San Diego’s coastline is facing another round of powerful surf, dangerous rip currents and potential beach erosion as coastal cities prepare for winter storms.<\/p>\n
The National Weather Service issued a beach hazards statement<\/a> early Sunday, forecasting waves reaching 7 feet and an increased risk of drowning in dangerous rip currents.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, cities including Del Mar and Oceanside are working to protect their beaches and neighborhoods from future flooding.<\/p>\n Despite the hazardous conditions, surfers and swimmers continued to go into the water to take advantage of the high surf.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause there\u2019s a swell from the storms that we\u2019ve had, the waves have been a little bigger. That draws me out there,” surfer John Bain said as he prepared to get into the water before sunrise, Sunday.<\/p>\n But the powerful surf comes with risks, particularly for beachgoers unfamiliar with rip currents.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of people who go out and get caught. They don\u2019t realize what it is,” surfer Leo Connell said. He was only able to watch from the shore, Sunday, because of an injury.<\/p>\n But Connell has 30 years of surfing experience. “If you\u2019re not aware of it, you\u2019re going to panic. It is nice to be on a surfboard because it is a flotation device,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Del Mar reinforces beaches ahead of winter storms<\/p>\n In Del Mar, city crews recently replenished protective sand berms after Tropical Storm Rachel churned up the Pacific Ocean.<\/p>\n The city calls the annual berm-building project a “sand push,<\/a>” an effort to help protect beaches and nearby neighborhoods from coastal flooding.<\/p>\n Although Del Mar’s beaches remained open as the remnants of Rachel moved through the region last weekend, the storm served as a test of the city’s coastal protection plans<\/a>.<\/p>\n No significant flooding was reported in Del Mar, but the city continues preparing for potentially stronger winter storms.<\/p>\n The need for coastal protection is growing as warming ocean temperatures contribute to changing weather patterns and increasing erosion threats.<\/p>\n The attack on the sand being taken off shore is only going to increase with this warming world. <\/p>\n Pat Abbott, PhD, Geology Expert <\/p>\n