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Rogue wave in Ventura, California injures 8, people run to get out of its path: Video

Kinsey Crowley Wes Woods II Cheri Carlson
USA TODAY NETWORK

Videos out of Ventura, California captured the moment a rogue wave jumped over a seawall Thursday, sweeping aside the cars and people in its path.

Ventura isn't the only place experiencing tumultuous coasts. The National Weather Service has issued surf and flooding advisories along the California coast and in Hawaii.

A video from Ventura officials opens on a seemingly tranquil scene. People are scattered along the seawall, leaning against it and watching the rolling waves in the distance.

Suddenly, people start to back away from the wall moments before a wave spikes up in front of them. As it crashes down into the street, many of the people running get their feet knocked out from under them and a truck seems to skip forward in the waves.

Another angle captured by Facebook user Colin Hoag shows the waves chasing him down the street.

Officials urged people to avoid the ocean. High surf is expected through Saturday.

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.

California waves:Massive waves threaten California, after Ventura rogue wave coast braces for another round

Rogue wave in Ventura, California leaves 8 people injured

The Ventura County Fire Department was called to the scene of the wave shortly before 11 a.m. Thursday.

"It ended up being a total of eight patients due to surf that came over the wall and flooded the streets," Ventura County Fire Capt. Brian McGrath said. The injured were taken to the nearby hospitals.

Residents in the neighborhoods near the incident were advised to leave, said Cmdr. Ryan Weeks with the Ventura Police Department. The patrons of a nearby hotel were also asked to leave.

Roads in and around those areas were also closed.

Rogue waves:A rogue wave caused a cruise ship tragedy. They occur more often than you think.

California, Hawaii under coastal weather watch

Visitors to Manhattan Beach pier watch as turbulent surf pounds the side of the pier in Manhattan Beach, Calif. on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. Powerful surf rolled onto beaches on the West Coast and Hawaii on Thursday as a big swell generated by the stormy Pacific Ocean pushed toward shorelines, causing localized flooding.

A National Weather Service meteorologist said a storm system over the Pacific is churning up swells.

Here are the coastal weather warnings and watches issued by local NWS offices as a result of the storms:

NSW Los Angeles Office - "Dangerous Beach Conditions"

  • Central Coast: 15-20 foot waves and potentially damaging coastal flooding
  • Ventura County Coast: 10-15 foot waves and potentially damaging coastal flooding
  • Santa Barbara South Coast and LA County Coast: 7-12 foot waves and moderate coastal flooding

NWS San Diego Office - "Marine and Coastal Hazards"

  • San Diego and Orange County - High surf warning with surf up to 15 feet through 2 a.m. Monday
  • Coastal flood advisory in effect for Orange County and San Diego County through 2 a.m. Monday

NWS San Francisco Office - All counties covered are under:

  • Coastal flood advisory through 2 p.m. Friday
  • High surf advisory until 6 p.m. Friday

Honolulu, Hawaii NWS Office

  • High surf warning is in effect until 6 a.m. local time Friday. Parts of the islands could see surf up to 35 feet
  • High surf advisory in effect for other parts of the islands until 6 p.m. Friday. Surfs could reach 15 to 20 feet.
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.
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