California beaches slammed by massive waves, coastal flooding

Another round of dangerous surf and coastal flooding Saturday forced some authorities in Southern California to warn of the potential of coastal evacuations, just 48 hours after massive waves wreaked havoc along beaches from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

A series of storm systems in the Pacific Ocean helped trigger the rough seas that created life-threatening surf in five western states.

Local emergency management agencies and National Weather Service offices were seemingly well-prepared for the event, as beaches and piers up-and-down the Golden State’s coastline were closed in preparation for the coastal impacts.

Around San Francisco, Monterey and Big Sur coasts, dangerously large waves of 28-33 feet were expected, while waves of 15-20 feet with sets to 25 feet were experienced around Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo.

Ventura County warned Saturday of possible evacuations, but water levels never reached the threshold for an evacuation order to be issued.

Southern California was still cleaning up from Thursday’s barrage of high surf.

A massive wave crashed through and over beach barriers, sending a surge of water rushing inland and catching several onlookers by surprise.

Video from the chaotic scene showed people scrambling to escape the wave with at least one car carried inland in the floodwaters. 

Ventura County was still cleaning up from Thursday’s barrage of high surf.

A massive wave crashed through and over beach barriers, sending a surge of water rushing inland and catching several onlookers by surprise.

Video from the chaotic scene showed people scrambling to escape the wave with at least one car carried inland in the floodwaters.

At least eight people were sent to the hospital with minor injuries, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.

Ventura County spent hours Thursday night and Friday creating a fresh mile-long sand barrier to help protect the shorelines against the advancing surf.

The surf threat was forecast to abate Sunday into the early workweek as the eastern Pacific gets a break from deep low-pressure storms.