Massive Waves Wallop California’s Ventura County
Huge surf was battering the US West Coast on Friday, with forecasters warning of more danger ahead after a rogue wave swept pedestrians off their feet and swamped a hotel.
Rollers as high as 30 feet (nine meters) were expected to lash parts of California and Oregon as a powerful storm capped a year of wild—and often wet—weather for the region.
Ventura County, just north of Los Angeles, took a walloping on Thursday, with several people hurt.
Video footage showed the dramatic moment a huge wave overtopped a sea wall in Ventura city, knocking several bystanders off their feet and sending others scurrying for safety.
Due to this wave, eight people were transported to local hospitals, reported Ventura County Fire on social media.
The nearby Inn on the Beach boutique hotel was also hit with two feet of water, with the waves smashing glass and tossing furniture around, according to The Los Angeles Times.
The National Weather Service (NWS) warned of “extremely dangerous conditions.”
High surf was anticipated all along the coast, with some flooding possible through Saturday evening.
“There is an increased risk for ocean drowning. Rip currents can pull swimmers and surfers out to sea,” the NWS said.
Firefighters and public works officials were Friday shoring up beaches in Ventura.
Video footage showed earthmovers building a large berm to protect coastal homes, as officials set up sites where residents could pick up sandbags to protect against flooding. The waves were being generated by a storm that was also bringing heavy rain to areas further inland, as well as the chance of a decent snowfall over the Sierra Nevada during the weekend.
The storm is the latest episode in a year of wild weather in the US West, which was hit by a fierce heat wave in July. That came after one of the wettest winters on record.
