California, 1997

High Surf in California, September 25 to 28, 1997

September 25 to 28, 1997 · NWS LOX · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

combined with southerly swell from Hurricane Nora to produce heavy surf across the coast of Southern California. 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
4

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 northwest swell...from a powerful storm in the Gulf of Alaska...combined with southerly swell from Hurricane Nora to produce heavy surf across the coast of Southern California. On average...the surf was 5 to 8 feet with local sets to 14 feet. Minor coastal flooding was reported.

Event by event

4 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.

High Surf, Los Angeles County Coasts Including Downtown Los Angeles

When
September 25, 9:00 AM PST to September 28, 10:00 AM PST
Where
Los Angeles County Coasts Including Downtown Los Angeles forecast zone

High Surf, Santa Barbara County Central Coast

When
September 25, 9:00 AM PST to September 28, 10:00 AM PST
Where
Santa Barbara County Central Coast forecast zone

High Surf, Santa Barbara County South Coast

When
September 25, 9:00 AM PST to September 28, 10:00 AM PST
Where
Santa Barbara County South Coast forecast zone

High Surf, Ventura County Coast

When
September 25, 9:00 AM PST to September 28, 10:00 AM PST
Where
Ventura County Coast 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

More

Every storm in California in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings 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: 5615685, 5615686, 5615687, 5615688.