due to potentially higher bacteria levels in these areas.
Orange County Health Care Agency on Saturday also issued a rain advisory, warning people to stay out of the water for at least three days following a rain storm.
In Long Beach, city officials also urged residents and visitors to drive carefully. Residents in low-lying areas such as Alamitos Bay were urged to be vigilant and prepare for potential localized flooding due to the swells. Sand and sandbags were being made available to residents at city fire stations.
The high surf was the result of powerful cyclones over the northern Pacific waters, according to the NWS.
Conditions are expected to dry out Saturday night and Sunday morning, though very light rain is possible on New Year’s Day. Forecasters said the system will likely only produce less than a tenth of an inch of rain, meaning the Rose Parade should escape any major downfalls, although the NWS conceded the day’s forecast “is still pretty iffy.”
The area will dry out again Tuesday, with another brief storm system predicted to arrive Wednesday.
City News Service contributed to this report.