Massive waves, towering up to 25 feet high, relentlessly crashed upon California’s shores, leaving a trail of havoc from Los Angeles down to southern Oregon.
The West Coast faced severe flooding, littering beaches with debris and logs, disrupting roads as far north as Oregon.
These massive waves began pounding the coast on Thursday, flooding beaches in Los Angeles and spreading chaos as far north as southern Oregon. Logs scattered along roads served as stark reminders of the powerful onslaught.
Thirty-foot waves are expected on parts of the West Coast on Friday, a day after giant surf pummeled the California shore. https://t.co/0I1gmg3Mz8 pic.twitter.com/ovTkKYpK9k
— The New York Times (@nytimes) December 29, 2023
The extreme waves are the result of potent cyclones over the North Pacific combined with unusually high tides, setting the stage for hazardous conditions along the coastline.
The National Weather Service in Los Angeles described it as an unprecedented event not witnessed in many years. Although conditions briefly improved on Friday, forecasters are anticipating another surge in wave intensity on Saturday with a second powerful swell on the horizon.
Ariel Cohen from the Weather Service’s Los Angeles office warned of life-threatening situations at the beaches, urging everyone to stay away from the water and brace for coastal flooding.
Powerful waves crashed over seawalls along the California coast on Thursday, injuring several people who were swept up in the water while watching the waves. pic.twitter.com/PbPB7HEf0f
— AccuWeather (@accuweather) December 29, 2023
Emergency responders have already conducted multiple ocean rescues in Southern California. High-surf warnings, ranging from 15 to 25 feet, remain in place for various counties, with coastal flood warnings and advisories issued until the weekend.
