Rip Current — San Diego, California

2003-07-04 to 2003-07-05 · near San Onofre, San Diego, California

Wider weather episode

A 16 year old boy slipped off his body-board and drowned in a rip current off La Jolla Shores. Rescue operations were made difficult by the large crowds at the beach. In San Diego County, an estimated 490,000 people went to the beaches to celebrate the Fourth of July. Of these, lifeguards rescued 700 caught in rip currents. In Orange County, lifeguards rescued 166 swimmers from rip currents on July 4. On Saturday, July 5, an estimated 275,000 people were at San Diego County beaches, with lifeguards rescuing 175 from rip currents, In Orange County on July 5, the number of people at the beaches was estimated at 160,000 with lifeguards rescuing 70 from rip currents.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5365760. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.