If you’re trying to beat extreme inland heat and are heading to the beach — be warned, the waves will be extreme, wild and dangerous.
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Hurricane Genevieve has gained force this week, with swells expected to beef up waves to the 8- to 10-foot range at south-facing beaches, and larger at some areas, posing hazards for beachgoers who will be met with big surf and strong rip currents.
“It’s going to be extreme, we believe, for the next couple of days,” Newport Beach Lifeguard Chief Brian O’Rourke said.
The National Weather Service issued a High Surf Advisory starting Wednesday and lasting through Saturday evening, along with a Coastal Flood Advisory due to extreme evening high tides of nearly 7 feet, with warnings of flooded parking lots, parks and roads and erosion through 3 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 1.
West-facing beaches could see waves in the 3- to 6-foot range, according to the National Weather Service.
Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to dangerous surf conditions, the NWS warned.
Surfline forecaster Kevin Wallis said the south-southeast swell from Hurricane Genevieve bringing the big waves was already starting to fill in Tuesday afternoon, building further over the next couple of days, with a peak in size late Wednesday and into Thursday.
In addition, there’s a south-southwest swell from a storm down near New Zealand about 10 days ago that will also bring large surf across Orange County, he noted.
For the Lexus US Open of Surfing on the southside of the HB Pier, forecasters are calling for waves in the 6- to 10-foot range, with a strong south-to-north current Wednesday afternoon through the first half of Friday.
The largest waves Wednesday afternoon and Thursday could reach up to 12 feet, he noted. The surf will steadily fade for the finals weekend, but will remain overhead, about 5- to 7-foot, through the first half of Saturday and a “fun and rippable” 3- to 5-foot range on Sunday, the final day of the event, Wallis said.
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Los Angeles County Fire Department Lifeguard spokesman Pono Barnes said the swell energy is already filling in, with guards preparing for a busy week ahead.
Last weekend, especially on Saturday as the tropical storm Fausto filled in, was one for the books for LA County lifeguards, which recorded 1,950 rescues.
Los Angeles beaches are expected to see 4- to 6-foot surf in areas such as Manhattan Beach, Venice and Malibu, with potential for sizable surf at Will Rogers and Santa Monica beaches, Barnes said.
“We have people, swell and warm water, and it’s summertime. And the beach is the most inexpensive thing you can do with the family on the weekend,” Barnes said. “All of those things are going to come into alignment and I think we will see impressive numbers as well this coming weekend.”
Departments are fully staffed up for summer, he said.
O’Rourke said the forecast is looking “robust,” with waves expected in the 6- to 10-foot range at south-facing beaches in the city, even larger at the Wedge in Newport Beach.
“Our lifeguards, we’ve been busy,” he said. “We’ve had a very active summer.”
Some of the safer areas may be on the north side of the Newport Pier up to 36th Street, or in Newport Bay.
The most important tip if heading to the coast, O’Rourke said, is to check in with lifeguards and always listen to what they say about hazardous areas.
“We want people to be safe. The conditions could be, in certain areas, in the extreme range that poses definite risk to swimmers,” Barnes said. “Elevated surf, along with extremely elevated rip currents.”