High surf advisory in Ventura, Santa Barbara counties warns of waves up to 15 feet

Forecasters issued a high surf advisory for beaches across Ventura and Santa Barbara counties warning of dangerous rip currents and waves reaching up to 10 to 15 feet Friday.

Larger breaking waves of 8 to 12 feet with local sets reaching 15 feet are predicted at beaches across Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo along the Central Coast, with the weather advisory in effect until 9 a.m. Saturday, according to National Weather Service Los Angeles. Further south, in Ventura County, breaking waves of 5 to 8 feet with local sets up to 10 feet are expected through the same period. 

However, forecasters said the surf advisories may be extended since sea levels could remain elevated for days.

The National Weather Service also warned of an increased risk for drowning across all three counties' beaches given dangerous rip currents that can pull people out as well as a higher risk of injury due to larger waves which can wash people off beaches and jetties and capsize small boats. "Rock jetties can be deadly locations in such conditions, so stay off the rocks," both advisories read.

This past winter, a number of people died or went missing following high surf advisories across California. In Southern California, waves were reaching 8 to 12 feet in Los Angeles County in late December when two fishermen went missing after their boat crashed off the Palos Verdes coast. Around the same time that month, much larger waves were being seen in Northern California.

One man died on a Santa Cruz beach, another two went missing in Monterey County and at least three people were rescued in the North Bay amid a high surf warning extending from San Francisco to Big Sur Coast warned of waves of up 30 to 35 feet.