Images: Dangerous surf pounds California coast
Authorities are warning about dangerously high waves pounding the California coast that have left a swimmer missing and likely caused a marijuana smuggling boat to crash onto a beach. Lifeguards conducted dozens of rescues, officials said. High surf also caused some damage to the Ocean Beach and San Clemente piers.
A body boarder takes a spill after riding a big wave at the Wedge in Newport Beach, Calif. on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011. High tide and a winter storm off New Zealand are combining to bring high waves to the Southern California coast. The National Weather Service said waves of 8 feet to 11 feet or more could hit beaches from San Luis Obispo to San Diego counties through the afternoon and peak Thursday night or early Friday.
Associated Press
A bodysurfer watches as a wave crashes onto the beach in Newport Beach, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011. Searchers scoured the Southern California coast Thursday for a swimmer who vanished in a rip current as authorities warned that dangerously high waves were arriving from a winter storm off New Zealand.
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A man jumps into the waves in Newport Beach, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011. Searchers scoured the Southern California coast Thursday for a swimmer who vanished in a rip current as authorities warned that dangerously high waves were arriving from a winter storm off New Zealand.
Associated Press
Spectators watch as a surfer catches a big wave in Newport Beach, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011. Searchers scoured the Southern California coast Thursday for a swimmer who vanished in a rip current as authorities warned that dangerously high waves were arriving from a winter storm off New Zealand.
Associated Press
Surfers and body boarders look on as a large wave rolls ashore at the Wedge in Newport Beach, Calif. on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011. High tide and a winter storm off New Zealand are combining to bring high waves to the Southern California coast. The National Weather Service said waves of 8 feet to 11 feet or more could hit beaches from San Luis Obispo to San Diego counties through the afternoon and peak Thursday night or early Friday.
Associated Press
A surfer, top, catches a big wave in Newport Beach, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011. Searchers scoured the Southern California coast Thursday for a swimmer who vanished in a rip current as authorities warned that dangerously high waves were arriving from a winter storm off New Zealand.
Associated Press
Spectators watch body as bodysurfers wait to catch big waves in Newport Beach, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011. Searchers scoured the Southern California coast Thursday for a swimmer who vanished in a rip current as authorities warned that dangerously high waves were arriving from a winter storm off New Zealand.
Associated Press
A large wave crashes behind a surfer at the Wedge in Newport Beach, Calif. on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011. High tide and a winter storm off New Zealand are combining to bring high waves to the Southern California coast. The National Weather Service said waves of 8 feet to 11 feet or more could hit beaches from San Luis Obispo to San Diego counties through the afternoon and peak Thursday night or early Friday.
Associated Press
Searchers, background, scour the Southern California coast for a swimmer who vanished Wednesday in a rip current on Seal Beach, Calif. Thursday Sept. 1, 2011. An overnight search failed to find Jowayne Binford, 26, of Long Beach, but a boat and helicopter continued to search 61 miles of coastline, according to the US Coast Guard. Authorities warned that dangerously high waves were expected from a winter storm off New Zealand.
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Lifeguard Greg Avila joins searchers scouring the Southern California coast for a swimmer who vanished Wednesday in a rip current in Seal Beach, Calif. Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011. An overnight search failed to find Jowayne Binford, 26, of Long Beach, but a boat and helicopter continued to search 61 miles of coastline, according to the US Coast Guard.
Associated Press
Spectators watch some big waves in Newport Beach, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011. High tide and a winter storm off New Zealand are combining to bring high waves to the Southern California coast. The National Weather Service said waves of 8 feet to 11 feet or more could hit beaches from San Luis Obispo to San Diego counties through the afternoon and peak Thursday night or early Friday.
Associated Press
A surfers catch the waves near the Malibu Pier, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011, in Malibu, Calif. Authorities warned swimmers and surfers to be careful because of high waves and strong rip currents that hit Central and Southern California through the day. Waves of up to a dozen feet were seen from San Luis Obispo to San Diego counties, the National Weather Service said.
Associated Press
A surfer dives off a wave near the Malibu Pier, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011, in Malibu, Calif. Authorities warned swimmers and surfers to be careful because of high waves and strong rip currents that hit Central and Southern California through the day. Waves of up to a dozen feet were seen from San Luis Obispo to San Diego counties, the National Weather Service said.
Associated Press
Waves break near beach homes, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011, in Malibu, Calif. Authorities warned swimmers and surfers to be careful because of high waves and strong rip currents that hit Central and Southern California through the day. Waves of up to a dozen feet were seen from San Luis Obispo to San Diego counties, the National Weather Service said.
Associated Press
Spectators line the beach to watch surfers and body boarders ride the big waves at the Wedge in Newport Beach, Calif. on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011. High tide and a winter storm off New Zealand are combining to bring high waves to the Southern California coast. The National Weather Service said waves of 8 feet to 11 feet or more could hit beaches from San Luis Obispo to San Diego counties through the afternoon and peak Thursday night or early Friday.
Associated Press
Surfing champion Kelly Slater runs along the beach after riding a wave near the Malibu Pier, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011, in Malibu, Calif. Authorities warned swimmers and surfers to be careful because of high waves and strong rip currents that hit Central and Southern California through the day. Waves of up to a dozen feet were seen from San Luis Obispo to San Diego counties, the National Weather Service said.
Associated Press
A surfers rides a wave as a lifeguard boat sits in the background near the Malibu Pier, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011, in Malibu, Calif. Authorities warned swimmers and surfers to be careful because of high waves and strong rip currents that hit Central and Southern California through the day. Waves of up to a dozen feet were seen from San Luis Obispo to San Diego counties, the National Weather Service said.
Associated Press
A body boarder walks past a 8-10-foot shelf of eroded beach at the Wedge in Newport Beach, Calif. on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011. High tide and a winter storm off New Zealand are combining to bring high waves to the Southern California coast. The National Weather Service said waves of 8 feet to 11 feet or more could hit beaches from San Luis Obispo to San Diego counties through the afternoon and peak Thursday night or early Friday.
Associated Press
Spectators get splashed with water as waves crash onto the beach in Newport Beach, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011. Searchers scoured the Southern California coast Thursday for a swimmer who vanished in a rip current as authorities warned that dangerously high waves were arriving from a winter storm off New Zealand.
Associated Press
An elderly woman is escorted out by a lifeguard as spectators gather to watch big waves in Newport Beach, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011. Searchers scoured the Southern California coast Thursday for a swimmer who vanished in a rip current as authorities warned that dangerously high waves were arriving from a winter storm off New Zealand.
Associated Press