Community Corner
Big Waves Pound the Wedge
A large, late summer swell kept surf riders, lifeguards and beachgoers buzzing Thursday at the Wedge in Newport Beach with 6-to-10 foot waves.
Big waves in the 6-to-10 foot range gave surfriders at a lot of wild action and kept Newport Beach lifeguards running to the rescue of troubled beachgoers.
The large waves were a result of a storm off of Chile. Jennifer Schulz, spokeswoman for the Newport Beach Fire Department, said as of 5 p.m. Friday lifeguards had made more than 100 rescues in Newport Beach.
Schulz said throughout the day, the Wedge had waves in the 6-to-8 foot range with occasional 10-foot sets, while the Point at 18th Street had waves in the 4-to-6 foot range with some 8-foot sets. West Newport saw less action with waves in the 4-to-5 foot range with a handful of larger sets.
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According to the Newport Beach Fire Department, when large waves are rolling in only expert surfers and bodysurfers should go into the water.