Heavy Surf Shuts Down LA County Piers

LOS ANGELES, CA — High surf pounded the coastline Wednesday, forcing pier closures throughout Orange and Los Angeles counties. The swells, created by storms in the Northern Pacific, reached dangerous heights at times, prompting a surf advisory that will remain in effect through Thursday night.

One of those storms is expected to hit the region beginning Wednesday evening, but the rain is not expected to fall south of Ventura County, said National Weather Service meteorologist Curt Kaplan. Another storm, however, is expected to follow on Friday, dousing Los Angeles County. The "decent storm," is expected to last into Saturday, Kaplan said. More rain is expected Sunday through Tuesday, he added.

The high surf results from a big swell created by strong winds generated by several north Pacific storms, Kaplan said, adding surf of 6-12 feet is expected along the Southland coast but surf of 17-22 feet is likely north of Point Conception.

In reporting the high surf advisories, the NWS issued the usual warnings to swimmers and surfers.

"Swimmers are urged to use caution at all times and stay near lifeguards," it said. If ensnared by a rip current, a swimmer should stay parallel to the shore until able to break free.

The NWS forecast partly cloudy skies in L.A. County Wednesday and highs of 58 on Mount Wilson; 60 in Palmdale and Lancaster; 63 in Avalon; 64 in Saugus and at LAX; 65 in Long Beach and San Gabriel; 66 in Burbank and Downtown L.A.; 67 in Pasadena; and 68 in Woodland Hills. Temperatures will be marginally lowers from Thursday through Saturday, then sink into the low 60s starting Sunday.

Partly Cloudy skies were also forecast in Orange County, along with highs of 51 on Santiago Peak; 60 on Ortega Highway at 2,600 feet; 61 in San Clemente; 62 in Laguna Beach; 63 in Newport Beach and Fremont Canyon; 64 in Yorba Linda; 66 in Trabuco Canyon; and 67 in Fullerton, Anaheim, Irvine, and Mission Viejo. Temperatures will stay roughly the same through Sunday, then slip a few degrees -- down to the high 50s in some communities.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report. Photo: (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)