Massive waves were witnessed in California on Saturday, with the possibility of flooding causing trouble for coastal communities. As the waves wreaked havoc, officials issued evacuation orders in some areas and warned residents to stay off beaches and coastal roadways, as reported by news agency Reuters.
Amid the prevailing situation, the National Weather Service in Los Angeles predicted significant flooding in low-lying coastal areas, with strong waves and rip currents posing an “exceptional risk” of drowning and damage to structures like piers and jetties, Reuters reported.
There is a high possibility that the waves, which are as high as 20 feet (6.1 meters), could further worsen the situation on waterside homes in vulnerable communities along much of the California shoreline, which was hit by extreme surf and heavy rains over the end of the week.
On Saturday, the Ventura County Fire Department said that officials in southern California’s Ventura County issued an evacuation warning for residences along the Pacific Coast Highway, and area beaches remained closed, as reported by Reuters.
Forecasters in the San Francisco Bay Area stated that a coastal flood warning and a high surf warning would remain in effect until early Saturday afternoon.
Breaking waves of 26–30 feet were expected along west-facing beaches along the central and northern California coastline, forecasters further stated.
Ventura, about 65 miles (105 km) northwest of Los Angeles, was hit by the extreme weather conditions beginning on Thursday, as reported by Reuters. Homes and businesses were inundated with seawater, sand, and ocean debris due to heavy surf. At least eight people sustained injuries, and structures were damaged.
An EVACUATION WARNING has been issued for residences bordering Pacific Coast Highway, from Seacliff Avenue South to Emma Wood Group Camp, due to high surf impacting structures in the area.
The ventura County fire department is encouraging individuals to avoid the coastal areas… pic.twitter.com/ebivoZd7l0
— VCFD PIO (@VCFD_PIO) December 30, 2023
As California continued to be rocked by massive waves, several videos surfaced online showing multiple storms caused by the waves.
In a video shared by a user named Collin Rugg on X, surfers can be seen taking advantage, and some people were also seen travelling a mile off the coast to offshore oil rigs to surf massive waves. “JUST IN: Evacuation warning has been issued in certain areas along the Pacific Coast Highway in California as the state continues to get rocked by massive waves. The massive waves are caused by multiple storms throughout the Pacific. Surfers are taking advantage, some traveling a mile off the coast to offshore oil rigs to surf massive waves. This is insane,” Collin Rugg said in the video.
JUST IN: Evacuation warning has been issued in certain areas along the Pacific Coast Highway in California as the state continues to get rocked by massive waves.
The massive waves are caused by multiple storms throughout the Pacific.
Surfers are taking advantage, some traveling… pic.twitter.com/Wmd92WqvXv
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 30, 2023
In a video that surfaced online, the large wave was seen hitting Ventura.
WATCH: Large wave hits Ventura, California, injuring 8 people pic.twitter.com/f9SRLFocxf
— BNO News (@BNONews) December 29, 2023
In another video, waves as high as 20 feet were seen crashing over seawalls, causing injuries to some onlookers and flooding streets.
Monstrous waves along the California coast took onlookers by surprise Thursday. Waves as high as 20 feet crashed over seawalls, injuring some onlookers and flooding streets. pic.twitter.com/wyNFOxgkja
— AccuWeather (@accuweather) December 29, 2023
‘Bloody Climate Change’: People React To Massive Waves
The situation faced by California due to massive waves drew reactions from users on X. A user blamed the climate change for the prevailling situation and wrote, ‘Bloody climate change!!’.
Bloody climate change!! pic.twitter.com/DN84fyOXcb
— Mickamious (@MickamiousG) December 30, 2023
“This is wild. What caused it? An earthquake?,” wrote another user.
This is wild. What caused it? An earthquake?
— Lior (Lee-or) (@liorsela) December 29, 2023
“Are we blaming gas stoves yet?,” a user wrote.
Are we blaming gas stoves yet?
— Eioan (@dcxlr8) December 30, 2023
