Surf in Orange County could reach 8-to-12 feet, delighting surfers while also serving as a warning to inexperienced oceangoers.
"It looks like the south swell we are seeing right now will briefly weaken. There will still be some decent sets for south, southwest-facing beaches," National Weather Service meteorologist Sebastian Westerink told the Orange County Register on Saturday. "Then, once we get into Tuesday, especially Wednesday and into Thursday, that south swell is going to come back stronger than what we are experiencing now."
Many of the region's south-facing beaches are expected to have 5-to 8-foot waves, with high sets on tap at spots like The Wedge, the world-famous surf break located at the southernmost tip of the Balboa Peninsula.
Aerial video from AIR7 showed dozens of surfers taking advantage of the favorable waves in Newport Beach on Tuesday morning.
"Just be careful when you're close to them and note that the conditions will be rough," Westerink said. "Usually, the more energy we have with a swell, the higher the risk there is for rip currents. Watch out for those. Heed the warnings you see at the beaches."