Overview
- Overnight erosion from high tides and pounding surf carved away sections of the Point Dume bluff, creating unstable edges and drop-offs up to about 8 feet, county officials said Saturday night.
- Los Angeles County closed Westward Beach Road beyond the pay gate, the 373-space Point Dume parking lot, and multiple restrooms, and the California Highway Patrol issued a SigAlert at Birdview Avenue to block vehicle access.
- Rough ocean conditions damaged the water line and meter that serve the restrooms, so county crews installed temporary chemical toilets and hand-washing stations while crews assess damage.
- The erosion followed repeated National Weather Service warnings about dangerous rip currents and elevated surf from southerly swells linked to Hurricane Genevieve, and officials say damage is worse where seawalls were lost in the January 2025 Palisades Fire.
- With the 0.4-mile Westward Beach Road providing the only vehicle entry to Point Dume, the closures markedly limit safe public access and could prolong rebuilding and repair work as multiple agencies continue damage assessments and give no reopening date.