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High Surf — Orange County Coastal Areas, California

July 24, 2009 · NOAA Storm Events record

Direct deaths
1
Direct injuries
1
Property damage
—
Area
Orange County Coastal Areas

Event narrative (NOAA)

Local broadcast media reported surf up to 20 feet at The Wedge in Newport Beach on Friday the 24th. Around 1300 PDT, a body surfer was killed when large waves and strong currents forced him into a nearby rock jetty. The cause of death was reported to be drowning. Further south, a Dana Point sheriff's deputy sustained a back injury when his patrol boat went airborne after it crested an unanticipated wave in the open water. In San Clemente, a portion of the fishing pier was closed after high surf tore off a wooden crossbeam. The pier reopened at 1100 PDT Saturday. Hundreds of rip current rescues were reported at various beaches in Orange County as well.

Other notable high surf events in California

Coastal North Bay Including Point Reyes National Seashore · July 14, 20104 killedCoastal North Bay Including Point Reyes National Seashore · January 3, 20213 killedNorth Coast Interior · June 7, 20043 killedSan Francisco Peninsula Coast · December 3, 20072 killedCoastal North Bay Including Point Reyes National Seashore · November 26, 20092 killedSan Francisco · May 23, 20102 killed

Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database. Deaths and injuries are those NOAA classifies as direct. Damage is the reporting office's estimate at the time and is not inflation-adjusted. This is a catalogue record, not a forecast.

High Surf — Orange County Coastal Areas, California, July 24, 2009 | DisasterAtlasUSA