High surf and dangerous rip currents plagued he Southland coast for a third straight day Thursday.
A beach hazards statement, which is marginally less serious than a high surf advisory, went into effect at 6 a.m. Tuesday in both Los Angeles and Orange counties, at Thursday afternoon was extended through Friday morning for the Los Angeles County coast and through Friday afternoon in Orange County.
The National Weather Service said surf of 4 to 6 feet would pound the L.A. County coast while in Orange County, surf of 3 to 6 feet is expected, with sets of up to 7 feet possible in both counties. The high surf results from a long-period southerly swell.
The weather service warned that conditions raise the risk of drowning for swimmers and surfers.
“Rip currents can pull swimmers and surfers out to sea. Large breaking waves can wash people off beaches and rocks and capsize small boats near shore,” according to the NWS statement.
The NWS forecast partly cloudy skies in L.A. County Thursday and highs of 64 degrees in Avalon; 65 at LAX; 66 on Mount Wilson; 68 in Downtown L.A. and San Gabriel; 69 in Long Beach, Pasadena and Burbank; 71 in Saugus; 72 in Woodland Hills; 79 in Lancaster; and 80 in Palmdale. A warming trend will get underway Saturday, and temperatures will climb several degrees Sunday.
A combination of mostly cloudy and partly cloudy skies is expected in Orange County, along with highs of 66 in Newport Beach and San Clemente; 65 in Laguna Beach; 69 in Fullerton, Anaheim and Irvine; and 70 in Yorba Linda. Conditions will remain largely the same at least through Wednesday.