LOS ANGELES \u2014 Powerful surf rolled onto beaches on the West Coast and Hawaii on Thursday as a big swell generated by the stormy Pacific Ocean pushed toward shorelines, causing localized flooding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Forecasters urged people to stay off rocks and jetties, and to not turn their backs to the ocean because of the danger of \u201csneaker waves\u201d \u2014 occasional much bigger waves that can run far up the sand and wash someone off a beach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A high surf warning for parts of Northern California said waves would range from 28 to 33 feet and up to 40 feet at some locations, the National Weather Service said, adding that there were reports of flooding in low-lying coastal areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Aptos on the north end of Monterey Bay, surf overran the beach and swept into a parking lot, leaving the area strewn with debris. Santa Cruz County issued warnings for people in several coastal areas to be ready to evacuate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMother Nature\u2019s angry,\u201d said Eve Krammer, an Aptos resident for several years. \u201cI mean these waves are gnarly. They\u2019re huge.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The same area was battered by the ocean last January as the West Coast was slammed by numerous atmospheric rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI feel for the people that are down low here,\u201d said Jeff Howard, also an Aptos resident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While not quite as huge, the waves along Southern California were also described as hazardous, with life-threatening rip currents. Nonetheless, surfers couldn\u2019t resist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Patience was key, according to Alex Buford, 27, who was catching waves just north of Manhattan Beach on the Los Angeles County coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was waiting for awhile because the waves were really sick, and they\u2019re kinda hard to get into even though I have a really big board,\u201d he said. \u201cJust waited for a good one and I got it and it was a long one. Pretty big. It was sick.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Hawaii, the weather service forecast surf rising to 30 to 40 feet along north-facing shores and 18 to 22 feet along west-facing shores of five islands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Professional Hawaii surfer Sheldon Paishon was getting ready to surf Thursday morning at Makaha, a world-famous surfing beach on Oahu\u2019s west side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paishon, 30, has been surfing at various spots around Oahu this week, taking advantage of waves during this week\u2019s high surf warning in effect till Friday morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always big waves in the winter time in Hawaii,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He warned that novice surfers should check with lifeguards before heading into the water and \u201cmake sure you got some people around you and stay safe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Honolulu Ocean Safety lifeguards, posted at beaches across Oahu, rescued 20 people along the island\u2019s famed North Shore on Wednesday, said spokesperson Shayne Enright. They were also busy with thousands of \u201cpreventative actions,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis time of year produces incredible surf but it can also be very dangerous,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The dangerous surf could also cause surges that could hit coastal properties and roadways, the weather service warned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n