Beachgoers along the Southern California coast, including in Laguna Beach and Los Angeles County, are being urged to stay out of the ocean this week as powerful rip currents, large surf, and sneaker waves create deadly conditions. The warnings follow a string of tragic incidents last week, including two drownings in Santa Cruz and the death of a young girl in Laguna Beach.
A Beach Hazards Statement remains in effect for the Pacific Coast through early Thursday, June 18, ahead of the long Juneteenth weekend. Forecasters with the National Weather Service (NWS) 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, and extending into Southern California.
In Los Angeles County, elevated surf causing dangerous rip currents and breaking waves are expected for beaches in Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles counties, with a beach hazards statement in effect through late Wednesday, according to the NWS Los Angeles. High tides combined with the elevated surf could lead to minor coastal flooding, especially near Malibu and Long Beach.
Further south, Orange and San Diego counties also face elevated surf and strong rip currents through Friday, June 19, due to a south swell, the NWS San Diego reported. The city of Laguna Beach, where a girl was found dead after being swept into the ocean on June 9, had issued a high surf advisory warning that day, alerting the public to hazardous ocean conditions.
Residents are advised to stay well back from the waterline, avoid jetties and piers, and never turn their backs on the ocean — even during calm-looking surf. If caught in a rip current, the NWS advises yelling for help, remaining calm, not exhausting oneself, and staying afloat while waiting for help.
Swimmers should swim parallel to the shore and back toward the beach to escape the current, as swimming directly against it will quickly tire them.
The dangerous conditions echo those from the previous week, when two women were pulled from the water in Santa Cruz County on June 10 and later died. Ashley Keehn, a spokesperson for the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, confirmed the fatalities.
Weather officials warn that waves can wash people off the beach, and the southerly swells are expected to continue impacting coastal waters through at least Monday, June 15, driven by energetic storms in the southern hemisphere.