Storms and high waves are battering the California coast for a third day
A third day of rain, coastal flooding and giant waves along parts of the California coast forced residents to evacuate and left streets and parking lots flooded Saturday, although forecasters predicted conditions would improve quickly in some areas.
On Saturday, warnings Coastal flooding and dangerous waves of up to 20 feet were reported on the beaches and coasts of several California counties, including Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, until 10 p.m.
The coastal areas of Orange and San Diego counties are seeing high surf warning was present until 2am on Monday.
The National Weather Service said dangerous coastal conditions would persist on the West Coast through Sunday, with “slow improvements expected through Monday.”
A massive wave of rogue water crashed ashore in Ventura County on Thursday, sweeping away cars, flooding homes and injuring eight people.
Fearing a similar incident, authorities spent Friday bulldozing beach sand to create a mile-long berm in preparation for even higher waves on Saturday.
The wave flooded local streets in a Ventura city neighborhood and caused damage to coastal homes, the Ventura County Fire Department said said on social media. Earth-moving trucks were used to clear roads, according to department spokesman Andy VanSciver.
A An evacuation warning was issued on Saturday for county residents in homes adjacent to the Pacific Coast Highway due to the risk of high waves damaging structures.
Residents were told to avoid jetties and piers, where large waves could wash away people. Authorities also warned that significant beach erosion was possible.
Dozens of national parks and beaches were closed across the state. All public beaches in the cities of Ventura and Oxnard, as well as some piers, will remain closed this weekend.
The Weather Service in Los Angeles warned surfers and beachgoers to stay out of the water due to dangerous conditions and life-threatening rip currents.
California State Parks also told this to outdoor enthusiasts to take precautions along the beaches.
In San Luis Obispo, a street flooded after high tide and high surf caused San Luis Creek to back up, authorities said. In Los Angeles, photos social media showed surf flooding a parking lot at Royal Palms Beach.
The rough conditions, which started Thursday, were caused by storm systems that formed over the Pacific Ocean.