This week San Diego experienced a high surf warning, with surfing made impossible due to the rowdy waves. The waves were high enough for an advisory to be put out warning people against going surfing. Local news channel reporting from Windansea Beach said that the San Diego Lifeguards had rescued even experienced surfers.

The surf was unusually high, with waves going as high as 15+ feet. California witnessed heavy rainfall on December 5, which resulted in many high surf warnings and pier closures. This was a result of a strong winter storm that struck the California coast.

Surfing Out of the Question During High Surf Advisory

On January 6, 2022, by the time it was 9 am, two experienced surfers had already been rescued from the clutches of the turbulent surf. The NBC reporter Adura Stafford reporting live from Windansea Beach said, “Even the most experienced surfers are having trouble taking on mother nature today. You can see the huge waves behind me… this is just a little taste we have seen much bigger than this throughout the morning…”

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The high surf was a problem not only at Windansea but also at other places. The National Weather Service (NWS) forecasted waves as high as 16 feet, which resulted in pier closure and officials advising beachgoers to not get too close to the shore.

Chief of the San Diego Lifeguards, James Gartland advised on how surfing could be dangerous in such high surf. He said, “One of these big waves catches you, pushes you on the inside, you got the rocks the reefs, and all that energy so it can be really dangerous.” According to Gartland, “This is not a beginner’s day. This is not for the novice, not even the avid surfer.”

While surfing was totally a no-go, the spot became popular for wave watchers.

The Perfect Opportunity for Wave Watching

While it was not possible for people to go down to the beach to observe the waves from close, they had no problem doing it from the vantage point high up. Dick Hansen, a wave watcher, said, “Look at what nature has to offer; pretty cool.” Hansen made the drive to Windansea Beach in La Jolla with his wife and kid just to look at the waves. According to him, “I haven’t seen on the surf report 15+ foot waves may be as long as I live here.”

It was a good opportunity to look at nature’s miracles, but it was not all good. Many rescue missions took place during the advisory. They were mostly surfers but also a Corgi. A surfer had to be rescued from Windansea Beach as their leash broke while surfing and they got caught in the current. Similar incidents happened with three other surfers. It’s a lesson that nature can be harsh, and should not be taken lightly.

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