Orange County residents planning a Labor Day weekend at the beach should prepare for hazardous ocean conditions and some wet weather, as Hurricane Marie influences Southern California from hundreds of miles offshore. Forecasters anticipate the hurricane's distant presence will be most acutely felt along the coast, bringing strong surf and dangerous rip currents.
The National Weather Service has issued coastal flood and high surf advisories for areas including Santa Catalina and Santa Barbara islands, Malibu, Los Angeles, and Ventura County. These advisories are in effect from 6 a.m. Saturday through 11 p.m. Tuesday. Meteorologist Devin Black with the National Weather Service advised, “The best course of action is to stay out of the water,” describing it as “the safest thing to do.”
Marie, which has reached Category 2 strength with sustained winds of 100 mph as it tracks north and west of the Baja California peninsula, is expected to deliver a 6- to 8-foot south swell. This will result in strong surf and rip currents, which the weather service has described as “dangerous and potentially life-threatening,” for local beaches.
The strongest surf is forecast for Sunday and Monday, with waves expected to reach 5 to 8 feet along the Los Angeles and Ventura County coasts. Zuma Beach could experience even larger breaks, potentially reaching 8 to 10 feet. The heightened danger this week is attributed to high tides, which peak in the evening, coinciding with the southerly swell, according to Black. Low-lying areas and south-facing beaches, including Avalon, Long Beach, Point Mugu, and Malibu, could also see some coastal flooding.
For those considering entering the water this holiday weekend, the weather service recommends swimming near a lifeguard, staying off rocks and jetties, and heeding advice from local officials.
Beyond the coast, rain is forecast to begin Saturday night across Southern California. Sunday is expected to be the wettest day of the weekend, with widespread but light rainfall measuring less than a quarter inch. Higher-elevation areas, such as the San Gabriel Mountains, are likely to see heavier rain, potentially up to three-quarters of an inch. The National Weather Service also notes a 5% to 15% chance of thunderstorms on Sunday.
Drivers are advised to exercise caution, as the weather service's forecast indicates that roads are expected to be “quite slick” despite the light rainfall. This is due to the buildup of oils over the past several months.
Looking ahead, UC climate scientist Daniel Swain suggested that Hurricane Marie might not be the last tropical system to influence California in the coming months. El Niño conditions typically enhance hurricane activity in the eastern and central Pacific due to warmer ocean temperatures, with Swain anticipating “one or two more at some point in September or October.”
