South Swell Delivers Big Surf

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Surf breaking near Rockpile north of Main Beach on Monday.
Surf breaking near Rockpile north of Main Beach on Monday. 

Eight to 10 feet waves roared across Laguna beaches on Monday during the second consecutive day of red flag conditions, when inexperienced swimmers are advised to stay out of the water.

Laguna lifeguards made 180 rescues over Saturday and Sunday, March 28 and 29, mostly of bathers being swept from their feet in the surf zone, including five locals swept out by a rip tide from Woods Cove on Sunday, Capt. Tom Trager said.

He said lifeguards anticipated “the perfect storm,” with spring break crowds, ocean temps 10 degrees above typical March averages and a south swell that hit its peak intensity on Sunday.

Generally in March, Laguna guards patrol about five miles of coastline from two roving vehicles with a single guard on Main Beach. But due to the summer like conditions, guards were deployed on a water ski and in towers on the town’s most popular spots: Main Beach, Treasure Island and Crescent Bay, Trager said.

“We’re glad we did and no one got hurt,” said Trager, pointing out that the swell was generating breaks at the second and third reef located off Brooks Street Beach. The swell generated by a southern hemisphere storm was predicted to back off today and recede by midweek.

 

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