High Surf Advisory As Hurricane Marie Pumps Up Southern California Waves
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A high-surf advisory will be in effect for Southern California from noon Tuesday through Friday evening, as Hurricane Marie spins off into the Pacific.
Monday's waves were 1-3 feet with some sets up to 4 feet, and water temperatures will be 67-73 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
But a swell out of the south should produce waves up to about 10 feet by Wednesday.
Only strong swimmers should venture into the stronger surf, which generally creates wrenching rip currents.
In the Belmont Shore neighborhood of Long Beach, construction workers looked to reinforce protective measures, as the higher-than-normal water levels may cause issues on the peninsula.
In Seal Beach, just south of Long Beach, police say they have considered the possibility of shutting down the pier, should conditions become too dangerous.
Residents, meanwhile, have started taking their own protective measures, keeping well in mind recent storm damages from 2010, and again in 2012.
"It can be a problem down here," Seal Beach resident Brian Brown said. "We've had flooding before, so we sandbag when we have to."
Veteran surfers, on the other hand, say they welcome the larger waves.
"If it's good, I'll be going out," surfer Greg Miller said.
LA County Lifeguards tweeted out an official warning on Monday for the heavy surf, which is expected to be strongest Wednesday.
Winds out of the southwest will peak around 15 mph in the late afternoons. Wednesday through Friday, forecasters predict minimal morning fog and highs ranging from the upper 70s at the beaches to about 90 degrees inland.
Some valley highs are expected to exceed 100 degrees later this week.
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