SAN DIEGO (CBS 8/ CNS) - Higher-than-average tides and elevated surf will create a potential for minor coastal flooding in the San Diego area this week, according to the National Weather Service.
A National Weather Service coastal flood advisory is scheduled to take effect at 5 a.m. and extend until 9 p.m. Thursday.
Forecasters said Thursday and Friday would have the highest potential for impacts, such as the flooding of such low-lying areas as beach parking lots, adjacent streets and, possibly, structures. Oceanside, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, La Jolla and Imperial Beach could be susceptible to minor tidal overflows.
Judy Blair from New Jersey used to live in San Diego and she said the water has never been as rough as it has been.
"It took me an hour just to get the nerve just to go in the water. We only stayed in for about 15 minutes, then we were done," she said.
Thrashing waves and tides reached nearly 7 feet, creating ideal conditions for surfers.
"It was fun. Offshore, super high-tide, 3 to 5 feet. There was a lot of water" said a surfer.
On Monday night, a group of students had to be rescued, after they became trapped in the high surf during their cave sighting trip.
What started out as a fun cave sighting trip for eight college students from Brazil, quickly turned dangerous. The low tide on Monday afternoon allowed the group to easily walk down the beach to the cliffs, just south of Point Loma Nazarene University.
Five of the students got trapped.
"We checked before on the waves and everything, but I don't know what happened. When we decided to come back, I think it was late, and we had some trouble with the waves," said Roberta Santos.
"As the tide came up in, with the larger surf we have been having, they quickly were cut off to the path back down to where they started," said Lt. John Sandmeyer, San Diego Lifeguards.
With a full moon Tuesday morning, the National Weather Service said high tide along the San Diego County coast is expected to reach 7.2 feet in the morning, and peak Wednesday morning.
Over the period, mid-morning high tides are expected to reach about 7 feet, and wave sets up to 6 feet will be likely, forecasters reported.