"California Coastline Battered by Storms, Prompting Evacuations and Surfer Warnings"

Ventura County, California, issued an evacuation warning for beach residents due to high surf and coastal flood warnings, with waves reaching 10 to 15 feet and potentially up to 20 feet. The warning, affecting areas along the Pacific Coast Highway, was lifted before 3 p.m. but significant flooding and damage to coastal structures were possible. Residents reported unusually large waves, and a hotel's first floor was damaged. Safety measures included closing the Manhattan Beach Pier and providing sandbags for potential flooding. The high surf conditions were part of a storm system passing through Southern California, with another storm expected to bring light rain on New Year's Day.