Seal pier closes; more massive waves on the way

While waves have eased a bit today, lifeguards in Seal Beach are still keeping an eye on a sand berm protecting homes from flooding, said Nick Bolin, Marine Safety Officer.
Two bulldozers beefed up the sand berm this morning before the afternoon rain hit. The city also had pumps ready for rainwater build up that could possibly flood homes.
“To say if (the berm) is going to be breached – who knows? It’s up to Mother Nature,” said Bolin.
Bolin said the likelihood of water breaking through the berm today is less because the tide swing has dropped, only at a 3.3 high today at about noon.
The wooden pier – which sustained minor damage after getting slammed by wild waves the past few days – will be closed to the public until at least Saturday, when lifeguards will assess the safety of the structure.
Lifeguards are anticipating large surf to again pick up Friday and Saturday. Friday’s swell is expected to bring in surf anywhere from the 6-to 11-foot range, and Saturday it will peak at 9-to 13-foot waves.
Bolin said a few dozen surfers hit the waves this morning, getting clean and glassy waves before the storm moved in. He said inexperienced surfers should stay out of the water the next few days, and warned that as a general rule, people should stay out of the water for 72 hours after a rainfall because of high bacteria levels.
“We’re urging surfers to take precautions. We have high surf, and high rip current activity. If you’re not expert level, stay out of the water,” he said.
In Newport Beach, lifeguards are watching the erosion on the Balboa Peninsula, where big waves have chomped away 20 to 30 feet of sand each day during the recent storms. Lifeguard towers had to be moved back so they weren’t washed away, said lifeguard Chief Jim Turner.