Monterey County residents are being urged to stay out of the water this week as powerful rip currents and large surf continue to create dangerous conditions along the California Central Coast. The warning follows a string of deadly incidents at California beaches last week, including two in nearby Santa Cruz, underscoring how quickly the ocean can turn hazardous.
A Beach Hazards Statement remains in effect for the Pacific Coast through early Thursday ahead of the long Juneteenth weekend. Forecasters say a long‑period south-southwest swell is driving strong rip currents, sneaker waves, and sudden surges along beaches from Big Sur to Marina and Seaside.
Residents are advised to stay well back from the waterline, avoid jetties and piers, and never turn your back on the ocean — even during what looks like calm surf.
California coastal warnings in effect
Across Southern California’s coast, various alerts are in effect from the National Weather Service warning of hazardous swimming conditions that heighten the risk of drowning. In addition, weather officials warn that waves can wash people off the beach.
The dangerous conditions at play this week echo warnings that were in effect the week prior as tragedies unfolded in California:
Alerts in effect for parts of California beaches
Southerly swells, or waves, are expected to continue impacting coastal waters through at least Monday, June 15, according to the National Weather Service Los Angeles. The swells come as “energetic storms” in the southern hemisphere are expected to continue impacting California’s coast, according to the NWS San Francisco Bay Area, which is warning of dangerous swimming conditions for swaths of the region into Wednesday, June 17.
In Southern California, elevated surf causing “dangerous rip currents and breaking waves” are expected for swaths of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles county beaches, causing a beach hazards statement in effect through late Wednesday, according to the NWS Los Angeles. High tides with the elevated surf could lead to some coastal flooding, especially near Malibu and Long Beach, said the NWS Los Angeles.
Coastal areas in Orange and San Diego counties also face elevated surf and strong rip currents through Friday, June 19, thanks to a south swell, according to the NWS San Diego.
How to handle a rip current, according to NWS
Weather officials are encouraging beachgoers to check the present conditions before they go.
If you become caught in a rip current, yell for help, remain calm, do not exhaust and stay afloat while waiting for help, according to the NWS. Swim parallel to the shore and back toward the beach when possible to swim out of a rip current, NWS said. If you try to swim directly against a rip current, you’ll tire quickly, according to the NWS.
Paris Barraza is a reporter covering Los Angeles and Southern California for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at pbarraza@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Salinas Californian: Central Coast beachgoers urged to stay out of ocean as deadly tides surge
Reporting by Paris Barraza, USA TODAY NETWORK / Salinas Californian
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Paris Barraza, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
