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Hurricane-Driven Swell Fuels Rip Currents, Spurs Hundreds of Beach Rescues

Warnings stay active through Sunday night with lingering swell-driven rip currents prompting nonstop lifeguard operations.

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A lifeguard watches the water off Newport Beach. (File photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
People enjoy mild weather at Santa Monica beach Thursday, November 5, 2020.  (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Overview

  • Newport Beach lifeguards made over 350 rescues on July 4, including saving 10 swimmers caught in a dog-leg “monster rip current.”
  • Huntington Beach marine and police helicopter units have assisted more than 150 people by July 5, diving into surf to ferry stranded swimmers to lifeboats.
  • The National Weather Service has extended elevated surf and strong rip current warnings across Orange, Los Angeles and Ventura County beaches through Sunday night.
  • Officials say swell from a distant hurricane off Mexico is driving 4- to 6-foot waves and heightened ocean drowning risks along Southern California shores.
  • Safety experts urge swimmers to stay near lifeguards, swim parallel to shore if caught in a rip current and remain calm while signaling for help.