High Surf — Orange County Coastal Areas, California

2014-03-01 to 2014-03-02 · Orange County Coastal Areas, California

Event narrative

Lifeguards reported 8 to 15 foot surf at Newport Beach. Lifeguards reported 6 to 10 foot surf at San Clemente State Beach. Lifeguards reported 10 foot surf at Huntington Beach.

Wider weather episode

The strong upper level low pressure system that brought damaging wind and flooding on February 28, continued to produce bands of rain and snow, along with gusty winds through March 1. The majority of the flooding occurred on February 28th, but minor street flooding was still being reported from continued rain on March 1 from Riverside to Vista and San Diego as areas of heavy rain occurred during the morning of March 1st and then was followed by a continuous line of heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms late in the afternoon. Additional rain on March 1 resulted in flooding in Oceanside, Temecula, Sea World San Diego, as well as minor street flooding in Mission Viejo and a few other locations. Road closures remained in effect near Forest Falls due to a major debris flow that occurred the afternoon and evening of February 28th. Numerous power outages continued into the 1st for many residents in the San Bernardino County mountains as well. Up to 8 inches of snow was reported in the San Bernardino County mountains as well. Strong onshore winds combined with a large west-southwest swell to generate high surf along the San Diego and Orange County beaches with strong rip currents on the 1st as well.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 508017. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.