Published on June 18, 2026 11:07 am
At least three people have drowned, and another one drowned, amid historically massive flooding in June off the California coast. 100 have been saved. Now, officials are urging beachgoers to exercise more caution.
National Weather Service (NWS) with beach threat Counseling In effect in parts of California through the weekend, Outside To learn more about how beachgoers can stay safe when the ocean is especially dangerous, we spoke with a longtime water rescue expert.
A historic surge hit the Golden State last week, sending high tides and waves as high as 20 feet to the coast from Los Angeles to San Francisco. High waves in the area can injure or even wash away inexperienced swimmers, creating rip currents that wash people away from shore.
Ryan Peters, division chief in the Central Fire District of Santa Cruz County and a ten-year member of the water rescue team, said Outside Dangerous inflammatory conditions can mean the difference between life and death.
“Over the past few days, we’ve had about a dozen calls for rescue and safety checks, assistance for swimmers and surfers,” Peters said. He added that, often it is not the fitness of an individual that catalyzes a rescue, but rather the conditions at sea that can get people into trouble.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, a five-year-old girl went missing off the coast of Laguna Beach on the evening of June 9 when she was hit by a wave and carried into the ocean. informed. The current also pulled the girl’s brother and mother into the water. Bystanders saved both of them, but failed to find the girl. Rescuers searched for more than 30 hours and eventually found her body on the morning of June 11, about one-quarter of a mile from where she was initially swept out to sea. city of laguna beach.
On June 10, two young women also drowned after being swept out to sea by a strong current at a beach just north of Santa Cruz. A few days later, on June 14, the Central Fire team rescued two other swimmers stranded at high tide at another beach near Santa Cruz.
“On many of these calls, we go out to a person in distress, like a surfer, and we find that there are many other people in the ocean at that time who also need assistance,” Peters said. “That’s the time when, operationally, we can rely not on just one incident but multiple incidents.”
The ocean can be unpredictable even for the most qualified swimmer
Peters said his team is commonly called to rescue surfers, who are often physically fit, but “may not appreciate the significance of the circumstances.”
“Even if they are somewhat competent and strong in the water, people can get into trouble in these types of situations,” he explained. “So go out with a friend, tell people ahead of time where you’re going, and never turn away from the ocean.”
Peters said beachgoers often get swept out to sea by waves while recreating in rocky or rocky areas.
“People go up to a high point over the ocean to take a picture or something, which is low enough to be affected by high surf activity,” he said. “They turn their backs on the ocean, don’t understand the importance of waves and ocean conditions and a big wave comes up. It doesn’t take much to knock someone over and if the surface is slippery it’s really easy for people to get pulled into the water.”
How to keep children safe at the beach
Peters said caregivers should make sure children are strong swimmers before taking them to the beach.
“Let children be comfortable in the water,” he said. “Teach them how to swim as soon as possible. But also, don’t let them swim alone. Keep an eye on your kids at the beach, and if you’re taking kids to the beach, go to an area with a lifeguard if possible.”
What about rip current?
Peters said that, in addition to waves knocking swimmers into the ocean, many swimmers get into trouble when waves catch them. Rip currents are powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water that flow from the coast directly into the ocean.
Rapid currents are not always easy to spot, and asking someone familiar with the area can help identify them.
“If you’re at a protected beach, ask the lifeguard about strong currents,” he explained. “Some will be marked, and lifeguards will usually be aware of the strong currents in the area.”
If you get caught in a strong current, don’t try to fight it, Peters said.
He explained, “Even if you’re a strong swimmer, you can’t outrun a strong current.” “They will tire you out. The best thing to do is to stay calm, swim if you can, catch your breath, rest and then start swimming parallel to the shore.”
A swimmer must be able to determine when they are out of the rapid current. “You will not proceed to the sea,” said Peters. “At that point, you can start swimming to shore.”
To learn more about how to avoid tides, read Everything You Know About Avoiding Tides That’s Wrong.
How to identify dangerous marine conditions
Before heading to the beach, three sea conditions can help determine whether the ocean may be particularly dangerous, according to Peters.
- Important highlights: Size of waves. Major waves, such as those that hit California in recent days, are generated by distant storm systems.
- short period: Short interval between waves. When waves hit one after another, swimmers have less time to recover or breathe between impacts.
- Building construction tide: The tide transitions from low to high, cutting escape routes along the base of the rocks.
