- A whale watching boat was seen nearly capsizing off the coast of San Diego
- Footage showed the wave crashing onto the ship, sending passengers flying
- It happened amid massive storms that have battered California's coastline for a week
This is the astonishing moment a boat carrying whale watchers nearly capsized after heavy waves crashed off the coast of San Diego.
Images of the boat were captured at sunset Thursday as it tried to return safely to shore amid a massive storm battering California.
The waves rocked the ship as bystanders stared from a cluster of rocks near the Mission Bay Jetty sign.
The boat almost completely capsized when a monster wave sent the ship flying on its side. But fortunately for the whale watchers, he avoided the boat and no one was injured.
Video was captured Thursday of a whale watching boat as it tried to return safely to shore
The boat almost completely capsized when a huge wave sent the ship flying on its side in a nerve-wracking moment
Unusually gigantic waves have rocked the California coast this week, amid the West Coast state's devastating storms
Unusually gigantic waves have rocked the California coast this week, amid the West Coast state's devastating storms.
Damage from San Diego's high surf and storms left the county's beaches looking very different heading into the new year.
San Diego Fire-Rescue announced Friday that the Mission Bay Channel would be closed to boaters all weekend. Fox reported.
Other beaches in San Diego County, including La Jolla and Crystal Pier, are closed due to the aftermath of the rampant weather.
Lifeguards in the area advised visitors to avoid the beaches until conditions calm down.
A seawall is seen being shelled in La Jolla, one of several coastal communities under high surf warnings as the unusual weather continues
The drastic weather conditions in California required evacuation warnings and forecasters urged people to stay away from rocks and jetties.
Experts warned beachgoers not to turn their backs on the ocean because of the danger of “sneaker waves” – occasionally much larger waves that can reach far up the sand and wash someone off a beach.
Astronomical high tides increase the risk of more coastal flooding, forecasters say.
“Overall, this is expected to be an exceptional high surf and coastal flooding event not seen in many years,” the weather service wrote.
'Be careful and follow the instructions of local authorities and lifeguards. Never turn your back to the water as harmful and life-threatening sneaker waves can occur.”
Waves ranged from 28 to 33 feet and up to 40 feet in some locations, the National Weather Service said.
In Ventura, bystander video showed a wave crashing against a sea wall, sending a panicked crowd of onlookers fleeing inland as water rushed toward them. Eight people were injured, KETY-TV reported.
Waves crash into a house along the California coast in Malibu Beach, California, on Friday
Strong surf was seen hitting beachfront homes in Malibu on Friday
Million-dollar homes along Malibu's coastline were hit by massive waves as a brutal coastal storm continued to devastate California on Friday.
Strong surf was seen hitting beachfront homes in Malibu, where emergency sand barriers were built in an effort to limit damage to the expensive properties.
At some points in California, breaking waves were forecast to reach heights of 25 feet.
Similar waves washed over beaches elsewhere on the California coast on Thursday, flooding parking lots and streets and prompting evacuation warnings for low-lying areas.