Hurricane Marie: The Story Behind Southern California’s Big Wednesday Swells

The storm, which remained offshore while downgraded to a tropical cyclone, disrupted holiday travel, triggered temporary beach closures, and left thousands without power.

Powerful Storm Surges and Dangerous Jetty Rescues

The storm generated elevated surf that battered beaches from Malibu to Orange County, drawing large crowds of surfers before conditions turned hazardous. The individual managed to briefly stand on the rocks and leap off before a second set of waves crashed down, escaping without injuries as lifeguards rushed to the area. The National Weather Service warned beachgoers that rock jetties become exceptionally dangerous during high surf events and advised people to stay out of the water or remain near occupied lifeguard towers. In Malibu, beaches were temporarily shut down Sunday afternoon after lightning moved into the area, according to KTLA5 reporting. Meanwhile, high tides and heavy surf caused coastal flooding that pushed water onto streets in Long Beach.

Fallen Trees and Power Outages Impact In inland Communities

Away from the shoreline, the tropical moisture brought unusual September rainfall that created hazards across urban areas. In the Los Angeles neighborhood of Los Feliz, a large tree toppled over near Vermont Avenue and Melbourne Avenue around 4 p.m. Sunday, crashing down onto two vehicles, according to ABC7. Emergency crews responded to the scene, where the hood and windshield of one car were badly crushed. One person was transported to a hospital in fair condition, and debris blocked much of the roadway.

The wet weather also caused infrastructure disruptions in Glendale, where more than 4,000 customers temporarily lost electricity, according to the Glendale Power and Water website. Two separate outages were recorded shortly after 5:15 p.m. Sunday. Utility crews gradually restored power throughout the evening, leaving only a small number of customers without service by approximately 8:30 p.m.