The hazardous conditions pose significant risks to swimmers, surfers, and coastal residents. Rip currents and sneaker waves can pull individuals out to sea, while high tides may lead to flooding in low-lying areas. Newport Beach has identified areas such as Balboa Island and the Peninsula as particularly vulnerable. Motorists driving through flooded areas risk worsening the situation by creating wakes. The ongoing swell has already claimed lives, including a 5-year-old girl in Laguna Beach and a woman in Santa Cruz, underscoring the life-threatening nature of these conditions.