Big waves create hazardous conditions along O.C. coast; lifeguards rescue hundreds

Waves at the Wedge in Newport Beach peaked late Sunday with 15- to 20-foot sets, city lifeguard dispatcher Eric Smith said.

Newport lifeguards made 462 rescues and warned more than 10,500 swimmers about ocean hazards during the three-day holiday weekend as about 266,000 visitors flocked to the city’s beaches, he said.

“It was a really busy weekend and a great performance by all our lifeguards,” Smith said.

Hurricane Linda off the Baja California coast was responsible for the increased surf and powerful currents, forecasters said.

Large waves and strong rip currents on Tuesday continued creating hazardous conditions for swimmers in Laguna Beach, Newport Beach and Huntington Beach.

Laguna Beach lifeguards made a record number of rescues during the Labor Day weekend — 1,746 from Saturday through Monday, Marine Safety Capt. Tom Trager wrote in an email.

“Sunday and Monday were big, 6-to-8-foot waves with red flag [conditions],” Trager said. Laguna lifeguards warned more than 15,400 visitors of the dangers.

Huntington Beach city lifeguards made 242 rescues Saturday through Monday, including 135 on Labor Day, Marine Safety Lt. Mike Beuerlein wrote in an email.

Beuerlein reported strong rip currents to go with 5- to 8-foot surf, which he said “intimidated many swimmers and kept rescue totals lower than expected.” Huntington lifeguards said they warned about 6,300 people.

The National Weather Service forecast large surf, about 4 to 6 feet with occasional 8-foot sets, at the Wedge, a famous surfing spot in Newport, and rip currents for Tuesday. Laguna Beach Marine Safety Lt. Kai Bond said similar conditions would prevail the rest of the week.

Swimmers should follow posted warning signs and flags and talk to a lifeguard before entering the water.