California Coast Experiences Floods, Evacuations Due To Huge Waves

Coastal regions in California confronted another day of towering waves and potential flooding on Saturday. Authorities issued evacuation orders for certain areas and advised residents to avoid beaches and coastal roadways. The National Weather Service in Los Angeles predicted significant flooding in low-lying coastal areas, emphasizing the “exceptional risk” of drowning and structural damage due to powerful waves and strong rip currents.

Waves reaching up to 20 feet (6.1 meters) threatened waterside homes in vulnerable communities along the California shoreline, already battered by extreme surf and heavy rains over the week.

In Southern California’s Ventura County, officials issued an evacuation warning for residences along the Pacific Coast Highway, and area beaches remained closed, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.

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The San Francisco Bay Area faced challenges with a coastal flood warning and high surf warning in effect into early Saturday afternoon. Forecasters anticipated breaking waves of 26-30 feet along west-facing beaches in central and northern California.

Ventura, approximately 65 miles northwest of Los Angeles, experienced extreme weather conditions starting Thursday when heavy surf inundated homes and businesses with seawater, sand, and ocean debris, causing damage and reportedly injuring at least eight people.

The hazardous surf and coastal flood threats were attributed to a Pacific storm system that brought heavy downpours to the West Coast on Friday night, coinciding with the latest arrival of exceptionally high tides known as king tides.