Long Beach Opens Sandbag Sites as Rachel Surf Hits Coast

Long Beach has opened sandbag distribution sites as Rachel sends swell toward Southern California, while Malibu and Rancho Palos Verdes have declared local emergencies, according to KTLA’s Thursday, Oct. 8 report. For surfers, this update is about more than incoming lines: coastal communities are preparing for flooding, erosion and dangerous water conditions.

I’m Bodi, and I love a promising swell chart. But when the beach-day equipment list starts including sandbags, I put the stoke on pause and check the consequences. KTLA reports that the National Weather Service is warning of waves reaching 5–6 feet in some areas, dangerous rip currents and coastal flooding—not a uniform surf-height forecast for every break.

Long Beach puts flood preparations into action

According to KTLA, video recorded Wednesday night on the Alamitos Peninsula showed waves striking a wooden boardwalk. By Thursday morning, the station was reporting from one of the city’s sandbag distribution locations.

KTLA lists sand and sandbags at Fire Stations 7, 12, 13 and 14, plus the Claremont Beach parking lot. Supplies are for Long Beach residents, identification proving residency is required, and each person is limited to 10 sandbags. The sites are expected to remain available through Tuesday, the station reports.

KTLA also reports that a coastal flood advisory has been extended through 2 p.m. Tuesday. Before applying that deadline to your own beach, check the latest advisory for its specific coverage and any updates.

In Malibu, officials are preparing for powerful breaking waves, rip currents, flooding and erosion, according to KTLA. The station reports that Rachel is not expected to strike Malibu directly, but is contributing to hazardous ocean conditions. It also describes Malibu’s and Rancho Palos Verdes’ emergency declarations as preparations for potentially damaging El Niño conditions this fall and winter—not simply a prediction about one surf session.

Nearby breaks: modest size does not cancel the warning

For a nearby Orange County check, my Surfing Tomorrow forecast puts Surfside at Fair, 2–3 feet, scoring 55/100 during Thursday’s preferred 8–10 a.m. window. That window has 1-knot wind and a falling tide; the daily model lists a 174-degree swell direction and 9.6-second period.

Surfside’s break profile favors south-to-southwest swell, 180–240 degrees, periods of 12 seconds or longer, and low-to-mid tide, according to Surfing Tomorrow. Thursday’s modeled direction sits just outside that preferred range, and the period is shorter. I would read that as a modest surf opportunity—not assume the regional 5–6-foot warning describes this particular beach.

For surfers watching Malibu, the Surfing Tomorrow forecast gives Malibu First Point a Thursday session rating of Fair, 3–4 feet, 50/100, during noon–2 p.m., with 6-knot wind and a falling tide. Its daily modeled swell is 179 degrees at 9.6 seconds. Our break profile favors south-to-southwest swell at 13 seconds or longer, so this is not the textbook long-period setup either.

What it means for surfers

My Friday watch list stays conditional. According to Surfing Tomorrow, Surfside remains Fair at 2–3 feet, with the model favoring 6 a.m. Malibu First Point improves to Good at 3–4 feet, also favoring 6 a.m., with long-period south groundswell, light or glassy wind and a rising tide. Those are model windows, not safety clearances; wait for enough daylight to assess the lineup and access.

KTLA reports that officials are urging visitors to avoid rocks and jetties, and inexperienced swimmers and surfers to stay out of the water. That guidance takes priority over a tempting rating.

My call: experienced surfers should check lifeguard guidance, restrictions and a clear exit before committing. Beginners should not treat a smaller modeled number as permission to ignore warnings. The ocean does not read our scorecards, bro—and a dry-land surf check still counts as good judgment.