Big waves – some topping 18 ft in Los Angeles County – wreaked havoc on Friday, Jan. 6, as excessive tides and a winter swell continued to work over the Southern California shoreline resulting in seaside erosion, pier closures, crumbled asphalt parking heaps and boats torn from their docks.
In the South Bay, piers at three west-facing seashores remained closed Friday as waves greater than 15 ft tall pummeled the buildings.
Additionally, the excessive surf and tide surge swamped a block jetty at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, flooding and shutting the close by parking zone. Mounds of sand buried a motorbike path that runs from Torrance Beach to Avenue H in Redondo Beach and sea water flooded right into a parking zone and public toilet facility.
In King Harbor, large waves overwhelmed a breakwater jetty and ate into the asphalt parking zone close by.
“There were 15-foot-plus waves breaking directly onto the rocks at Redondo Harbor,” mentioned Lifeguard Capt. A.J. Lester, a spokesman for Los Angeles County’s Fire and Lifeguard Division. “The parking lot is built on the rocks of the breakwater and the pressure caused the asphalt to break apart like it was an earthquake.”
The piers at Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and Venice Beach have been closed in an “abundance of caution” due to the robust west-northwest swell, which crashed surf excessive of the buildings. It arrived Thursday together with the rainstorm and was anticipated to final via Friday, coinciding with a interval of excessive tides.
The piers will stay closed till metropolis crews assess the buildings to make sure they haven’t been compromised, possible a day or two, mentioned Capt. Kealiinohopono Barnes, additionally with the Los Angeles County division.
“It’s a question of stability after such a prolonged force from the waves,” he mentioned. “The beaches there will remain open, but there is a water quality advisory all through Santa Monica Bay.”
In Seal Beach, excessive surf and wind pummeled the pier, and officers determined to “temporarily close it in an abundance of caution” and to permit for inspection, town introduced Friday. Part of the boat ramp utilized by oil platform employees was broken. No timeline for reopening was given.
Crews from the Orange County Fire Authority and Seal Beach Public Work’s Department constructed sand berms to bolster the seaside. OCFA heavy tools crews have been additionally busy Friday digging and draining water from the north facet of the pier to forestall seawater from coming into any buildings and houses.
Surf off Manhattan Beach at El Porto hit as excessive as 18 ft, although different areas of county shore have been extra manageable.
“We’ve had considerable erosion,” Barnes mentioned of the waves that ate on the sand. “We’ve lost so much in a short timeframe.”
In Laguna Beach, excessive waves tore down components of a sea wall at a house in North Laguna, flooded the coastal facet of Coast Highway and Broadway, broken the muse of a lifeguard tower at Oak Street leaving it tilting towards the surf zone and tore off railing and staircase steps at Woods and Moss seashores.
Aliso Beach’s parking zone was quickly shut Friday after flooding, however its east facet was opened later within the day. The west facet of the lot remained closed whereas crews proceed to clear particles. Officials anticipated work to proceed Saturday.
In Capistrano Beach, the parking zone was additionally closed most of Friday, however reopened by the tip of the day.
Lifeguards warning that although the waves may look tempting for surfers, those that exit
ought to ensure of their talents. Especially within the subsequent few days, because the surf declines, the water could seem extra welcoming, however the specter of rip currents can be larger – particularly alongside the South Bay seashores the place the ocean flooring has gotten carved up extra from all of the turbulence and wave motion.
“That’s when we see a lot of rescues, because the rip currents get really strong and people get caught in them,” Barnes mentioned.
Water high quality can also be a priority after rain storms, which might wash inland runoff with pollution and particles to the ocean. Officials usually advise staying out of the water for 72 hours after a storm. On Friday, Orange County well being officers have been recommending staying out of the water till no less than Monday.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”