At least 8 injured in California as massive waves flood coastal towns
In Southern California's Ventura County, a massive wave crashed through and over beach barriers, sending a surge of water rushing inland and catching several onlookers by surprise, leaving eight hospitalized.
Parade of storms continue to blast California
A series of storms is impacting the West Coast, with the next storm this weekend. Each will bring a threat for flash flooding, but the overall threat appears low at this time.
VENTURA, Calif. – Monster waves from a powerful Pacific storm battered beach towns up and down the California coast Thursday, leaving at least eight people injured and a string of coastal communities cleaning up from seawater intrusions.
From San Diego to Los Angeles and north beyond San Francisco, the National Weather Service issued Coastal Flood Warnings and High Surf Warnings for breaking waves between 28 and 33 feet. Some locations were forecast to see waves as high as 40 feet.
STRONG EL NINO WINTER: WHAT KIND OF WEATHER YOU CAN EXPECT
Powerful wave upends several people as high surf pounds Pacifica
On Thursday, powerful waves crashed over a seawall in Pacifica, California, soaking and knocking several people off their feet. Meanwhile, big swells caused chaos along the coast.
The massive waves overtook beaches and coastal roads. Some even crashed against homes and businesses.
Monster waves crush California beach town
Monster wave after wave clobbered the Capitola Pier and crashed onto local businesses along the beach. Take a look at the inches of sea foam that look more like snow left behind.
In Southern California's Ventura County, a massive wave crashed through and over beach barriers, sending a surge of water rushing inland and catching several onlookers by surprise. Video from the chaotic scene showed people scrambling to escape the wave with at least one car carried inland in the floodwaters. Eight people were sent to the hospital with minor injuries, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office.
8 INJURED AS MASSIVE WAVE SMASHES INTO BEACH SPECTATORS NEAR LOS ANGELES
Wave injures onlookers in Ventura, California
Video captures moment massive wave smashes into beach spectators northwest of Los Angeles
There were multiple incidents that first responders had to attend to along the coastline. However, none of the injuries reported were life-threatening.
In addition, Ventura County firefighters were called to the Oxnard Harbor, where a fisherman fell overboard into the cold water Thursday evening. Fortunately, the fisherman was rescued and is expected to recover.
The debris from the coastal flooding deposited on streets was so heavy that road crews used plows to clear the scenic State Highway 1, south of San Francisco. Other stretches of the road were too buried to clear.
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Image 1 of 5Road crews in Santa Cruz County had to plow debris off of the Pacific Coast Highway after massive waves hit the coast. (@CaltransD5 via X)
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Image 2 of 5Rio Del Mar Esplanade and Seacliff Beach are buried under debris. (@CHPscrz via X)
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Image 3 of 5Rio Del Mar Esplanade and Seacliff Beach are buried under debris. (@CHPscrz via X)
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Image 4 of 5The City of Santa Cruz closed the wharf, several beaches and a cliff walk due to the pounding surf. (City of Santa Cruz)
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Image 5 of 5Rio Del Mar Esplanade and Seacliff Beach are buried under debris. (@CHPscrz via X)
Officials issued evacuation orders for several northern and central California coastal communities.
Residents said they were shocked to see the waves so large. Many went to the beaches to get pictures and videos. One video shows shocked photographers screaming and running from a monster wave in Capitola.
Surfers bracing for massive waves along California coast
High Surf Warnings for breaking waves between 28 and 33 feet. Some locations were forecast to see waves as high as 40 feet.
"Before anyone says anything, right after a bigger wave came, everyone was asked to leave and evacuate the Esplanade," Yesica Guzman posted on social media. "The cops were making sure everyone was safe. No one got injured due to the waves, at least no one near us. Shortly after this video, everyone received the evacuation notices and the cops evacuated anyone near."
CALIFORNIA BEACH HOME TO SOME OF LARGEST WAVES IN THE WORLD
High surf sends seawater spilling down Ventura beachside road
Large swells along the California coast pushed seawater down a beachside street in Ventura, California, as high surf peaked on Thursday.
"We put evacuation warnings into place around 8 a.m. (Thursday) morning for this area, and, as you can see, these waves are incredibly powerful," Ashley Keehn, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office Information Officer, told KTVU FOX 2. "They're washing logs up here. A lot of debris, a lot of driftwood. So we've been asking people to avoid the direct coastal area."
Not everyone heeded the advice, however, and ended up soaked.
ACTIVE EL NINO PATTERN DELIVERS WITH SURF AS HIGH AS 50 FEET IN PACIFIC
A large wave in Pacifica, California near San Francisco took one onlooker by surprise.
(KTVU FOX 2)
The rescue crews in Ventura County were kept busy dealing with numerous rescue and injury calls due to the high waves that caused damage to houses and swept onlookers off piers and beaches. One wave, estimated to be 20 feet high, smashed onto an ocean pier.
Dangerously high surf, coastal flooding threats return Saturday
According to the NWS, high surf will decrease a little on Friday but will increase again on Saturday as powerful Pacific cyclones continue to send massive swells toward the West Coast, renewing coastal flooding threats. A storm offshore Wednesday measured at a peak minimum pressure of 960 millibars was followed close behind Thursday by another storm measuring as low as 970 millibars at its peak strength, according to NOAA surface analysis charts.
Satellite image shows a massive storm in the Pacific Ocean on Dec. 28, 2023 generating damaging surf along California.
(CIRA / RAAM-B)
Waves through Saturday are expected to reach as high as 15-20 feet with sets to 25 feet along the central California coast, and 10-15 feet with sets to 20 feet along hard-hit Ventura County.
"These are forecast to be EXTREMELY DANGEROUS conditions, as powerful waves and life-threatening rip currents pose an exceptional risk of ocean drowning and damage to coastal structures such as piers and jetties," The NWS wrote Thursday night. "Overall, this is expected to be an exceptional high-surf and coastal flooding event that has not occurred in many years."
HOW WEATHER IMPACTS WAVES DURING SURFING COMPETITIONS
Coastal flood alerts for California for Dec. 29-30, 2023.
(FOX Weather)
Coastal Flood Warnings and High Surf Warnings remain in effect in Southern California until Saturday night, with the worst of the flooding expected during high tide.
Due to the High Surf Warnings, all Oxnard public beaches are closed through Sunday.
"Use caution at the beach and stay well back from the water's edge," the NWS warned. "There is a high risk of ocean drowning for surfers and beachgoers."