High Surf in California, September 14 to 16, 1997

Name: High Surf in California, September 14 to 16, 1997
Start: 1997-09-14T01:00
End: 1997-09-16T23:00
Location: California

September 14 to 16, 1997 · NWS LOX · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

Strong southerly swell from Hurricane Linda combined with high astronomical tides to produce heavy surf across the Southern California coast. the surf was 5 to 8 feet with local sets to 14 feet.

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS LOX wrote it up.

Strong southerly swell from Hurricane Linda combined with high astronomical tides to produce heavy surf across the Southern California coast. On average...the surf was 5 to 8 feet with local sets to 14 feet. On Santa Catalina Island...a large wave destroyed a warehouse at the Pebbly Beach Marine Center. Elsewhere...minor coastal flooding was reported.

Event by event

3 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.

High Surf, Santa Barbara County South Coast

When: September 14, 1:00 AM PST to September 16, 11:00 PM PST
Where: Santa Barbara County South Coast forecast zone

High Surf, Ventura County Coast

When: September 14, 1:00 AM PST to September 16, 11:00 PM PST
Where: Ventura County Coast forecast zone

High Surf, Los Angeles County Coasts Including Downtown Los Angeles

When: September 14, 1:00 AM PST to September 16, 11:00 PM PST
Where: Los Angeles County Coasts Including Downtown Los Angeles forecast zone

What these are

High Surf: Large waves breaking on the shore that caused damage, erosion or casualties.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in California in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in California, September 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5615673, 5615674, 5615675.