As thousands of people across Los Angeles are expected to flock to the beach due to the anticipated heat on Labor Day, a beach hazards statement has gone into effect.
Authorities are warning of dangerous conditions including high surf and bacteria in the water. They’re advising people to avoid going into the ocean. Despite the warning, surfers hit the water Monday morning in Manhattan Beach.
“The current is pretty bad today, and they obviously say that to deter people that aren't surfers from getting swept out and it's less work for the lifeguards, but on a three day weekend, a lot of people in the ocean, lots of stuff can go awry, I suppose,” Ryan Harris told KNX News’ Jon Baird.
Harris explained how the rip current is bad, but he said experienced surfers typically are fine in those conditions.
“Along with these higher waves and the energy that's being produced, it actually results in dangerous rip currents a little bit more than normal when we have the higher surf,” Kristen Lund, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said.
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Jason, a lifeguard, said it can get rough in the water for swimmers.
“Some people that aren't familiar with the ocean, they can get in a situation where they're not comfortable, and yeah, that can make them panic,” he explained.
The L.A. County Department of Public Health urged people to take precautions to avoid heat-related illness such as heat exhaustion, heat stroke and cramps. These precautions include avoiding strenuous outdoor activity and drinking plenty of fluids.
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