A National Weather Service Beach Hazards Statement for Newport Beach expired Thursday, Aug. 27, after warning of dangerous surf and rip currents along south- and southwest-facing shores.

The advisory, which took effect Wednesday, Aug. 26, warned of surf heights of 3 to 6 feet with sets up to 7 feet possible, according to Patch. The NWS also warned of dangerous rip currents and coastal flooding across all Orange County coastal areas.

The strongest waves were expected along south- and southwest-facing beaches, which includes much of Newport Beach's coastline.

Summer rescue numbers

The advisory is no longer active.

Still, it arrived during a summer that has already tested Newport Beach lifeguards. On July 20, lifeguards made roughly 100 rescues in a single day during a separate high-surf event, according to Patch. Newport Beach Fire Department Chief Lifeguard Brian O'Rourke told KTLA on July 20 that lifeguards "were rescuing a lot of people."

During high-surf days, Newport Beach lifeguards rescue between 50 and 300 people in a single day, according to NBFD public information officer David Gibson, who shared safety guidance in a July 5 feature in the Newport Beach Independent.

Newport Beach Lifeguard Operations is fully staffed this summer with 224 total lifeguards, including 96 assigned to towers, truck patrols and rescue boats.

What to do in a rip current

Gibson urged beachgoers to swim near a lifeguard, stay at least 100 feet from piers and jetties, and learn how to escape a rip current. "If escape seems impossible, float on your back and wave your hands to signal for help," Gibson said in a July 5 Newport Beach Independent feature.

Lifeguard tower flags signal ocean conditions: green means small waves with possible rip currents, yellow indicates moderate conditions with larger waves, and red warns of hazardous conditions for expert swimmers only.

Checking conditions

Beachgoers can check current conditions at weather.gov or by speaking with lifeguards at any staffed tower along the beach.