'Democrats will blame climate change': Internet abuzz as rogue waves leave 8 hospitalized in California

CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES: Social media was abuzz with the startling news of rogue waves striking California.

Massive waves pounded the state on Thursday, December 28, driven by a powerful swell generated by storms over the Pacific Ocean surging toward the coastline. This event resulted in coastal flooding, triggering evacuation alerts across affected areas.

According to reports from the Daily Mail, Ventura witnessed a dramatic incident where a rogue wave crashed into a seawall. Videos by bystanders captured the moment, showing a crowd of onlookers scrambling inland in panic as the water surged towards them. The incident left eight people injured, as reported by KETY-TV.

The severity of the situation led to evacuation warnings being issued in coastal Marin County in the morning, and later in the day, the alerts were extended to Santa Cruz County and Capitola Village.

The community was urged to take precautions and move to safer areas due to the unpredictable and hazardous conditions caused by the powerful waves.

Waves hit California causing flooding

Based on a report by the Daily Mail, California is currently experiencing powerful waves, ranging from 28 to 33 feet, and reaching up to 40 feet in certain locations, as stated in a flash bulletin by the National Weather Service. This has led to flooding in low-lying coastal areas.

The forecast warns of the potential for worsening conditions into the weekend, especially in southern California, where San Diego is expected to witness the highest surf on Saturday.

The National Weather Service has issued advisories, urging people to avoid rocks and jetties and to remain vigilant due to the risk of 'sneaker waves', unexpectedly larger waves that can pose dangers to individuals along the shoreline. In Aptos on the north end of Monterey Bay, surf overflowed onto the beach, causing debris to be scattered in a parking lot, as captured in security camera footage shared by local business Venus Spirits Cocktails and Kitchen Beachside.

Emergency officials are taking precautions, with beach closures in Ventura County, including popular sites like the Ventura Pier, seaside campgrounds, and harbor entrances, continuing through the New Year’s weekend. In Los Angeles County, both the Manhattan Beach Pier and Hermosa Beach Pier will be closed due to the high surf.

The Los Angeles Times reports that meteorologist David Sweet from the National Weather Service in Oxnard anticipates significant rainfall on Saturday, though not as intense as the previous storm. Motorists are advised to be cautious of potential road puddles and consider adjusting their travel plans accordingly.

Additionally, as per the Los Angeles Times, the National Weather Service is monitoring a second system of strong waves expected to arrive by Saturday, with varying wave heights along different coastal areas. Ventura County is predicted to experience 10- to 15-foot waves, while Santa Barbara County's South Coast may face 7- to 12-foot waves, and areas near Point Conception might see sets as high as 15 to 20 feet.

According to Daily Mail, in Ventura, a bystander's video captured a rogue wave slamming into a seawall, causing panic among onlookers who fled inland. Unfortunately, eight individuals were injured in the incident as massive waves pounded California on Thursday. Emergency officials are urging caution, and everyone must stay informed and adhere to safety guidelines during these challenging weather conditions.

A user @ColinRugg posted on 'X', "NEW: California is getting wrecked by massive waves up to 25 feet, damaging homes, vehicles and beaches. Massive tides destroyed trucks as well as RVs in Pismo beach. Unfortunately, the situation is supposed to worsen going into the weekend. “We are dealing with potentially deadly conditions at the beaches so we really just encourage everyone to stay away from the water and be prepared for coastal flooding,” said meteorologist Ariel Cohen. Surfers are taking advantage of the waves at “The Wedge,” a popular beach break in Southern California. Wild."

Internet reacts to rogue waves in California

Several social media users posted their comments in response to the massive storm in California.

A user wrote, "Nothing a few more taxes can’t fix."

Another user wrote, "This beach is practically my backyard. We live in Ventura County. Pretty damn scary."

Another user wrote, "Mother Nature is one strong beast."

A user stated, "Democrats will blame climate change."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.