Two tropical systems are bringing big waves to the Southern California coastline, as well as dangers and warnings for people trying to beat the heat at the beach.
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Strong waves at south-facing beaches started showing up on Sunday with tropical storm Elida, accompanied by humidity and muggy weather.
“The eastern Pacific is active, a lot of storms going on,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Chandler Price. “The surf is quite elevated.”
A high surf advisory is in place through Tuesday. Waves in Orange County and parts of northern San Diego reached 4 to 7 feet yesterday, with sets up to 8 feet. Most of the South Bay is west facing, so waves are smaller there, with larger swell in Malibu and Zuma further north. Conditions are expected to continue in that range Tuesday.
Water temperatures are warmer than normal, Price noted, reading at 75 degrees, which is about 5 or 6 degrees warmer than normal.
There will be a small drop in wave size on Wednesday, but ramping up the coast is tropical storm Fausto, which is expected to create similar wave sizes into the weekend, Price said.
Waves could be upward of 8 feet at Huntington Beach and the Wedge in Newport Beach by Thursday, Price said.
That swell will coincide with warm weather expected to hit Southern California by Friday.
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“The main concern there, is it’s going to be warm this weekend,” he said. “It’s still summer break, people will want to hit the beach. High surf can be dangerous, especially for people who aren’t super used to swimming in the ocean, with rip currents more prevalent.”
Monsoonal flow coming up from the Gulf of California will bring “muggy” weather with humidity. The mountain region could even get some thunderstorms and precipitation.
Temperatures along the coast will be in the high 70s, while inland Orange County and Los Angeles see temps at about 95 degrees, and the Inland Empire reaching 105, Price said.
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tom Kines said there’s a possibility of another one or two tropical systems forming off the west coast of central Mexico over the weekend and early next week, which could bring yet another round of rough surf next week.
Breaking waves could reach 8 or 9 feet, especially for those south-facing beaches, Kines noted. “These conditions can be very dangerous, and it’s advised that as long as the high surf advisories are in effect, to stay out of the water.”
For surfers traveling in from around the world to compete at the Lexus US Open of Surfing starting Saturday, July 25, the incoming tropical storm swells are promising for the popular Huntington Beach contest, with early Surfline.com forecasts showing big surf throughout most of the event.
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