The authorities warn of a repeat of the phenomenon at the weekend – The US weather service has issued a warning for high waves and flooding on the California coastline
Even before they have recovered from the shock and devastation caused by the huge waves that hit coastal areas of California on Thursday, residents are preparing for the repeat of the extreme phenomenon during the weekend.
The US Weather Service (NWS) has issued a high wave and flood warning for the California coastline from San Diego to San Francisco Bay, with waves expected to reach up to 12 meters in some areas.
The dangerous surge was attributed to a Pacific storm system that also brought heavy rain to much of the US West Coast on Friday night, coinciding with extreme high tides.
“Significant flooding is possible in vulnerable coastal areas during the high tide period,” the NWS warns. “Large waves can cause injuries, sweeping people off beaches and rocks, and overturning small boats close to shore,” it says.
The coastal town of Ventura, 105 kilometers from Los Angeles, was faced Thursday with huge waves that resembled a small tsunami and flooded homes and shops. Video broadcast by the NBC television network showed huge waves sweeping away panicked people running for safety on a coastal road in the city, while eight injuries were reported.
The extent of the devastation was evident Friday at a Ventura hotel, where all the windows on the ground floor were shattered and debris flooded the balconies. In the morning, employees were stacking sandbags to fortify the hotel.
“You probably all saw on some video that the wave came over the road and made it look like a river,” said 63-year-old Dan Roundry. “We are all trying to regroup and prepare as best we can for tomorrow,” he added.
While most residents prepare for a repeat of this extreme phenomenon, some intrepid surfers aspire to tame the huge waves. Ventura resident and surfer Kenny Powell, 64, said that while some surfers feel an overwhelming urge to ride the wild waves, Thursday’s phenomenon proved extremely dangerous. “We had to pull some of them out of the sea … after Mother Nature proved stronger” than they expected, he recounted.
Source :Skai
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