Coastal residents in Southern California brace for big waves

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- A storm surge from a hurricane hundreds of miles offshore is expected to bring rough surf and high water to the Southern California coastline over the next several days. Swimmers and surfers are being warned of the dangerous conditions and homeowners are preparing for the worst.

The official high surf advisory began at noon on Tuesday. The waves are expected to get as big as 10 to 15 feet by the end of the week.

Hurricane Marie was weakening off of Mexico's Pacific coast, but it's generating large, dangerous swells that were approaching Southland beaches.

Residents in threatened areas are building sand berms and filling up sand bags to prevent flooding.

People in the Belmont Shore Peninsula area are very concerned because they have Alamitos Bay on one side and the ocean on the other. Residents say they will be watching the waves from a distance, hoping the water stays on the other side of the sand berm.