Los Angeles and Ventura Counties Warnings High Surf in Effect Along Southern California Coastline

Residents in Southern California are on alert, as a massive swell bears down on the coastline, with high surf warnings issued for Los Angeles County and Ventura County. The pounding waves, a playground for the bold but a hazard for the unwary, are set to peak into the weekend, as reported by KTLA.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has flagged the surf and flooding dangers, citing particularly perilous conditions in areas like Hermosa, Manhattan, and Palos Verdes beaches. Ventura County shores are seeing waves of 10 to 15 feet and set surging to 20 feet, according to KTLA's coverage. Warnings have been in effect since early Thursday and will continue through to 10:00 p.m. Saturday.

Thursday's forecast includes high tide around 9:00 a.m., and above-average surf is expected to roll through until the end of the weekend. The NWS has not minced words in its advisories, urging beachgoers to remain out of the water to avoid life-threatening rip currents and prepare for seawater flooding and significant beach erosion. KTLA’s Kirk Hawkins highlighted, "Rip current risk will be high as a result of this Incredible swell that we are tracking just offshore."

"We’re all excited," Manhattan Beach resident Ruby Thompson said in a KTLA interview, despite probably staying out of the water herself. "If you go under the waves at 15 to 18 feet you’re going to be ragdolled," she warned.

The City of Los Angeles retweeted a warning from NWS Los Angeles about the treacherous conditions expected this week. "Dangerous surf, life-threatening rip currents, and coastal flooding are expected at the beaches this week. Impacts are expected to become most extreme on Thursday. #CAwx," the NWS Los Angeles posted on X.