HOT and HUGE

Record-breaking temperatures and big waves in Laguna Beach drew

crowds to the city’s beaches this week during what Marine Safety

Chief Mark Klosterman called “red flag” conditions.

“What we’re telling people is expert, expert surfers and swimmers

only,” Klosterman said.

Lifeguards use the term “red flag” to refer to dangerous swimming

conditions. The city assigned five lifeguards to the beach during the

heat wave, but Klosterman said they would issue the same warnings to

beachgoers even if the lifeguards were staffed at summer levels, when

50 lifeguards are on duty.

Lifeguards gave hundreds of warnings to beachgoers during the

week, and scuba diving has not been allowed, he said.

According to the Weather Channel’s Website, Monday’s temperatures

hit 90 degrees, besting the previous hottest temperature for that

date by one degree. On Tuesday, the mercury remained at 90 degrees,

just shy of the 92 degree mark set in 1992.

Surf and weather conditions for Laguna beaches are available at

(949) 494-6573.

-- Andrew Edwards