Massive waves battered the coast of California on Thursday (December 28) with meteorologists warning that the worse is yet to come.

Storms in the Pacific Ocean whipped up coastal swells that led to flooding and evacuation orders were in place in several areas in Northern California.

In Ventura County, a rogue wave was caught on video hitting the sea wall at the beach at the end of street causing eight people to transported to local hospitals with minor injuries. The beaches are closed in Ventura County. Meanwhile, farther north, crews worked to clean the debris left by the rough waves in Santa Cruz County.

A high surf warning was in effect until early Friday (December 29) for shoreline counties along the Central and Northern California coastline breaking waves of 28 to 33 feet, according to the National Weather Service, warning “these conditions are deadly.”

Waves were forecast to reach as high as 30 to 40-feet (9 to 12 meters) off of the coast of San Jose according to the website Surfline.

Earlier on December 21, heavy rain and flooding led to temporary road closures in the Californian coastal city of Santa Barbara.

(Input from Reuters)