WATCH: High Surf Causes Biggest San Diego Swells in Years
Surfers seeking big waves got a surprise gift from Mother Nature during Christmas week, with a high surf bringing huge swells to San Diego.
Last week, the National Weather Service issued a high surf advisory for San Diego County and other coastal areas in Southern California. According to the alert, the “treacherous” conditions brought waves between six and 12 feet to San Diego beaches.
Notably, the high surf advisory brought waves that reached heights not normally seen in local waters, with some wave faces reaching more than 15 feet, NBC San Diego has reported.
Although local officials warned inexperienced swimmers to avoid the water completely, that didn’t deter some veteran surfers from the area to try and ride the biggest swell in San Diego in years.
SoCal Surfer reported that local spots like La Jolla Cove and Blacks Beach pulled in XL waves during the high surf advisory. Reportedly, the swell came in at least 30% bigger than the model guidance, with 2 to 3 times the overhead waves and 3 times overhead at standouts.
The high surf wasn’t all fun and games, however. NBC San Diego reported that the waves have taken out another piling from the OB Pier, which has been closed on-and-off since January 2021. Now, officials are urging caution and for residents to avoid the pier completely.
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Mike Peterson is a writer, editor, and strategist based in San Diego. When he’s not writing and editing the La Jolla news, you can often find him practicing yoga, rock climbing, or exploring the outdoors with his wife and dog.
