Lifeguards are expecting a busy weekend on the coast, and warn of possible rip currents and chilly water.

Newport Beach Capt. Boyd Mickley said summer crowds this week have been hitting about 85,000, and more than 100,000 beachgoers are expected to flock to the sand on Friday for the Fourth of July.

Mickley also said there are predictions for increased surf, which means inexperienced swimmers should check with lifeguards before entering the water. He said crowds seem larger than previous years, perhaps because people are staying closer to home rather than going out of town because of high gas prices.

“Some think it’s reducing numbers because no one wants to spend gas money, others think it’s increasing crowds because no one wants to go elsewhere,” he said. Having the holiday on Friday will bring even larger crowds to the beach, he said.

.

The northwest swell – if it comes through – could bring waves to the West Newport area.

In Laguna, Marine Safety Lt. Scott Diederich said forecasters are calling for 3-to 5-foot surf, meaning swimmers should use caution.

“Never swim alone, and never swim when drinking alcohol,” Diederich said.

Lifeguards will have extra people on staff; Laguna increasing from 48 to 62 for the day. Every beach up and down the coast will have extra staff.

Even on weekdays, Laguna is seeing about 20,000 people on the sand. This week, they had a handful of rescues with the south swell that came in.

“It’s people not checking with lifeguards and getting into situations above their ability,” he said. They are expecting up to 60,000 a day this weekend, including Friday. “We are expecting that there is going to be surf, and rip currents are going to be hazards,” he said.

The strong west winds have dropped water temps from 72 to 58 degrees this week, but today it was creeping back up to 62 degrees, he said. If the wind doesn’t kick back up, it may get back up to about 67 degrees, he said.

He also warned that there will be an extreme high tide Friday night at 6.7, and those watching the firework show from the sand need to make sure they’re far enough up on the beach that they don’t get washed out to sea.

Huntington Beach Marine Safety Officer Claude Panis said there already have been a few major cervical injuries this year, one last week that resulted in paralysis.

“Someone saw him just floating face down, and it looked like he was trying to get himself up,” he said. “Some kids grabbed him and pulled him out of the water. “If it weren’t for them, he’d probably be dead.”

Panis said that because of surf lately, the sandy bottoms below the water’s surface can be uneven, so swimmers should never dive into the water head first.

Last year on the Fourth of July, former Newport Harbor High School student Matt Oka suffered a spinal cord injury and was left paralyzed after hitting his head and breaking his neck on a sandbar south of the Balboa Pier.
For up-to-date news on the weather, see Sciencedude’s blog.

More stories from the Beach Blog:

• Headed to the beach on the Fourth of July? Let us guide you
• “Save Trestles” campaign trying to get support for new toll road meeting
• Icons to be honored at Huntington Beach Surfing Walk of Fame announced
• More drunks on the sand and rescues in HB for the world to see
• Blue whale spotted offshore
• Blackball is in effect - do you know where you can surf?
• Shark attacks woman on kayak at Catalina, knocks her off in front of her kids
• More drunks on the sand and rescues in HB for the world to see
• Blue whale spotted offshore
• Blackball is in effect - do you know where you can surf?
• Shark attacks woman on kayak at Catalina, knocks her off in front of her kids

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.