Hurricane Marie Churns Up High Surf Along Santa Barbara’s Coast
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) - Energy from Hurricane Marie is kicking up big surf along local beaches that are normally described as "flat water" beaches, including East Beach.
"We've got waves out here six to eight feet face beach-break meaning that when it breaks hard it breaks all at once," said Brittney Gamble, a beach lifeguard and EMT. "It can be a life threatening situation if you're not a strong swimmer."
The Harbor Patrol boat was spotted early Saturday afternoon patrolling off the coast in near shore waters while two lifeguards patrolled the sandy shore in the city's mobile beach unit, looking for swimmers or surfers in distress.
All six city lifeguard towers are fully staffed through the long Labor Day weekend, with more than eight lifeguards on duty.
A crew of three met up at the tower in front of the landmark Chromatic Gate and said they'd already had to help a number of people struggling to get out of the strong surf earlier in the day, especially among the crowd swimming in front of the Cabrillo Pavilion.
"It is very steep out of nowhere and very rocky," said Dino Ise, a city lifeguard. "People lost their footing and had a very hard time. We just had to go in, all (three) of us really, have had turns goin' in."
One couple from Visialia said the size of the waves was somewhat alarming.
"Big and aggressive!" said Brendan and his girlfriend, Jess, almost simultaneously.
"I swam in the ocean!" said Jess.
"Did it feel a little dangerous?" I asked.
"Yeah, a little bit. I think with the super shallow break, it's a lot of water coming down on you all at once." said Brendan.
Gamble said she's been a lifeguard here for eight years and has never seen the surf this big at East Beach.
The city lifeguard team works in hand with the Harbor Patrol and Santa Barbara City Fire Department.
The crew wanted to remind the public that large sets can pop up as far as 20-minutes apart so, remain extra cautious this holiday weekend and never turn a back on the ocean.
