Massive swell brings historic 20-foot waves to The Wedge in OC, plus more expected this week
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- A powerful swell could bring the biggest waves of the year to The Wedge in Newport Beach and other Southern California coastal areas this week, forecasters said.
The massive surf in Orange County delighted surfers while also serving as a warning to inexperienced oceangoers.
"It looks like the south swell we are seeing right now will briefly weaken. There will still be some decent sets for south, southwest-facing beaches," National Weather Service meteorologist Sebastian Westerink told the Orange County Register on Saturday. "Then, once we get into Tuesday, especially Wednesday and into Thursday, that south swell is going to come back stronger than what we are experiencing now."
Many of the region's south-facing beaches are expected to have 5-to 8-foot waves, with high sets on tap at spots like The Wedge, the world-famous surf break located at the southernmost tip of the Balboa Peninsula.
At The Wedge, the end of the peninsula meets the harbor jetty, which creates the perfect angle for waves to bounce off the rocks and double up. The powerful south swell delivered historic sets on Tuesday with waves peaking at over 20 feet.
On a day like Tuesday, it creates a steep peak and attracts an even bigger audience.
"We call it the 'gladiator pit' over here. So as you can tell all the people over here they all want to come down and they want to see some carnage," explained one bystander.
The crowd gathered to watch the experts brave enough to take on these heavy waves.
"Everyone wants to hear about a big swell like it's something that's super exciting that doesn't happen too often. The last time it was this big, it was 2020," said Jeremy Wiegman.
Wiegman works for Yucca Fins, a required piece of equipment during these events.
"On days like today you need fins. The lifeguards won't let you in the water without them, if you're not on a board anyway," Wiegman said.
And for the Newport Beach Fire Department and the lifeguard division, it's all hands on deck.
"They train all year for swells like this, they all want to be part of the team. My phone's been ringing off the hook with off-duty lifeguards wanting to come in and help the team and help our community stay safe out there," said Battalion Chief Adam Yacenda, Newport Beach Fire Department Lifeguard Division.
They encourage viewers to come out and enjoy the show from the safety of the sand and leave the wipeouts to the professionals.
"You can still be in danger standing on the edge of the sand there at The Wedge. We got a lot of whitewash and water that's very powerful moving up the slope of the beach and can take people's feet out from under them and so we just like making sure everyone's safe," Yacenda said.
Aerial video from AIR7 showed dozens of surfers taking advantage of the favorable waves in Newport Beach on Tuesday morning.
"Just be careful when you're close to them and note that the conditions will be rough," Westerink said. "Usually, the more energy we have with a swell, the higher the risk there is for rip currents. Watch out for those. Heed the warnings you see at the beaches."
