Photos: Powerful Pacific swell brings dangerous surf to California
A powerful Pacific swell triggered massive waves that overran beaches along the California coast, flooding parking lots, streets and triggering evacuation warnings. Much of the West coast, from the U.S.-Mexico border to southern Oregon, is under coastal flood and high-surf alerts.
A surfer rides a large wave in Topanga Beach in Los Angeles on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. Powerful surf is rolled onto beaches on the West Coast and Hawaii as a big swell generated by the stormy Pacific Ocean pushes toward shorelines. Â
Sea foam is washed over a barrier on Beach Drive in Aptos, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. Powerful surf is rolled onto beaches on the West Coast and Hawaii as a big swell generated by the stormy Pacific Ocean pushes toward shorelines. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
Storm debris in the Rio Del Mar neighborhood of Aptos, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. Powerful surf is rolled onto beaches on the West Coast and Hawaii as a big swell generated by the stormy Pacific Ocean pushes toward shorelines. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
A front end loader removes debris along a flooded Clarendon road due to high waves in Pacifica, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. Powerful surf is rolled onto beaches on the West Coast and Hawaii as a big swell generated by the stormy Pacific Ocean pushes toward shorelines. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
A man carris a woman through storm debris in the Rio Del Mar neighborhood of Aptos, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. Powerful surf is rolled onto beaches on the West Coast and Hawaii as a big swell generated by the stormy Pacific Ocean pushes toward shorelines. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
Waves break near beach homes in Malibu, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. Powerful surf is rolled onto beaches on the West Coast and Hawaii as a big swell generated by the stormy Pacific Ocean pushes toward shorelines. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Big waves and rough surf crashes along Manhattan Beach, Calif. on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. Powerful surf is rolled onto beaches on the West Coast and Hawaii as a big swell generated by the stormy Pacific Ocean pushes toward shorelines. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
Lifeguards and onlookers keep an eye on surfers catching the waves in Topanga Beach in Los Angeles on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. Powerful surf is rolled onto beaches on the West Coast and Hawaii as a big swell generated by the stormy Pacific Ocean pushes toward shorelines. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Alfredo Perez carries a sandbag to reinforce a home along a flooded Clarendon road due to high waves in Pacifica, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. Powerful surf is rolled onto beaches on the West Coast and Hawaii as a big swell generated by the stormy Pacific Ocean pushes toward shorelines. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
The streets are flooded in Capitola, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. Powerful surf is rolling onto beaches on the West Coast and Hawaii as a big swell generated by the stormy Pacific Ocean pushes toward shorelines. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
The streets are flooded in Capitola, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. Powerful surf is rolling onto beaches on the West Coast and Hawaii as a big swell generated by the stormy Pacific Ocean pushes toward shorelines. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
Large waves crash near Capitola, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. Powerful surf is rolling onto beaches on the West Coast and Hawaii as a big swell generated by the stormy Pacific Ocean pushes toward shorelines. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
A utility worker runs from incoming water while inspecting downed power lines at The Venetian motel in Capitola, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. Powerful surf is rolling onto beaches on the West Coast and Hawaii as a big swell generated by the stormy Pacific Ocean pushes toward shorelines. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
A surfer jumps off his board while riding waves at Topanga State Beach in Los Angeles on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. The National Weather Service issued high surf warnings Thursday for much of the West Coast and parts of Hawaii, describing the waves and rip currents expected to hit certain coastlines as potentially dangerous and life-threatening. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
People watch as turbulent surf pounds the side of the pier in Manhattan Beach, Calif. on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
Beachgoers watch as turbulent surf pounds the coast at Manhattan Beach on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023 in Manhattan Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
Waves splash under a house in Stinson Beach, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
People watch as water surges in Stinson Beach, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Waves crash in Stinson Beach, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Large waves crash at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
A surfer jumps in the water at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
