The aftereffects of Hurricane Polo unleashed rough waves along California’s Golden Coast on Tuesday, leading to a significant rockslide in Orange County.
Now classified as a tropical storm, Polo is losing strength as it moves through Mexico.
Its remnants are expected to affect New Mexico and Texas before dissipating completely. Officials have issued warnings about possible “life-threatening flash flooding” in the southwestern region extending into early Wednesday.
A sizable rockslide near the Agate Street beach access in Laguna Beach on Tuesday afternoon contaminated the water and resulted in the beach’s closure. Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries.
“Fire and Marine Safety crews had to respond and shut down access, while a geologist is set to assess the situation,” officials shared on social media, urging everyone to stay clear of the site and adhere to all closures. They promised to provide updates as more information becomes available.
Images from the area depicted powerful waves crashing against the cliffs.
Although Hurricane Polo did not directly strike Los Angeles, it was predicted to cause issues for coastal areas with its intense swells. A Coastal Flood Advisory is still in effect for Orange County and San Diego County until 5 p.m. Wednesday.
The National Weather Service announced that an earlier warning regarding high surf and coastal flooding was lifted, but cautioned that hazardous ocean conditions might last longer.
“Although the surf from Hurricane Polo has peaked and should decrease rapidly through Wednesday, there’s still a risk of strong rip currents,” said the advisory.
In the forecast, it noted that while high tide would be lower on Wednesday compared to Tuesday, it would still likely remain above 7.0 feet.
Coastal towns like Long Beach and Newport Beach mobilized resources and personnel ahead of the storm to bolster their defenses.
Earlier this month, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency to prepare for the anticipated El Niño conditions, which could bring about potentially damaging winter storms, leading to flooding, landslides, and erosion along the coast.
Laguna Beach, located about 50 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, remains a scenic coastal haven.
