- Million-dollar homes along the Malibu coast are battling huge waves as a relentless coastal storm continued to pound California on Friday
- Strong surf was seen in Malibu crashing into beachfront homes, where emergency sand barriers were erected to limit damage
Million-dollar homes along the Malibu coast are battling huge waves as a relentless coastal storm continued to pound California on Friday.
Exceptionally large waves caused by strong waves caused by storms in the Pacific led to pier closures and warnings from first responders early Friday morning.
Strong surf was seen pounding beachfront homes in Malibu, where sand barriers were erected to limit damage to expensive properties.
The exclusive coast is a real estate hotspot for celebrities such as Lady Gaga, Paris Hilton and Kanye West.
Waves crashed into a home on the California coast in Malibu Beach, California on Friday
Strong surf was seen pounding beachfront homes in Malibu on Friday
Conditions are moderately better than Thursday, when a large wild wave swept across a beach in Ventura, but the National Weather Service expects larger waves Saturday and has issued a high surf and coastal flooding warning in effect through Monday will stay.
The Seal Beach Pier was closed Friday morning as a precautionary measure, and piers in Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach in Los Angeles County were also closed.
Increased lifeguard personnel have been deployed along the Southern California coast from Ventura County to San Diego County.
The Los Angeles-area weather bureau wrote that powerful hurricanes over the waters of the North Pacific caused waves of 12 to 17 feet (3.6 to 5 meters) and generated “enormous wave energy over coastal waters.”
Breaking waves as high as 25 feet (7.6 meters) were forecast in some places along California.
Meteorologists said astronomical high tides would significantly increase the risk of further coastal flooding.
“Overall, this is expected to be an exceptional high water and coastal flooding event not seen in many years,” the weather service wrote.
“Be careful and follow the instructions of local authorities and lifeguards. “Never turn your back on the water, otherwise damaging and life-threatening waves can occur.”
Surfers head out early in the morning to catch the waves at Malibu Beach on Friday
Surfers stretch before heading out to surf at Malibu Beach on Friday
In Hawaii, which was also hit by the enormous waves this week, the weather service downgraded a high surf warning to a warning on Friday.
Large breaking waves of 18 to 22 feet (5.5 to 6.7 meters) along some northern shores and strong currents make swimming dangerous, the weather service said.
Eight people were taken to hospitals for treatment of injuries following the incident in Pierpont on Thursday, according to Ventura County authorities, which closed beaches, piers and harbors through Dec. 31.
Similar waves inundated beaches elsewhere along the California coast on Thursday, flooding parking lots and roads and triggering evacuation warnings for low-lying areas.
“We've had water on the road before, but never like this,” said Karris Kutivan, who has lived in the picturesque coastal town about 60 miles (97 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles for nine years.
“It taught me that I want to live on the beach, not on the beach,” Kutivan said.