South swell to bring biggest waves of year to The Wedge by midweek

A powerful South swell is forecast to produce waves of 8 to 12 feet at The Wedge in Newport Beach by midweek, what forecasters say will be the largest surf event of the year for Orange County's coastline.

The forecast affects one of Orange County's most recognized surf breaks and signals elevated rip current danger for beachgoers across the county's south-facing shoreline heading into peak summer season.

The National Weather Service forecast calls for a South swell to intensify through Wednesday and Thursday, bringing waves of 8 to 12 feet to The Wedge — the famed break at the southernmost tip of the Balboa Peninsula — and 5 to 8 feet at other south-facing Orange County beaches, according to the Orange County Register.

"It looks like the south swell we are seeing right now will briefly weaken. There will still be some decent sets for south, southwest-facing beaches. Then, once we get into Tuesday, especially Wednesday and into Thursday, that south swell is going to come back stronger than what we are experiencing now," Sebastian Westerink, a National Weather Service meteorologist, told the Orange County Register on Saturday.

Surfers were already riding waves Tuesday morning as conditions began building ahead of the anticipated peak. The Wedge, known for its powerful shore break, is one of Southern California's most watched surf destinations during major South swells.

Westerink cautioned that larger swell events drive up the risk of rip currents along the Orange County coast. "Just be careful when you're close to them and note that the conditions will be rough. Usually, the more energy we have with a swell, the higher the risk there is for rip currents. Watch out for those. Heed the warnings you see at the beaches," he said.

Westerink urged all beachgoers along the Orange County coast to observe posted safety warnings and watch for rip currents as peak swell conditions are expected to continue through Thursday, the Orange County Register reported.