Big Wave Weekend Rocks South Orange County Coastline

San Clemente CA

23 August, 2021

3:26 PM

Description

SAN CLEMENTE, CA — Big waves and strong surf punctuated the weekend in San Clemente, Dana Point, Capistrano Beach, Laguna Beach and up and down the Orange County coastline. Seven to eight-foot waves battered the coastline for several days straight. Main Beach in Laguna was flooded and covered with unearthed bits of the kelp forest. Laguna Beach lifeguard tower surrounded by kelp after extreme high tides and coastal flooding (Susana Cruciana photo) The embattled south Orange County coastal city of Capistrano Beach was hammered, according to residents. Strong surf crumbled and collapsed much of the shoreline, and realigned rip rap boulders and large sand cubes, in place to reduce ongoing beach erosion, according to local resident Toni Nelson. Toni Nelson, PhotoA newly reopened coastal trail is once again closed after the "familiar combination of high tide and surf tore out precious sand, unearthed sandbags and buried the path in cobble and sand. Read: High Surf/Tide Combo Slams Capo Beach – Again "The good news is that the double-wall held the path in place," Nelson says. "OCParks officials said the plan is to clean things up as soon as this surf event is over – likely early next week." Leyla Lodato shared this picture of big waves at Treasure Island Beach in South Laguna. Many instances of coastal flooding were reported from Dana Point to Zuma Beach in Los Angeles County. Zuma Beach sees coastal flooding. Photo: Salameh DibaieWe thank all readers for sharing their pictures of the extreme tides. Got some big wave pictures? Send them to your Patch Editor for a chance to be featured.