San Diego Police are urging beachgoers to be patient as all beach parking lots were filled by noon on the Fourth of July.
Vehicles will be banned from entering Fiesta Island, the department added, and vehicles that leave the island will not be allowed to return.
San Diego beaches get busy, so be careful not to get too close to wildlife and be aware of the dangers of rip currents.
If you’re heading to the beach on Thursday, keep in mind the increased risk of rip currents, so use caution and always swim near a lifeguard.
If you get caught in a rip current, never fight it. You can’t swim past it. As scary as it may be, just start swimming parallel to the shore and go with the current. Once you’re out of the rip current, swim back to shore. The National Weather Service in San Diego has more tips on how to “break the rip current’s grip.”
“We call the Fourth of July weekend the Super Bowl of lifeguarding, because that’s when we get the most people on the beach, when we’re busiest,” said San Diego Lifeguard Jacob Magness.
Every year, people from all over the world come to San Diego to celebrate Independence Day weekend. With more people in the city, lifeguards are urging people to be extra vigilant about rip currents to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.
“If you don’t swim in the ocean often and are new to the environment, lifeguards recommend staying in water up to your waist with your feet on the bottom at all times,” Magness says.
If you cannot escape, try to float or tread water. If you need help, wave for help. Here are some more tips to help you avoid getting caught in a rip current:
San Diego Lifeguard Lt. Jacob Magness says Independence Day weekend is the “Super Bowl of lifeguards.” If you’re planning on hitting San Diego beaches this holiday weekend, NBC 7’s Janet Quesada breaks down some safety tips to keep in mind.
Lifeguards encourage you to plan ahead to ensure the safety of you and your family.
“Many of the lifeguard towers on the beach are numbered, so it’s a great way to tell kids, ‘Hey, we’re swimming at tower 14, and if we get separated we can go to that tower and find each other,'” Magness said.
If you’re unsure of rip current conditions, walk up to the tower and ask a lifeguard.
“Any lifeguard can direct you to the right place,” Magness said.
If you plan on visiting La Jolla Cove, rangers recommend keeping a distance of 100 feet from seals and sea lions.
“It’s really, really important that people stay away because if they’re angry or upset they could lash out or bite. They’re wild animals, so you never know what they’re going to do, so it’s best to just observe them from a safe distance,” park ranger Eric Romero said.
This year, there will be no fireworks in La Jolla Bay to avoid scaring off mother seals and their pups, with a drone show planned in the area instead.
Heading into Friday, the City of San Diego is asking everyone to be considerate and clean shared spaces.
