Spring Arrives in Malibu with a Melange of Wind, Chill and Easter Break

•Beaches Undergo Annual Grooming Rituals in Case Holiday Weekend Draws Sizable Crowds

BY ANNE SOBLE

The vernal equinox takes place Thursday, March 20, and is marked in Malibu by its own form of spring fever, depending on the weather. With warm weather and the Easter holiday occuring what is thought of as early, preparation for an influx of beach visitors is in full swing wherever one looks.
Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors maintainance crews are visible all along the coast, nudging cobweb-filled lifeguard towers back into position before crowds start taking to the sand.
Beachgoers considering going into the ocean will find that the water is a chilly 52 degrees. County lifeguards note that, in addition to their influence on the water temps, winter storms have torn up the ocean floor, creating numerous “inshore holes” that, when located next to shallow spots, create rip-like currents that can imperil the unwary swimmer.
Still, the protective sand berms continue to be leveled, and recreation areas are being readied for volleyball and other sports that are sidelined by periods of winter rain. There will be a lot to do even if one doesn’t don a swimsuit.
In Malibu’s commercial areas, local businesses have used the winter hiatus to spruce up and prepare for the influx of visitors that can make a major difference for many of their bottom lines.
Though there are reports of morning fog for later in the week, and possibly even a few half-hearted attempts at drizzle, the weather forecasts for the start of spring should be an ideal transition from a winter that has been marked by strong winds and cold.
All that’s lacking is a way to deal with the holiday traffic.