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.