Hurricane Marie sparks rain, high surf and rip-current warnings along Southern California

Hurricane Marie, a Category 2 storm with sustained winds of about 100 mph, will track north and west of the Baja California peninsula while staying hundreds of miles from the California coast. Rain is forecast to start Saturday night, with Sunday seeing the most precipitation—light amounts overall but up to three-quarters of an inch in the San Gabriel Mountains and a small chance of thunderstorms. The National Weather Service cautions that oily road residues will make surfaces “quite slick,” and coastal flood and high-surf advisories cover Santa Catalina and Santa Barbara islands, Malibu, Los Angeles and Ventura County until Tuesday night.

Expected surf will reach 5-8 feet, with Zuma Beach possibly seeing 8-10-foot breaks, and rip currents are described as “dangerous and potentially life-threatening.” Swimmers are urged to stay out of the water or remain near lifeguards, avoid rocks and jetties, and follow local officials’ guidance. Climate scientist Daniel Swain notes that El Niño could bring additional tropical systems to California later in the season.