The National Weather Service is warning of potentially damaging surf and coastal flooding as a strong northwest swell brings high surf on Tuesday, the peak day of the week.
Ventura County is expected to see waves as high as 12 to 15 feet, while waves on west- to northwest-facing beaches in Los Angeles County will be 8 to 11 feet high.
Beachgoers are warned to stay away from rock walls and jetties as coastal flooding is possible on beach roads and parking areas. The high tide arrived at 4:45 pm on Tuesday morning and returned at 5:35 pm
The Ventura Pier was closed Sunday due to high surf alerts and will remain closed through Christmas Day.
Northern California is facing more extreme conditions as NWS has issued a coastal hazard, with dangerously large waves of 25 to 35 feet expected in some areas.
Big waves already caused some damage to the Northern California coast Monday, leaving one person dead and another missing. Officials said debris that washed up at Sunset State Beach in Santa Cruz County trapped a man and he later died from his injuries. A man went missing after high surf pulled him into the water at Marina State Beach in Monterey County.
In Santa Cruz, part of the pier collapsed Monday afternoon due to powerful waves, sending three people working on the dock into the water. Lifeguards pulled out two of the construction workers, while the third emerged from the surf under his own power.
“A series of Pacific storm systems will cross the northwestern US this week, bringing gusty winds, high surf, periods of heavy rain and mountain snow,” NWS warns.
