Above-Average Swells, Rip Currents Trigger High Surf Advisory Along Beaches
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Southern California beaches were busy on Monday as beach-goers were warned to be extra careful due to above-average surf and rip currents.
KNX 1070's Ron Kilgore reports that Jetty fisherman are at risk, due to surf that is up to two feet above normal as a high-surf advisory will be on effect through Wednesday.
Warm temperatures are sending people to the coast to escape unusual winter heat.
"Isn't that amazing," beach-goer Jennifer Koken said. "We've been out here almost every day for the last week. It's been beautiful."
On the beaches, lifeguards are making certain that those who are surfing, body boarding, or swimming stay relatively close to the shore.
Veteran surfers, meanwhile, are warning that conditions out on the water are not currently ideal for beginners.
"Not during this time of year," one surfer said. "Not during the Winter. During Summer, definitely."
"We had twenty-two physical swimming rescues where we pulled twenty-two people out of the water today," LA County Lifeguard Capt. Chris Linkletter said on Monday. "The tide is changing, the surf is coming up and down, the lateral current is moving, so the conditions are constantly changing, and we want people to be aware."
Linkletter says the warm temperatures, larger swells and holiday brought 100,000 visitors to the beaches of South Bay on Monday, with six to eight foot waves in Manhattan Beach.
The largest surf through the advisory will take place at West-facing beaches between Manhattan Beach and Cabrillo.
Captain Linkletter advises beach goers to check with open lifeguard stations to ask what the local conditions are going to be like.