Californians are bracing for the third day of monster surf that has already damaged countless oceanfront properties.
During Thursday's first round of heavy surf, nearly 20 beachgoers were swept away by a particularly strong wave that crashed into a barrier in Ventura County.
First responders also rescued about 10 people there Friday after the group “believed they could handle the high surf,” officials said.
Two beachgoers then had to pull a lifeguard out of the water as he struggled to get back to shore, a firefighter told CNN.
Although dangers are expected to diminish Saturday, waves hitting California's Bay Area could still reach heights of 40 feet, officials warned. And as the weather shifts south toward Central and Southern California, residents can expect more extended waves of 25 feet.
Despite the warnings, locals and surfers continue to flock to the piers for rash ventures.
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Californians are bracing for a third day of unusually large surf that has already damaged countless properties. Mammoth waves over 20 feet high hit one of the contaminated piers on Friday as first responders rescued about 10 people
Two beachgoers (not pictured) then had to pull a lifeguard out of the water who was struggling to get back to shore. The dangers are expected to continue on Saturday but locals continue to flock to the piers to enjoy the waves. The two children pictured were one of several hit by a massive wave in Santa Cruz on Friday that nearly led to another water rescue
“Super excited to be out here,” said Lilly Baker, one of several surfers and spectators who arrived Thursday at Mavericks Beach in northern California, where waves were up to 40 feet high 25 miles south of San Francisco.
“It's just great that everyone else out here appreciates what the California coast has to offer,” the 23-year-old student said as jet skis navigated the choppy waters behind her.
Andre Assadi, a 22-year-old software engineer from Oakland, marveled at the view the region's cliffs offered over the iconic break.
“This perspective is kind of weird because you can't really see how big the waves are from the cliffs here, but we saw a jet ski flip over, that was wild,” she remembers.
Eli Eccles, a 23-year-old student from Berkeley, said it had always been “on her bucket list” to “see Mavericks firsthand” to see “the beauty” the beach has to offer .
“It's always been a dream,” she said, unaware of the danger of the waves as she and other onlookers watched through the drizzle and thick fog below.
“It's great to be here today,” she said on the first day of the weather disaster, when a high surf warning remained in effect through Friday for counties along the Central and Northern California coast.
These warnings will remain in force on Saturday, but are unlikely to deter the countless onlookers who were mesmerized by the spectacular surf.
A seawall is destroyed in La Jolla, one of several coastal villages under a high surf warning due to ongoing unusual weather
The waves have led to a number of unsuitable water sports, resulting in rescues, citizens being swept away and injuries
A surfer was thrown into the air by a 15-foot boat brought in by dangerous waves at Torrey Pines State Beach on Thursday
Heavy machinery clears mud and fallen trees from the beach as massive waves hit the California coast in Santa Cruz County on Thursday, just as the swells began
A high surf warning remained in effect through Friday for counties along the Central and Northern California coast. Shown here is a devastated beach in Santa Cruz County
The warnings will remain in effect on Saturday – although they are unlikely to deter curious onlookers who were mesmerized by the spectacular surf
Although dangers are expected to diminish Saturday, waves hitting California's Bay Area could still reach heights of 40 feet, officials said
Waves reach heights of 28 to 33 feet throughout the day. Still, locals continue to flock to the contaminated piers
Meanwhile, waves continue to crash over strategically installed seawalls. They are strong enough to carry parked cars – and people – across streets and to major intersections.
Such demonstrations have in many cases blocked the path of first responders – leading to a series of water rescues, washed-away cars and warnings from the National Weather Service on Friday that “these conditions are deadly!”
But Californians are notoriously defiant – especially when it comes to catching or even witnessing the perfect wave.
Footage shows them riding, swimming and even whale watching as recently as Friday, when Ventura first responders pulled about 10 people from the surf.
“We know the waves look impressive and we understand the urge to want to come here,” Ventura Fire Captain Brian McGrath McGrath told TNLA on Friday after the rescue effort, which resulted in one of his men needing help himself.
The National Weather Service in Los Angeles also said: “Beaches, piers and vulnerable harbors should NOT be considered safe” for the weekend, when coastal areas in central and southern California will continue to be battered.
McGrath told the CNN affiliate Friday that onlookers were tightening roadblocks and blocking the path of first responders as waves reaching speeds of 28 to 33 feet crossed the levees.
Several surfers and spectators can be seen watching the surfers at Mavericks Beach in Northern California on Thursday, despite waves reaching 40 feet high
“It's just great that everyone else out here appreciates what the California coast has to offer,” the 23-year-old student said as jet skis navigated the choppy waters behind her
“This perspective is kind of weird because you can't really see how big the waves are from the cliffs here, but we saw a jet ski flip over, that was wild,” said another viewer
Another participant explained that it had always been “on her bucket list” to “see Mavericks first hand” to see “the beauty” the beach had to offer – despite authorities warning locals to stay away from the shore. “It’s great to be here today”
“Beaches, piers and vulnerable harbors should NOT be considered safe,” the National Weather Service in Los Angeles said Friday of the forecast for the weekend, as unusually large surf continues to batter coastal areas in central and southern California
Firefighters in hard-hit Ventura County – seen here Thursday – said onlookers were reinforcing roadblocks blocking the path of first responders as waves reaching speeds of 28 to 33 feet continued to cross strategically placed seawalls
Huge waves pounded Ventura on Thursday, and footage showed the moment several beachgoers were caught in a wild wave that easily swept away at least 20 of them
The wild wave swamped passersby at Pierpont Beach on Seaward Avenue around 11 a.m. This area was hit hardest by what the National Weather Service called “tremendous wave energy.”
In San Diego on Thursday, a whale watching boat was seen nearly overturning due to heavy surf over Mission Beach as officials warned against entering or even approaching the Pacific Ocean
The flooding at a local hotel also caused damage to all rooms on the first floor of the building, he said – and was just one instance of the damage caused by the catastrophic flooding later this year that could have caused millions of dollars in damages.
Beachfront homes and businesses in places like Hermosa, Manhattan and Palos Verdes were also hit by flooding, damaging city infrastructure on water-lined streets.
So far, Ventura County — which is part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area — has been hit hardest by a phenomenon the National Weather Service describes as “tremendous wave energy.”
The county, as well as beaches in Hermosa, Manhattan and Palos Verdes, will again face the most extreme surf on Saturday, an official said, warning that waves in the area will peak again at three above sea level.
The waves — extending as far south as San Diego and as far north as the Bay Area — will still reach near double-digit heights on Sunday.
However, residents of Northern California are expected to be spared from such massive waves, while residents of Central and Southern California will continue to be hit by extreme surf.
So far, Ventura County — which is part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area — has been hit hardest by a phenomenon the National Weather Service described as “tremendous wave energy.”
The county, as well as beaches in Hermosa, Manhattan and Palos Verdes, will again face the most extreme surf on Saturday, an official said, warning that waves in the area will peak again at three above sea level
The flooding at a local hotel also caused damage to all of the rooms on the first floor of the building, Ventura firefighters said – just one instance of the potential damage caused by flooding late in the year
Citing the timing of the high tide, officials said Saturday that coastal flooding was most likely to occur around 10:15 a.m. PT. However, wave heights occur later in the day, it said – around 3 p.m
Citing the timing of the high tide, officials said Saturday that coastal flooding was most likely to occur around 10:15 a.m. PT.
However, wave heights occur later in the day, it said – around 3 p.m
Residents in affected areas can expect waves to reach heights of approximately 25 feet.
A surf watch and coastal flood warning will remain in effect through the weekend, officials said.