Dangerous king tides along the California coast have resulted in two deaths and prompted authorities to urge beachgoers to take precautions. The treacherous conditions, which include massive waves, coastal flooding, and strong rip currents, are expected to persist through the week.
On Tuesday, a five-year-old girl was swept out to sea from Treasure Island Beach in Orange County while walking with her mother and brother. Bystanders rescued the mother and son, but the girl's body was recovered on Thursday. In Santa Cruz, two women were pulled into the water, leaving one dead and the other in critical condition.
In San Francisco, seawater flooded the Embarcadero on Saturday night, with the city recording its highest summer water level on record, according to the National Weather Service. The agency warned of an elevated drowning risk, advising people to stay out of the water and avoid rock jetties.
Forecasts indicate that southern California beaches will face dangerous rip currents and high tides through at least late Wednesday. The National Weather Service's Los Angeles office stated: 'Remain out of the water due to hazardous swimming conditions, or stay near occupied lifeguard towers. Rock jetties can be deadly in such conditions, stay off the rocks.'
In Orange County's Newport Beach, city officials warned of possible flooding in low-lying harbourfront neighbourhoods and advised residents to install seawall plugs and place sandbags. Despite the dangers, some surfers have been riding swells up to 20ft at the Wedge, with several reporting near-death experiences.
