LOS ANGELES (CNS) - High surf will pound Southern California's coast today and dangerous rip currents will endanger swimmers and surfers, forecasters said.
A beach hazards statement, which is a little less serious than a high surf advisory, will be in effect through late this afternoon in Los Angeles, Ventura and parts of Santa Barbara counties ... according the National Weather Service.
The weather service said it is expecting “dangerous rip currents and breaking waves” amid elevated surf of three to six feet... along with some sets of up to seven feet, with minor flooding possible during high tide.
“There is an increased risk of ocean drowning,” warned an NWS statement. “Rip currents can pull swimmers and surfers out to sea. Waves can wash people off beaches and rocks, and capsize small boats near shore. Minor beach erosion and pooling of sea water over normally dry beach areas are possible.
“Remain out of the water due to hazardous swimming conditions, or stay near occupied lifeguard towers. Rock jetties can be deadly in such conditions so stay off the rocks.”
The NWS forecast a combination of mostly cloudy and partly cloudy skies in L-A. County today and highs of 61 degrees on Mount Wilson; 64 in Avalon; 69 at LAX; 71 in Long Beach; 74 in Downtown. L.A., Saugus and Burbank; 75 in Pasadena and San Gabriel; 76 in Woodland Hills; 79 in Palmdale; and 80 in Lancaster. Roughly similar temperatures will prevail through Sunday under cloudy skies, although Friday and Saturday will see spikes of a few degrees.
Partly cloudy skies were forecast in Orange County today along with highs of 58 degrees on Santiago Peak; 64 on Ortega Highway at 2,600 feet; 67 in Laguna Beach and San Clemente; 68 at Fremont Canyon and in Newport Beach; 70 at Trabuco Canyon; 72 in Mission Viejo; and 73 in Yorba Linda, Fullerton, Anaheim and Irvine. Similar temperatures are forecast through Sunday, mostly under sunny skies although coastal cities will experience partly cloudy conditions on Saturday.