Beach Hazards Statement in Effect for Orange County Coast Until 11 PM: Dangerous Rip Currents, Surf of 3 to 5 Feet
The National Weather Service office in San Diego (NWS San Diego) updated a Beach Hazards Statement at 1:29 p.m. on October 20 covering the coastal areas of Orange County and San Diego County, California, in effect through 11 p.m. tonight (October 20). Orange County shoreline covered by the statement includes Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Dana Point and San Clemente.
The statement warns of dangerous rip currents and breaking waves, with surf of 3 to 5 feet and local sets to 6 feet, highest on south and southwest facing beaches.
The Weather Service said hazardous swimming conditions are in place: rip currents can pull swimmers and surfers out to sea, waves can wash people off beaches and rocks and can capsize small boats near shore, and minor beach erosion may occur across south-facing beaches.
The agency's instruction in the statement is to remain out of the water to avoid hazardous swimming conditions. NWS records show the Beach Hazards Statement has been issued in updated form since October 18, and this is the latest update.
The Weather Service also has Flood Watches in effect for other parts of California, including the Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara county coasts and parts of the Central Valley, through the morning of October 21. The Orange County coast is not under a Flood Watch; the Beach Hazards Statement is the alert in effect there.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：Laguna Beach 的 Crescent Bay 大浪（资料图）。照片：Axion23，CC BY 2.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。Photo: A breaking wave at Crescent Bay, Laguna Beach (file photo). By Axion23, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
