Countywide : Dangerous Rip Currents Keep Lifeguards Busy

Strong rip currents in the ocean from Seal Beach to San Clemente this weekend caused a flurry of swimmer rescues, lifeguards reported. More rip currents are predicted along county beaches today, officials said.

No drownings were reported despite the currents, but marine officials said two boats that lost power near Huntington Beach had to be towed to safety by other vessels Sunday afternoon.

Rip currents are powerful flows of ocean water away from and usually perpendicular to the shore. Swimmers are sometimes caught in the currents and pulled hundreds of yards from the beach, lifeguards noted.

“We had two rescues on Saturday and two today,” Kai Weisser, a marine safety officer for Huntington City Beach, said Sunday afternoon.

Weisser said a relatively small crowd at the beach, caused by cool temperatures and a strong breeze, kept down the number of swimmers Sunday--a blessing, given the rip currents.

In San Clemente, lifeguards were also grateful that crowds were small Sunday. “We had 11 swimmers rescued yesterday (Saturday) and four today (Sunday),” Marine Safety Lt. Bill Humphreys said.