20-foot surf pummels Central Coast, brings dangerous waves to Southland

Waves of up to 20 feet crashed into the Central California coast Monday, kicking off the season’s biggest surf event and prompting warnings from officials.

The large surf event is expected to last through Sunday, with the largest swells striking west- and northwest-facing beaches, said Kathy Hoxsie, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. The strongest surf event is expected Thursday.

Reports of 18- to 20-foot swells along Morro Bay on Monday forced officials to ban mariners from entering the harbor.

In the Central Coast, a 15- to 20-foot surf was expected to pummel the beaches. In Los Angeles and Ventura counties, beaches could get up to a 12-foot surf.

“The direction it comes from has a big influence on what the impacts are,” Hoxsie said.

That means boats, surfers and swimmers could be pushed against rocks and into jetties, she said. Bystanders could potentially be knocked down and swept to sea, Hoxsie said. She urged them: “Don’t turn your back on the water.”

“It’s going to be pretty hazardous out there,” she said.

A storm from the Gulf of Alaska is producing this week’s large, high surf, the weather service said.

By Thursday, another storm will bring cold air and windy conditions, leading to dangerous surf conditions, Hoxsie said. Temperatures will also fall by 20 degrees, she said.

For breaking news in California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA.

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