Southern California surfers will rejoice but lifeguards will bemoan the arrival Sunday of a powerful south swell that will last through Tuesday.
Surfline today issued an advisory calling for wave heights of five to eight feet along many south-facing beaches but much larger surf -- perhaps cresting to 15-plus feet -- in some areas.
Orange County beaches will receive the highest surf, with eight- to 10-foot waves expected at some spots. Wave heights could max out at 15-plus feet at the famous Wedge in Newport Beach.
"As the new swell begins to arrive, very intermittent and occasional large waves could suddenly surprise and sweep unsuspecting persons off steep beaches, rocks, tide pools, jetties, break walls," the Surfline advisory reads. "Extremely hazardous surf-zone rips and strong south to north currents in all south-facing areas beginning by Sunday through Tuesday."
The timing is daunting for lifeguards, who annually must contend with large holiday crowds not accustomed to dealing with riptides and strong surf. There will be lots of rescues and, hopefully, no drownings.
-- Pete Thomas
File photo taken from Corona del Mar in Orange County courtesy of Wikipedia
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