Surf’s Up, but Not for Long, Forecasters Say

High surf that pounded Ventura County’s coastline on Tuesday is expected to diminish today, forecasters said.

Isolated swells as high as 10 feet were reported at Ventura Harbor, with swells at many county beaches averaging about 5 to 6 feet, meteorologists said.

Although some had predicted that a storm far out in the Pacific would churn up the largest surf of the winter season, those waves never materialized, said state lifeguard Derick Adamache.

“There was bigger surf last week,” Adamache said. “It is big surf, but not as big as anticipated. It’s been a good safe day.”

Biggest of the season or not, dozens of surfers eagerly paddled out to the line Tuesday to catch the big breakers.

National Weather Service meteorologist Vladimir Ryshko said the heavy surf was expected to begin diminishing Tuesday night and continue decreasing throughout today.