During a recent kayak excursion off the coast of Redondo Beach, a kayaker was greeted by a rather large ocean creature - a blue whale. The whale surfaces amazingly close to the kayaker, who described the encounter as "heart pounding" on his YouTube page. Intrigued (and seemingly experienced), the man proceeds to take a "relaxing and peaceful" dip with the whale. more ›

Record rainfall for this time of year may occur in parts of the region thanks to a strong storm passing through California. Minimal impact is expected for Los Angeles County however a 20-30% chance of showers is being called for Sunday into Monday, according to the National Weather Service. more ›

A storm system in the South Pacific Ocean will bring high surf and dangerous rip currents to SoCal beaches through Thursday. Local beaches, especially those facing south should see the strongest weather with waves up to 10 feet, notes the National Weather Service. more ›

Moody May rears its gray and cloudy head with highs in the mid-60s on Saturday and south wind around 5 mph. Nighttime lows are expected near 54 degrees in the evening with a 20 percent chance of invading rain showers across the Los Angeles region on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. more ›

An oceanographer who collects flotsam on Washington's Pacific Coast predicts that flotsam and debris from last month's tsunami in Japan could be hitting our shores within a year. "If you put a major city through a trash grinder and sprinkle it on the water, that's what you're dealing with," Curt Ebbesmeyer, a retired oceanographer and Seattle-based consultant for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration explained. more ›

The massive early-morning quake off the coast of Chile has dozens of Pacific-bordering nations on alert as the shifting of plates are causing tsunami conditions in the water. The West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center issued an advisory for the North American West Coast, though it is important to note that while the effects can be dangerous, they are not expected to be devastating here:

Tsunami Advisory means that a tsunami capable of producing strong currents or waves dangerous to persons in or very near the water is imminent or expected. Significant, widespread inundation is not expected for areas under an advisory. Currents may be hazardous to swimmers, boats, and coastal structures and may continue for several hours after the initial wave arrival.

And this is why smoke related air quality and public health advisories are being issued everyday as the fires continue. more ›