Hurricane Javier Deteriorating 1,000 Miles Away : Heavy Surf Brings Perils, Problems and Pleasures

Surf generated by a deteriorating tropical storm 1,000 miles southwest of here continued to pound beaches from Zuma to Newport on Friday, creating a hazard for swimmers, extra problems for lifeguards . . . and near-perfect conditions for surfers.

Earlier in the week, waves generated by Hurricane Javier were running 15 feet or more on south-facing beaches--a bit intimidating for even the hardiest and most experienced surfers.

But by Friday the storm had expended much of its energy, and while a heavy surf advisory remained in effect along the coastline, lifeguards said the breakers were down to an average of 4 to 6 feet (with occasional sets to 10 feet) at Huntington Beach, 3 to 5 feet with occasional 8-foot rogues at Newport, and a mere 2 to 4 feet at Zuma.

Lifeguard Lt. James Richards said his unit at Zuma was warning swimmers and surfers alike that “they are in a hazardous riptide area.”

But Huntington Beach lifeguard Matt Karl said he hopes that the surf will stay up for a while, because it is creating near-perfect conditions for the annual Op Pro Surfing Championships that began there earlier this week.

“We had good surf last year,” Karl said, “but I think this year it is even a little bit better.”

Weather Service spokesman Bob Grebe said the surf will taper off gradually through the long Labor Day weekend.

“The largest sets are arriving at irregular intervals,” he said, “and it is still dangerous to fish or observe the waves from exposed coastal structures or rocks.”

Nonetheless, about 500,000 people visited Los Angeles and Orange County beaches Friday, and lifeguards said they are expecting more than twice that number as the weekend hits full swing.

High temperature at Los Angeles Civic Center on Friday was 91 degrees, and the weather service said this should be the high point for the next few days, with a gradual cooling and drying trend expected to hold highs in the mid-80s, with a weak, upper-level low-pressure system just off the Pacific Northwest coast inducing a dry westerly wind flow aloft and inviting moist marine air to cross the coastline each night.

Thunderstorm activity that has troubled mountains and deserts for the past few days was gradually abating Friday, and forecasters said skies should be clear by Sunday with seasonably warm temperatures--and just a little wind.