The Redondo Beach Police Department warned boaters Wednesday, July 29, to stay away from King Harbor's breakwall and use extra caution near the harbor entrance as large surf from Hurricane Genevieve rolls into the South Bay.
The breakwall remains off limits, the department said in an alert posted on X. Larger waves, strong currents, and hazardous conditions are expected to persist through the weekend.
The warning targets anyone operating a vessel in or near King Harbor, where the narrow entrance channel can amplify swells that are already dangerous in open water.
What's driving the surf
Hurricane Genevieve, a Category 3 storm as of Tuesday, July 28, was centered about 530 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph, according to the Ventura County Star. Genevieve is the third Pacific tropical storm to push swells toward California beaches this month, following Elida and Fausto.
South-facing beaches in the Los Angeles area are forecast to see 4- to 6-foot surf, with some south-facing stretches north of Oceanside reaching 5 to 9 feet, according to the Orange County Register. The National Weather Service's high surf advisory forecasts 4- to 8-foot waves at South Bay beaches specifically.
The previous weekend, swells from Tropical Storm Fausto produced 1,950 rescues by LA County lifeguards in a single day.
Broader advisories still in effect
As we reported Tuesday, the National Weather Service issued overlapping high surf and coastal flood advisories for Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Redondo Beach running from 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 29, through 5 p.m. Saturday, August 1. Evening coastal flooding is possible during high tide.
The RBPD alert does not specify when the breakwall restriction will lift. The department's non-emergency line is 310-379-5411; for emergencies, call 911.
