High surf: 10-foot waves forecast for some L.A. County beaches
A surfer catches air while riding waves near the Malibu Pier during a high-surf advisory on Aug. 27, 2014.
Expecting waves as high as 10 feet to pummel the shoreline Sunday, the National Weather Service issued a high-surf advisory for Los Angeles County beaches.
The big southern swell -- a ripple effect of a storm created off the coast of New Zealand several days ago -- is expected to bring dangerous swimming conditions, said weather service meteorologist David Sweet.
“Once those waves are created, they keep traveling until they reach land,” Sweet said. “So we can thank our friends Down Under.”
Malibu, Zuma and Palos Verdes should see 5- to 8-foot-high waves -- with the occasional 10-footer -- peaking Sunday afternoon. The high surf is expected to continue through Monday and then die down by Tuesday night, he said. The weather service advisory said 4- to 6-foot-high waves could hit between Manhattan Beach and Santa Monica Beach.
Some beach erosion and “large and powerful” rip currents are also expected, Sweet said, urging people to be careful standing along the shoreline or on jetties.
“Never turn your back to the ocean,” he said, “you don’t want any waves sneaking up on you.”
For more news from the Los Angeles County, follow @marisagerber
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