A surfer catches a wave at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
Large waves crash in to Duncan's Landing north of Carmet, Ca., Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023 due to a Pacific storm pummeling Northern California. (Kent Porter/The Press Democrat via AP)
Large waves crash in to Duncan's Landing north of Carmet, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, due to a Pacific storm pummeling Northern California. (Kent Porter/The Press Democrat via AP)
A visitor to Duncan's Landing north of Carmet, Ca., admires a large breaker rolling in to the shoreline, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, (Kent Porter/The Press Democrat via AP)
Rex Bre of Canada makes a selfie on the bluff of Bodega Head, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023 as the large surf draws big crowds to the Sonoma Coastline. (Kent Porter/The Press Democrat via AP)
Two men walk through ocean debris in the Rio Del Mar neighborhood of Aptos, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
Storm debris in the Rio Del Mar neighborhood of Aptos, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
Storm debris in the Rio Del Mar neighborhood of Aptos, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
Surfer ride the waves at Waimea Bay, Hawaii on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. The National Weather Service has issued high surf warnings for much of the West Coast and parts of Hawaii. Warnings were in place Wednesday for parts of Oregon and Hawaii, where waves could reach roughly 30 feet. (Cindy Ellen Russell/Honolulu Star-Advertiser via AP)
People check-out the surf at Sunset Beach, Hawaii, on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. The National Weather Service has issued high surf warnings for much of the West Coast and parts of Hawaii. Warnings were in place Wednesday for parts of Oregon and Hawaii, where waves could reach roughly 30 feet. (Cindy Ellen Russell/Honolulu Star-Advertiser via AP)
A surfer surveys the waves before diving in for action at Waimea Bay, Hawaii, on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. The National Weather Service has issued high surf warnings for much of the West Coast and parts of Hawaii. Warnings were in place Wednesday for parts of Oregon and Hawaii, where waves could reach roughly 30 feet. (Cindy Ellen Russell/Honolulu Star-Advertiser via AP)
Surfers wait for a wave in high surf at Manhattan Beach, Calif. on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. The National Weather Service has issued high surf warnings for much of the West Coast and parts of Hawaii, describing the waves and rip currents expected to hit certain coastlines as potentially dangerous and life-threatening.(AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
A surfer dives under a large wave in at Manhattan Beach, Calif. on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. The National Weather Service has issued high surf warnings for much of the West Coast and parts of Hawaii, describing the waves and rip currents expected to hit certain coastlines as potentially dangerous and life-threatening.(AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
High surf breaks along along Manhattan Beach, Calif. on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. The National Weather Service has issued high surf warnings for much of the West Coast and parts of Hawaii, describing the waves and rip currents expected to hit certain coastlines as potentially dangerous and life-threatening. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
Hermosa beach pier is see as rough surf breaks along the beach in Manhattan beach, Calif. on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. The National Weather Service has issued high surf warnings for much of the West Coast and parts of Hawaii, describing the waves and rip currents expected to hit certain coastlines as potentially dangerous and life-threatening.(AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
A beachgoer standing on a sand berm watches high surf near Manhattan Beach, Calif. on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. The National Weather Service has issued high surf warnings for much of the West Coast and parts of Hawaii, describing the waves and rip currents expected to hit certain coastlines as potentially dangerous and life-threatening.(AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
High surf breaks past a jetty as a surfer heads out near Manhattan Beach, Calif. on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. The National Weather Service has issued high surf warnings for much of the West Coast and parts of Hawaii, describing the waves and rip currents expected to hit certain coastlines as potentially dangerous and life-threatening.(AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
A surfer takes off on a wave as high surf begins to pound the beach near Manhattan Beach, Calif. on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. The National Weather Service has issued high surf warnings for much of the West Coast and parts of Hawaii, describing the waves and rip currents expected to hit certain coastlines as potentially dangerous and life-threatening.(AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
Storm debris on Beach Drive in Aptos, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. Powerful surf is rolled onto beaches on the West Coast and Hawaii as a big swell generated by the stormy Pacific Ocean pushes toward shorelines. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)