Rip Current — Orange, California

1997-08-05 to 1997-08-07 · near Corona Del Mar, Orange, California

Event narrative

Surf whipped up by Hurricane Guillermo pounded beaches in Orange County with waves from 6 to 12 feet high. Hundreds of people were rescued, but rip currents were blamed for three injuries and one death. On the fifth, a 19 year old man was swept away about a mile north of the Huntington Beach Pier. His body was recovered several days later. On the sixth, a teenage boy and girl were pummelled on a beach in Corona Del Mar. Another 18 year old was pulled ashore and sent to the hospital with neck injuries. In Newport Beach, lifeguards made nearly 300 rescues on the fifth and sixth alone.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5616231. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.