Orange County Beachgoers Warned Of Hazardous Ocean Swimming Conditions: What To Know

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — The coast of Orange County is once again under a beach hazard through Friday night, due to periods of high surf and strong rip currents, according to the National Weather Service.

Visitors to all Orange County beaches, from Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach and south to San Clemente shores should be advised that a south swell is bringing a high rip current risk.

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"Hazardous swimming conditions with high rip current and longshore current risk will continue until Friday evening," meteorologists reported.

A South swell from 190 degrees with a period of 14 to 16 seconds is generating surf from 3 to 6 feet, and sets of 7 feet along south-facing beaches, the NWS says.

Last week, waves exceeding 9 feet broke along beaches in Orange and Los Angeles counties, prompting warnings from the National Weather Service and local agencies. A 5-year-old girl was swept out to sea, her body later recovered in Laguna Beach.

"Based on preliminary information, a mother and her two children were swept into the ocean by powerful water conditions while near the shoreline," Laguna Beach Marine Safety officials said in a news release.

Good Samaritans entered the dangerous surf and rescued the mother and one child. The girl's body was later recovered a half-mile north of Treasure Island beach.

The high surf is subsiding, but the strong rip currents remain in the area.

What To Do If Stuck In A Rip Current:

• If you become caught in a rip current, yell for help.
• Remain calm, do not exhaust yourself, and stay afloat while waiting for help, lifeguards advise.
• If you have to swim out of a rip current, SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE and then back toward the beach as soon as it is possible to do so.
• Do not attempt to swim directly against a rip current as you will tire quickly.
• The best way to avoid strong rip currents? Remain out of the water, and avoid hazardous swimming conditions.