High-Surf Swell Subsiding, Another Swell on the Way

A swell that generated high surf along the Southern California coast gradually subsided Friday, but another long-period swell is developing and will give rise to another bout of high surf starting Friday night, forecasters said.

The new swell will create high surf conditions along the Central Coast by Friday afternoon and to west-facing beaches in Los Angeles County by tonight, an NWS statement said.

“There will once again be an increased risk of large sneaker waves that can suddenly overrun previously dry beaches, jetties and harbor walkways,” it said.

High surf conditions will last through at least Sunday, and a high surf advisory will be in effect until 9 p.m. Sunday in both Los Angeles and Orange counties. The swell developing Friday will generate surf of five to eight feet in Los Angeles County and four to eight feet in Orange County, along with 10-foot breakers in both counties, according to the NWS.

Then, a third large swell will develop, creating high surf conditions next week, the statement said.

Temperatures, meanwhile, will remain above average for several days. The NWS forecast partly cloudy skies in L.A. County today, sunny skies in Orange County, and highs of 71 in Avalon, San Clemente and Newport Beach; 72 at LAX and in Laguna Beach; 75 on Mount Wilson; 77 in Long Beach and Irvine; 78 in Palmdale and Lancaster; 80 in downtown L.A. and Burbank; 81 in Pasadena, San Gabriel, Anaheim and Mission Viejo; 82 in Saugus; 83 in Woodland Hills; 84 in Fullerton; and 87 in Yorba Linda.

--City News Service, photo courtesy of the NWS