Hurricane-related waves expected Sunday

Some Orange County beaches got a preview Friday of the high surf expected this weekend as Hurricane Norbert churns in the Pacific.

Marine safety officials say large swells and rip currents produced by the hurricane are likely to hit Sunday and peak Monday or Tuesday, though Newport Beach reported 12- to 15-foot waves Friday at the Wedge surf break. Fifteen- to 17-footers are expected there late Sunday and into Monday.

Newport Beach lifeguard Battalion Chief Brent Jacobsen said about a dozen people were rescued by lifeguards Friday, including a swimmer who became fatigued and a skimboarder who was knocked off his board and was taken to Hoag Hospital for treatment.

“There’s a group of individuals that like to seek challenges, and this is one of them,” Jacobsen said. “Sometimes they go out and do things beyond their ability, and that’s where we come in and prevent them from injuring themselves further or passing away.”

Down the coast in Laguna Beach, two kayakers were rescued early Friday after being caught off guard by growing 3- to 5-foot waves.

“They probably shouldn’t have been out there,” Laguna Beach Marine Safety Officer Josh Bynum said. “There were big lulls, but the sets started to come in. They got pushed close to the rocks.”

Seal Beach Marine Safety Chief Joe Bailey said Friday’s swells weren’t directly related to Hurricane Norbert, though the storm will be a factor during the weekend as it moves northwest off the coast of Baja California. On Friday afternoon, Norbert was about 155 miles west of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Last week portions of the county’s coastline were battered by large waves generated by Hurricane Marie. Sets 18 to 25 feet tall drew hundreds of spectators to the Wedge, and Newport Beach lifeguards made about 300 rescues. High surf flooded about 30 Seal Beach homes, mainly their garages and crawl spaces. Bailey said a 4-foot sand berm will be built on the east beach to prevent a repeat of the flooding.

“Lately it’s been hard to tell how hard the waves are going to hit, especially after Marie,” Bailey said. “We’re supposed to be getting 1- to 2-footers this weekend, with [most of] the rest of the county getting 5 to 7 feet with an occasional 8-footer.... It’s something we’re watching from hour to hour.”