SAN DIEGO (CNS) - Strong rip currents and very-warm seawater were keeping lifeguards busy, but a city lifeguard lieutenant said things were "going swimmingly" at San Diego's beaches on the first holiday of the summer season.
San Diego City Lifeguard Lt. Greg Buchanan said the lifeguards had responded to a higher than average number of rescues in the about 68 degree surf over the busy weekend, due to strong rip currents.
"It's very active, lots of water rescues, a tremendous amount of preventative acts and lots of people," Buchanan said.
But lifeguards had prepared for the weekend by upping their staffing level to near-summer numbers, he said.
"Pretty much every lifeguard who could be working is working," Buchanan said.
Lifeguards performed more than 100 water rescues off city beaches on Sunday -- the highest amount of any Memorial Day weekend day in the past 6-8 years, according to Buchanan. Those included mass rescues, with more victims than lifeguards, he said.
Buchanan said there were "some pretty close calls."
According to the National Weather Service, the strong rip currents at the beaches are expected to continue Monday night, but no hazardous weather was expected Tuesday through the rest of the week.
