Hurricane Norbert pushes storm swell into Southern California
LONG BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- Hurricane Norbert, swirling off the coast of Baja, Mexico, pushed a storm swell northward toward the California coastline Friday. South-facing beaches in Southern California were expected to receive the largest surf, up to about 7 to 10 feet, through the weekend. Rip currents and minor coastal flooding are expected.
A high surf advisory went into effect at 9:20 p.m. Thursday and is set to expire at 6 a.m. on Monday. Affected areas include Catalina Island, the Los Angeles County coast and the Ventura County coast. A beach hazards statement is set to expire at 3 a.m. Monday, affecting San Diego County and Orange County coastal areas.
Hurricane Norbert reached maximum sustained winds near 90 mph Friday afternoon. It was centered about 85 miles off the coast of Baja and was moving northwest at about 8 mph. Norbert reached hurricane strength on Wednesday, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.
Long Beach, Palos Verdes peninsula, Cabrillo, Point Fermin, Malibu, Zuma, Port Hueneme, Point Mugu and Oxnard beaches are expected to be most impacted in the Southland.
"After a big swell, we have big holes in the ocean floor, and it causes more rip tides. So someone could be walking out and be waist-deep and all of the sudden, they're overhead," said Ocean Lifeguard Specialist Captain Remy Smith in Malibu.
Good waves expected in Malibu from Hurricane Norbert
Volunteers passed out fliers in the Naples neighborhood Friday warning residents to be prepared.
Evacuations were ordered in Mexico and travelers were advised to stay off highways in affected areas. At least 1,000 people were in shelters in Los Cabos on Friday. Schools and ports were closed, and most government services were to be closed or restricted, according to Mexican officials.
Sand bags were available Friday in Long Beach at the parking lot at Ocean Boulevard and 72nd Place, and in the Claremont Beach parking lot at the corner of Ocean Boulevard and Claremont Avenue, according to the Long Beach Fire Department.
Heavy machinery will be deployed along the Long Beach peninsula area to prepare. Last week, the breakwater in the Long Beach Harbor suffered some damage when Hurricane Marie passed offshore.
"We did have a lot of water and a lot of rock movement in that specific area of the breakwater. They'll just do basically an assessment to determine whether or not there was any further damage," said Jake Heflin with the Long Beach Fire Department.
The Tall Ships Festival sunset parade sail in Dana Point was canceled Friday night due to high surf.
The Hurricane Center said Norbert was helping push moisture from the remnants of Tropical Storm Dolly across northern Mexico and into the southwestern United States, bringing possible heavy rains in coming days.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
