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
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 riplike 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.
