Coast Guard urges caution ahead of high surf conditions along Southern California coast

united states coast guard 

News Release  

U.S. Coast Guard 11th District PA Detachment LA/LB
Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment LA/LB
Office: (310) 521-4260
After Hours: (310) 781-0619
PA Detachment LA/LB online newsroom

Coast Guard urges caution ahead of high surf conditions along Southern California coast

SAN PEDRO, Calif. — The Coast Guard strongly encourages mariners to prepare for high surf conditions to impact the Southern California region Monday morning through Tuesday evening.

The heavy weather is expected to cause dangerous surf and rip current conditions off the coast of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

 The impacted areas are expected to experience strong rip currents and up to 6-10 foot waves with potential for 12-foot surf.

During high surf advisories there is an increased risk for ocean drownings. Strong rip currents can pull swimmers and surfers out to sea. Large breaking waves can cause injury, wash people off beaches and rocks and even capsize small boats near shore. 

Mariners and beachgoers are encouraged to take the following precautions to protect themselves and their vessels:

  • Monitor the weather and heed all marine warnings
  • Double-check mooring lines when securing boats and take precautions for items stored loosely aboard
  • Secure all paddle craft so they do not end up in the water and cause a false distress
  • Recreational boaters, personal watercraft and paddle craft users are advised to stay off the water due to extremely hazardous sea conditions
  • Swimmers, surfers and wind surfers are strongly urged to stay out of the water during this period of heavy weather due to increased risk of drowning from rip currents and sneaker waves
  • If mariners must get underway, they should create a float plan and send it to friends and families before getting underway, which consists of a description of the vessel, the number of people aboard, the destination and the expected return time
  • Always wear a proper life jacket when on the water and use VHF-FM channel 16 to notify rescuers in the event of an emergency

For additional information regarding the weather, visit the National Weather Service.

 

-USCG-