Lifeguards on Alert as Monster Waves Hammer Beaches

Towering waves and lifeguard warnings were the order of the day as hordes of humans hit the beach this Labor Day weekend.

After averaging about 35 to 40 rescues a day over the past three days, Newport Beach lifeguards said Saturday was relatively tame.

"Surprisingly, there have been no rescues today," Newport Beach lifeguards Battalion Chief Jim Turner told City News Service. "We've done a lot of prevention. ... Lifeguards go out there and talk to people. We're keeping them from swimming out into the dangerous areas. We're educating people on what a rip current is. Prevention is our first step.''

Lifeguard Kevin Parsall at Huntington State Beach also stressed caution. "All of our lifeguard towers are fully staffed," he said, adding that beach patrons should avoid getting wet this weekend.

The National Weather Service issued a high surf advisory for Orange County beaches for Saturday, with expected through 9 p.m. Sunday. Southwest-facing beaches were due for sets as high as 11 feet.

The waves are caused by a southwest swell that is expected to continue through Sunday evening, the advisory stated. Minor flooding at high tide might also occur, and the tide was predicted to peak at 5.6 feet at 1:50 p.m.

Many beach parking lots and normally dry stretches of sand remained soggy and sandy Saturday, from high surf that rolled in Friday.

Lifeguards reported the water temperature at Newport Beach was 63 degrees.

"There's a little bit of a cold wind and the temperature has dropped a bit,'' Turner said.

-- City News Service