High Surf — Orange County Coastal Areas, California

2014-01-20 to 2014-01-22 · Orange County Coastal Areas, California

Event narrative

Huntington Beach consistently reported 8 to 10 foot surf with powerful rip currents and several surf/rip rescues. Newport Beach reported surf of 6 to 8 feet.

Wider weather episode

A series of large, long-period northwest swells, generated by storms moving over the north-central Pacific brought high surf and strong rip currents to portions of the Orange and San Diego County coast during the week of January 20th. This period covers the first of the swells to move through the coastal waters on the 20th-22nd. Areas north of Newport Beach in Orange County and south of Del Mar in San Diego County saw widespread 5 to 8 foot surf with sets to 10 feet. Numerous surf rescues by lifeguards and moderate beach erosion was reported near Pacific Beach in San Diego County.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 494888. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.