All surfing enthusiasts are keeping track of the developing weather forecast. The beaches in Southern California are about to experience the might of Hurricane Hillary. While wave riders await the impending swells, a word of caution is echoing across the shores. Experts have revealed that the biggest waves will be found in Los Angeles and Orange County. They will range from 10 to 15 feet and will hit the coast on Sunday and will continue till early Monday.

However, as Hurricane Hillary approaches the coast, surfers should be mindful of the swell and the changing weather conditions. Similar warnings regarding the weather have also been issued by the concerned authorities.

Authorities warn surfing enthusiasts

The surfing community understands that major swells await them on the beaches of South California. Hurricane Hillary is set to initiate waves from 4 to 7 feet and will continue to rise more than 10 feet. Keeping this in mind, authorities have already issued an early high surf advisory for Orange County starting from 8 a.m. on Sunday. However, the big swells are not the only issue for the authorities since a number of events will accompany the hurricane. Heavy rain and winds clocking between 40 to 50 miles per hour, with gusts up to a stunning 60 miles per hour, are set to sweep through Southern California.

All these factors combined also pose the possibility of flooding for Long Beach and Newport Beach. According to a Laist report, Alex Tardy, a National Weather Service meteorologist, claims, ” So more than the king tide, more than a big atmospheric river,. So if you’re in a flood-prone area, you’ve got to do something — sandbags, making sure the drains and gutters are cleared.” Tardy also warns of potential downed trees and power lines because of the forecasted wind, advising everyone to steer clear of beaches and travel in the Southern California region. But despite the warnings by authorities, a surfing enthusiast is set to approach the upcoming hurricane as an opportunity for a thrilling surf routine.

A surfer’s approach to Hurricane Hillary

For passionate surfers, hurricanes are more than just a weather event. It’s a rare opportunity to ride epic waves. Gerard McMahon is one such seasoned wave chaser from Huntington Beach. The 23-year-old claims, “If I have the free time, I will definitely most likely try and go out either over in Huntington or anywhere close by if we get an actual clean swell.” However, his wave chasing came at a price for the young surfer. Back in 2018, during one of his daring wave-chasing routines, he got stuck in the impact zone and was pounded by more than 10 giant waves.

Read more: “I Chased a Hurricane”: Surfing Buff Hunting Waves Around the World Has an Exciting Adventure During Stormy Weather

Somehow he managed to get back to shore, where he gasped for air as his lungs were vibrating from all the salt water. This is why surfers should be careful during storms and hurricanes. While it may provide them with the right weather conditions for surfing, these events are extremely dangerous and can pose life-threatening injuries to surfing enthusiasts.

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